Agenda item

This report provides details of the Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2017/18.  In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and council tax for 2017/18.

Discussion:

 

This report provided details of the capital and revenue budget proposals for

2017/2018.

 

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 22 November 2016,

which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the

Medium Term Financial Plan. In accordance with the budget and policy

framework rules within the Constitution the Overview and Scrutiny Committees had then considered the Cabinet’s proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft budget on 7 February 2017.

 

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in

Appendix 10 to the report, summarised the results of the Diversity Impact

Assessments which had been completed for each of the services affected by

the proposed budget changes.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader

and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe,

proposed the recommendations in the report, together with the following additional proposals:

 

·         £160,000 for the Battle of Medway to be funded from an additional £100,000 crematorium income and £60,000 from Children’s Centre savings

·         £55,000 for an increase in Ward Improvement Funds to £2,000 per member to be funded from further savings from Children’s Centres

·         £45,000 for environmental works at Rochester Airport Technology Park to be funded from capital in the South Medway Development Fund

·         £50,000 Strand Play Area to be funded from Section 106 payments

·         Remove officer delegation to vary or negate parking charges, which henceforth can only be varied in agreement with the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Frontline Services.

 

The Leader noted that the only one of the above mentioned proposals that involved recurring expenditure was in relation to the increase in the Ward Improvement Funds.

 

Following advice from the Chief Executive, and with the consent of the meeting, the Leader accepted the following revised wording with regard to his proposal to amend the officer delegation scheme as permitted by Council Rule 11.4.2:

 

“Amend the Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation’s delegation set out in paragraph 8.12 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution (Employee Delegation Scheme) so that any variation is in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services.

 

In accordance with rule 12.5 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the

proposal was taken.

 

For: Councillors Aldous, Bhutia, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chisti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Fearn, Filmer, Franklin, Griffin, Gulvin, Hall, Hicks, Howard, Mrs Josie Iles, Steve Iles, Jarrett, Joy, Kemp, Mackness, The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Opara, Potter, Purdy, Saroy, Tejan, Tolhurst, The Worshipful The  Mayor of Medway, Councillor Tranter, Turpin, Wicks, Wildey and Williams. (35)

 

Against: Councillors Bowler, Cooper, Freshwater, Gilry, Godwin, Griffiths, Johnson, Khan, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Pendergast, Price, and Stamp. (15)

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The proposal was declared carried.

 

Decision:

 

a)    The Council approved the recommendations of Employment Matters Committee on 1 February 2017 regarding the proposals for a pay award, as set out at paragraph 4.5 of the report;

 

b)    The Council approved the general fund gross, income and net revenue estimates as summarised in Appendix 1 to the report in the sum of £293.044 million, together with the following:

 

·         £160,000 for the Battle of Medway to be funded from an additional £100,000 crematorium income and £60,000 from Children’s Centre savings.

·         £55,000 for an increase in Ward Improvement Funds to £2,000 per member to be funded from further savings from Children’s Centres.

 

c)    The Council approved the proposed capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report, together with the following:

 

·         £45,000 for environmental works at Rochester Airport Technology Park to be funded from capital in the South Medway Development Fund.

·         £50,000 Strand Play Area to be funded from Section 106 payments.

 

d)    The Council approved the 2016/17 and future years additions to the capital programme outlined in paragraphs 14.5 to 14.7 of the report;

 

e)    The Council noted the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept requirement;

 

f)     The Council noted the Kent Fire and Rescue Service precept requirement;

 

g)    The Council noted the parish council precept requirements of £408,396 as detailed at Appendix 7 of the report;

 

h)   The Council agreed the schedule of precept instalment dates as set out in section 19 of the report;

 

i)     The Council approved the basic rate of Council Tax at band D for 2017/18, before adding the police, fire and parish precepts, at £1,296.56;

 

j)      The Council approved fees and charges, as recommended by

Cabinet and set out in the booklet 'Medway Council - Fees and Charges April 2017' as set out in Appendix 9 to the report;

 

k)    The Council agreed the recommendations set out at 17.3 to 17.10 in the report with regard to the Housing Revenue Account and detailed in the following appendices:

 

·         The proposed decrease in rents as set out at Appendix 4 to the report;

·         The proposed service charges as set out at Appendix 5 to the report;

·         The budget proposed as summarised at Appendix 6a to the report;

·         The 30 year business plan projections at Appendix 6b to the report.

 

l)     The Council adopted the formal resolution for the council tax requirement and schedule of council tax charges for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 8 to the report and incorporated the amendments made above such that paragraph 3(a), Appendix 8 becomes £502,380,803 and paragraph 3(b), Appendix 8, becomes £395,824,336; all other parts of the resolution remain as set out in Appendix 8 to the report;

 

m)  The Council noted the findings of the Diversity Impact Assessments as set out at Appendix 10 to the report and the proposal to continue, where necessary, to report through quarterly monitoring any further unidentified or unintentional impact;

 

n)   The Council agreed to amend the Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation’s delegation set out in paragraph 8.12 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution (Employee Delegation Scheme) so that any variation is in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services.