Agenda item

Cabinet

Recommended that Council

(a)         Take into account the detailed budgets presented at Appendix B, and summarised at Appendix A, with an estimated General Fund Gross Operating Expenditure for 2023/2024 of £84.868 million, estimated Gross Operating Income of £54.622 million and estimated General Fund Net Operating Expenditure of £30.246 million.

(b)         Acknowledge the key factors which have led to the proposed 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service pressures summarised at Appendix C and offsetting efficiency savings/policy options summarised at Appendix D.

(c)         Acknowledge that the 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget gross expenditure is covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that are made by the Cabinet or Council will need to be met from the General Fund Balance.

(d)         Approve the 2022/2023 General Fund Revenue Budget taking into account the statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (reproduced at Appendix F).

(e)         Set the Council Tax Requirement for 2023/2024 at £11,130,440.

(f)          Approve an increase in the District element of the Council Tax of £5 per annum, giving an average Band D Council Tax of £165.31, plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner, and the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority.

(g)         Approve the estimates of the amounts required to be made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 as set out in paragraphs 38 and 39.

(h)         Approve the use of the additional income from the Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,000,000 in 2023/2024, for transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority projects.

(i)           Subject to any changes to the recommendations above, Council approves:

(i)           The 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget based on known commitments at this time and planned levels of Service/functions resulting in a Budget Requirement of £32.918 million.

(ii)         The District Council Precept on the Collection Fund (Council Tax Requirement) of £11.130 million in 2023/2024 (based on the Provisional Government Settlement) and a Band D Council Tax of £165.31.

Proposed Amendments Submitted

The Conservative Group has submitted its alternative budget proposals, to be proposed as amendments. The proposals were considered by the Scrutiny and Overview Committee at its meeting on 19 January 2023 and are included in the agenda pack for Council, following the report and appendices for this item.

Council

Agreed           to

A)        Take into account the detailed budgets presented at Appendix B, and summarised at Appendix A, with an estimated General Fund Gross Operating Expenditure for 2023/2024 of £84.868 million, estimated Gross Operating Income of £54.622 million and estimated General Fund Net Operating Expenditure of £30.246 million.

B)        Acknowledge the key factors which have led to the proposed 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service pressures summarised at Appendix C and offsetting efficiency savings/policy options summarised at Appendix D.

C)        Acknowledge that the 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget gross expenditure is covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that are made by the Cabinet or Council will need to be met from the General Fund Balance.

D)        Approve the 2022/2023 General Fund Revenue Budget taking into account the statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (reproduced at Appendix F).

E)        Set the Council Tax Requirement for 2023/2024 at £11,130,440.

F)        Approve an increase in the District element of the Council Tax of £5 per annum, giving an average Band D Council Tax of £165.31, plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner, and the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority.

G)        Approve the estimates of the amounts required to be made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 as set out in paragraphs 38 and 39.

H)        Approve the use of the additional income from the Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,000,000 in 2023/2024, for transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority projects.

I)          Council approved:

1)         The 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget based on known commitments at this time and planned levels of Service/functions resulting in a Budget Requirement of £32.918 million.

2)         The District Council Precept on the Collection Fund (Council Tax Requirement) of £11.130 million in 2023/2024 (based on the Provisional Government Settlement) and a Band D Council Tax of £165.31.

The Chair proposed and the Leader seconded the appointment of Councillor Sally Ann Hart as Vice-Chair for this item.

Councillor John Williams presented this item, which proposed that Council approve the 2023/24 General Fund Revenue Budget. He explained that the proposed Council Tax increase equated to a 3.1% increase for a Band D property at a time when inflation was at 10.1% and salary increases were at 6.49% so the Council Tax increase was a reduction in real terms. To decide against an increase would widen the projected deficit in the Medium Term Financial Strategy that Council had just agreed.

Councillor Heather Williams proposed and Councillor Graham Cone seconded the following amendment:

·         Freeze Council Tax

·         Additional funding of £50,000 for fraud prevention and investigation

·         £45,300 be allocated for an additional planning enforcement (compliance) officer

·         Funding these proposals by allowing councillors to receive only one Special Responsibility Allowance, reducing the number of South Cambs Magazines to two a year and meeting the remaining cost from the transformation reserve.

