64 Budget 2015/16 (Minute EXB 127 refers) PDF 91 KB
Executive Board considered the attached report.
RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A of the report, which included setting the budget at £101.452m, the Council Tax requirement of £38.649m (before Parish, Police and Fire precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,204.01.
Minutes:
The Executive Board had considered a report setting out a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax for 2015/16. Since then the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner had set their budgets and council tax precepts and these had been included in the report to full Council.
The report included detail on the following:-
· Medium Term Financial Strategy;
· Budget Consultation
· Review of the 2014/15 Budget;
· 2015/16 Budget;
· the Local Government Finance Settlement;
· Budget Outlook;
· Halton’s Council Tax;
· Parish Precepts;
· Average Council Tax;
· Police Precept;
· Fire Precept;
· Total Council Tax;
· Capital Programme;
· Prudential Code; and
· School Budgets.
The Executive Board had recommended that Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A of the report, which included setting the budget at £101.452m and the Band D Council Tax for Halton (before Parish, Police and Fire precepts) of £1,204.01.
Councillor Wharton, Resources Portfolio Holder, thanked all the Officers
involved for their support in producing this budget and wished to record his
thanks to the Members of the Executive Board, the Budget Working Group and the
Chairs of the Policy and Performance Boards for their contribution. In addition
he thanked the Leader for his help and support in delivering this budget.
Members were advised that, under Standing Order 16(3), a recorded vote was required on all matters that related to decisions on the setting of Council Tax.
The following Members voted FOR the motion:
Councillors S. Baker,
J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Cassidy, Cole, Dennett, Edge,
Gerrard, Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin,
Howard, Jones, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, A. Lowe,
J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Osborne, Parker, Philbin, C.
Plumpton Walsh,
N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Ratcliffe, Joe Roberts,
June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace,
Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.
There were no votes against the motion.
There were no abstentions.
RESOLVED: That
1) the policies outlined in this paper be adopted, including the Budget for 2015/16, the savings set out in Appendix B and the Capital Programme set out in Appendix F;
2) that it be noted that at the meeting on 10th December 2014 the Council agreed the following:
(a) The Council Tax Base 2015/16 for the whole Council area is 32,100 (item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act) and
(b) For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates, be set out as follows:
Parish |
Tax Base |
|
|
Hale |
649 |
Daresbury |
153 |
Moore |
320 |
Preston Brook |
324 |
Halebank |
488 |
Sandymoor |
948 |
being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate.
3) Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s ... view the full minutes text for item 64
Minutes:
The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance,
which outlined a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital
Programme and Council Tax for 2015/16.
It was noted that, at the time of writing the report, the Cheshire Police
and Crime Commissioner and the Cheshire Fire Authority had not set their
budgets and Council Tax precepts. However, final figures would be reported to
Council when the information was available.
The Government announced the Final Local Government Finance Settlement
figure for 2015/16 on 5 February 2014, which was in line with the Provisional
Settlement announced on 18 December 2014.
In terms of consultation, it was noted that the Council used various
methods to listen to the views of the public and Members’ own experiences
through their Ward work was an important part of that process. Budget
presentations had taken place at all of the Area Forums and details of the
comments made were tabled at the meeting. In addition, individual consultations
would take place in respect of specific budget proposals and equality impact
assessments would be completed where necessary.
The Board was advised that the Medium Term Financial Strategy, approved
on 20 November 2014, had identified a funding gap of around £19m in 2015/16,
£13m in 2016/17 and £10m in 2017/18. The Strategy had the following objectives:
·
Deliver
a balanced and sustainable budget;
·
Prioritise
spending towards the Council’s five priority areas;
·
Avoid
excessive Council Tax rises;
·
Achieve
significant cashable efficiency gains;
·
Protect
essential front line services; and
·
Deliver
improved procurement.
On 10 December 2014, the Council approved initial budget savings of
£11.332m for 2015/16, and further proposed savings were shown at Appendix B.
The Departmental analysis of the budget was shown in Appendix C and the major
reasons for change from the current budget were outlined for Members’
information in Appendix D. It was noted that the proposed budget total was £101.188m.
The Board was advised that the proposed budget incorporated the grant
figures announced in the Provisional Grant Settlement, and included £440,000
for the New Homes Bonus Grant, payable to local authorities based on the net
increase in the number of homes in their area. The grant was payable at this
amount for six years.
It was noted that from 1 April 2013, the Local Government funding regime
changed significantly with the introduction of the Business Rates Retention
Scheme, as outlined in the report.
Further information was provided in respect of the budget outlook,
although it was difficult to forecast resources over the following two years
given the uncertainties caused by the current economic climate and the
Government’s continuing austerity measures and the national election in May
2015. The Medium Term Financial Forecast had been updated and was attached at
Appendix E. It was noted that the resultant
funding gap over the next two years was forecast to be in the region of £31.9m.
Further information was provided in respect of Halton’s Council Tax, Parish Precepts, Capital Programme, the Prudential Code and school budgets.
Members ... view the full minutes text for item 127