Agenda item

This report provides details of the Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2018/19. In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and Council Tax for 2018/19.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the revenue and capital budget proposals for 2018/2019.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 21 November 2018, which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. 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 6 February 2018.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix 8 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 detailed changes listed below in relation to recommendation 26.3 on page 125 of the Agenda:

“That the following reductions, generating £1,783,000 of headroom, are made to revenue allocations as follows:

·         Education Grants: Charge the 0-25 team to the DSG High Needs Block giving £833,000.

·         Centralisation of ICT contracts giving £200,000.

·         Rephasing the BRMF (Building Repairs and Maintenance Fund) programme giving £750,000.

And that this headroom is invested as follows:

It should also be noted that car parking charges for pay and display for 2018/19 in Medway are frozen, with the intention of no increase for a further two years, that is until 2020/21.”

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

proposal was taken.

For: Councillors Aldous, Avey, Bhutia, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Franklin, Griffin, Gulvin, Hicks, Mrs Josie Iles, Steve Iles, Jarrett, Joy, Kemp, Mackness, Opara, Potter, Purdy, Saroy, Tejan, Tranter, Turpin, Wicks and Wildey. (32)

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

Note: Councillors Hall and Howard were not present for the recorded vote.

The proposal was agreed.

Decision:

a)    The Council approved the recommendations of Employment Matters Committee on 31 January 2018 regarding the proposals for a pay award as set out at paragraph 4.5 of the report, as amended by decision b) below.

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 £290.677 million with the following changes listed below:

That the following reductions, generating £1,783,000 of headroom, are made to revenue allocations as follows:

·           Education Grants: Charge the 0-25 team to the DSG High Needs Block giving £833,000.

·           Centralisation of ICT contracts giving £200,000.

·           Rephasing the BRMF (Building and Repairs Maintenance Fund) programme giving £750,000.

And that this headroom is invested as follows:

It should also be noted that car parking charges for pay and display for 2018/19 in Medway are frozen, with the intention of no increase for a further two years, that is until 2020/21.

c)    The Council approved the proposed capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report and paragraphs 12 to 16 of the report.

d)    The Council noted the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept requirement.

e)    The Council noted the Kent Fire and Rescue Service precept requirement.

f)     The Council noted the parish council precept requirements of £454,790 as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report.

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

h)    The Council approved the basic rate of Council Tax at band D for 2018/19, before adding the police, fire and parish precepts, at £1,374.28.

i)     The Council, as part of the budget proposals, approved fees and charges, as recommended by Cabinet and set out in the booklet 'Medway Council - Fees and Charges April 2018' as set out in Appendix 7 to the report.

j)     The Council agreed the recommendations set out in paragraphs 17.3 to 17.12 of 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 4a to the report;

·           The proposed service charges as set out at Appendix 4b to the report;

·           The budget proposed as summarised at Appendix 4c to the report;

·           The 30 year business plan projections at Appendix 4d to the report.

k)    The Council adopted the formal resolution for the Council Tax requirement and schedule of Council Tax charges for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 6 to the report. The amendments referred to in decision b) above have a net nil effect on the budget requirement and therefore do not change the Council Tax resolution set out in Appendix 6 to the report.

l)     The Council noted the findings of the Diversity Impact Assessments as set out in Appendix 8 to the report, and the proposal to continue, where necessary, to report through quarterly monitoring any further unidentified or unintentional impact.