Agenda item

To consider the Budget recommendations from Cabinet.

 

Appendix 2 to the report to be published as soon as it becomes available.  

The Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy Portfolio Holder presented the Budget strategy and medium-term financial plan (MTFP).  A copy of his speech is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

 

The Chairman invited the Group Leaders to present their replies to the budget proposals.

 

Cllrs Ireland, Sutton and Hughes presented their budget speeches which are attached as appendices to these minutes. 

 

Cllr Ireland proposed an amendment to the budget, which was seconded by Cllr Jill Taylor.

 

Members debated the amendment as proposed, comments included:

 

• The proposal was not necessary as a separate piece of work was being undertaken to provide a fund of £2M, which would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting later in February.
• Surprise was expressed that no prior notification of the proposal to offer a £2M fund had been received. It would also be favourable to have allow for both options – i.e. the £2M fund and the sum requested in the amendment.
• There was no information in relation to the item on the Cabinet Forward Plan, with the exception of a report title.

 

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those who voted in favour of the amendment:- 30

Jon Andrews, Peter Barrow, Shane Bartlett, Belinda Bawden, Derek Beer,

Richard Biggs, David Bolwell, Alexandra Brenton, Andy Canning, Kelvin Clayton, Tim Cook, Beryl Ezzard, Brian Heatley, Ryan Holloway, Nick Ireland, Stella Jones, Paul Kimber, Robin Legg, Howard Legg, David Morgan, Jon Orrell, Molly Rennie, Maria Roe, Andrew Starr, Gary Suttle, Clare Sutton, Roland Tarr, David Taylor, Gill  Taylor, Sarah Williams

 

Those who voted against the amendment:- 43

 

Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Michael Barron, Pauline Batstone, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Mike Dyer, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, Paul Harrison, Jill Haynes, Robert Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, Louis O'Leary, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Valerie Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, David Shortell, Jane Somper, William Trite, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller, John Worth

 

 

Those who abstained:- 0

 

 

 

Following a recorded vote, 30 for, 43 against and 0 abstentions the amendment was LOST.

 

Following the amendment being lost, Members continued to debate the budget as originally proposed.

 

The Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy Portfolio Holder was confident that the budget was balanced but still encouraged prudence when committing reserves.

 

Members were appreciative of the officer work that had gone into producing the budget and the opportunity of attending budget cafes, cross party working and input from the Scrutiny Committees.

 

Cllr Flower presented his speech as seconder of the budget proposal, attached as an appendix to the minutes.

 

Proposed by Cllr Suttle, seconded by Cllr Flower.

 

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those who voted in favour of the recommendations:- 59

 

Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Jon Andrews, Michael Barron, Shane Bartlett, Belinda Bawden, Pauline Batstone, Derek Beer, David Bolwell, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Kelvin Clayton, Tim Cook, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Mike Dyer, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, Paul Harrison, Jill Haynes, Brian Heatley, Ryan Holloway, Robert Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, David Morgan, Louis O'Leary, Jon Orrell, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Valerie Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, David Shortell, Jane Somper, Andrew Starr, Gary Suttle, Clare Sutton, Roland Tarr, David  Taylor, William Trite, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller, John Worth

 

Those who voted against the recommendations:- 11

 

Peter Barrow, Richard Biggs, Andy Canning, Beryl Ezzard, Nick Ireland, Stella Jones, Paul Kimber, Robin Legg, Howard Legg, Molly Rennie, Maria Roe

 

Those who abstained:- 2

 

Alexandra Brenton, Sarah Williams

 

Following a recorded vote, 59 for, 11 against and 2 abstentions the recommendations were approved.

 

DECISION:

 

1. the revenue budget summarised in Appendix 1 was agreed;

2. the increase in general council tax of 1.9987% and 1.9987% in the social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,905.93; an overall increase of 3.9974% was agreed;

3. the council tax resolution in Appendix 2 was agreed;

4. the council tax base agreed by the S151 Officer earlier in this budget setting process was noted;

5. no change to the current scheme of Local Council Tax Support as set out in this report was agreed;

6. the capital strategy set out in Appendix 3 and note the review in progress around the current capital programme and emerging bids was agreed;

7. the treasury management strategy set out in Appendix 4 was agreed;

8. the assumptions used to develop the budget strategy and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), as set out throughout this report and summarised in Appendix 5 was agreed;

9. the recommended balances on earmarked reserves and on general funds, including the minimum level of the general fund, the application of a further £3.5m of reserves to support the safety valve agreement, and the repurposing of £3m of the Council’s other reserves for spend-to-save investment in transformation was agreed;

10. the fees and charges policy set out in Appendix 6 was agreed;

11. the responses to the recommendations and comments made as part of the budget scrutiny process (Appendix 7) were agreed;

12. recommendations 1-6 from the 8 December 2022 Harbours Advisory Committee meeting regarding fees and charges, budgets and asset management plans were agreed;

13. the flexible use of £5.3m of capital receipts for the purposes of transforming the Council’s asset portfolio over the next three to five years was agreed.

 

Reason for the Decision

The Council was required to set a balanced revenue budget, and to approve a level of council tax as an integral part of this. A balanced budget is essentially one where all expenditure is funded by income without unsustainable use of one-off or short-term sources of finance.

 

The Council was also required to approve a capital strategy, a capital programme and budget, and a treasury management strategy, each of which were included with the report.