Councillor Heather Williams stated that Council had agreed a recent motion stating that there was a cost of living emergency but this was inconsistent with increasing Council Tax by the maximum amount allowable. It was also clear that the Council would benefit from strengthening its planning enforcement and fraud prevention service. She asserted that councillors did not need to receive up to two Special Responsibility Allowances. Councillor John Williams explained that the Government had reduced its grants to the Council and he reiterated that the Council Tax increase was far less than inflation. Councillor Mark Howell stated that all of Councillor John Williams predecessors would agree that the Government does not provide enough funding to the Council, but at least the authority knew what the rules were before setting its Council Tax. He concluded that due to the cost of living crisis the authority should freeze its Council Tax and show its residents that we are represent them. Councillor Judith Rippeth stated that the average increase in Council Tax was no more than 10p per week but was required to allow the Council to deliver essential services. Councillor Daniel Lentell announced that he would support the amendment as residents were facing an additional tax from the Combined Authority and faced the possibility of a future congestion charge. He asserted that the Council should set a good example by freezing its Council Tax.

The Leader explained that some of the District’s most vulnerable residents relied on South Cambs Magazine and the proposed Council Tax increase would allow the authority to fund initiatives that would assist those on the lowest incomes. Councillor Sally Ann Hart agreed that South Cambs Magazine was important to residents, evidenced by the complaints received if a road did not get their magazine delivered.

Councillor Tom Bygott asserted that the Council’s Planning Enforcement service needed more resources to prevent illegal planning in the District. Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins explained that the Planning Enforcement team had installed a new ICT system which would improve efficiency. The vacancy in the team had been filled and the number of cases since 2020 had dropped, so she was confident that the section had enough resources.

Councillor Graham Cone supported the amendment, as it was what his residents wanted. He asserted that the proposal merely reduced the number of South Cambs Magazines delivered every year and the Council had enough money to continue to deliver essential services without having to increase Council Tax.

A vote was taken on this Amendment and were cast as follows:

In favour (10):

Councillors Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Graham Cone, Sue Ellington, Mark Howell, Daniel Lentell, Lina Nieto, Bunty Waters, Dr Richard Williams and Heather Williams.

Against (24):

Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Dr Martin Cahn, Libby Earle, Corinne Garvie, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sally Ann Hart, Sunita Hansraj, Geoff Harvey, Tumi Hawkins, Pippa Heylings, Helene Leeming, Peter McDonald, Brian Milnes, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, Bridget Smith, Susan van de Ven, Dr Aidan Van de Weyer, Natalie Warren-Green and John Williams

Abstain (1):

Councillor Ariel Cahn

The amendment was Rejected.

Councillor Dr Richard Williams expressed concern that according to page 193 of the agenda the expenditure on the planning service was being reduced to below that of 2021/22. Councillor John Williams agreed to provide more details on this, which he thought was related to the transformation project.

Councillor John Williams proposed and the Leader seconded the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and were cast as follows:

In favour (24):

Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Libby Earle, Corinne Garvie, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sally Ann Hart, Sunita Hansraj, Geoff Harvey, Tumi Hawkins, Pippa Heylings, Helene Leeming, Peter McDonald, Brian Milnes, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, Bridget Smith, Susan van de Ven, Dr Aidan Van de Weyer, Natalie Warren-Green and John Williams

Against (10):

Councillors Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Graham Cone, Sue Ellington, Mark Howell, Daniel Lentell, Lina Nieto, Bunty Waters, Dr Richard Williams and Heather Williams.

Abstain (0)

Council

Agreed          to

A)       Take into account the detailed budgets presented at Appendix B, and summarised at Appendix A, with an estimated General Fund Gross Operating Expenditure for 2023/2024 of £84.868 million, estimated Gross Operating Income of £54.622 million and estimated General Fund Net Operating Expenditure of £30.246 million.

B)       Acknowledge the key factors which have led to the proposed 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service pressures summarised at Appendix C and offsetting efficiency savings/policy options summarised at Appendix D.

C)       Acknowledge that the 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget gross expenditure is covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that are made by the Cabinet or Council will need to be met from the General Fund Balance.

D)       Approve the 2022/2023 General Fund Revenue Budget taking into account the statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (reproduced at Appendix F).

E)        Set the Council Tax Requirement for 2023/2024 at £11,130,440.

F)        Approve an increase in the District element of the Council Tax of £5 per annum, giving an average Band D Council Tax of £165.31, plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner, and the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority.

G)       Approve the estimates of the amounts required to be made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 as set out in paragraphs 38 and 39.

H)       Approve the use of the additional income from the Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,000,000 in 2023/2024, for transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority projects.

I)          Council approved:

1)        The 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget based on known commitments at this time and planned levels of Service/functions resulting in a Budget Requirement of £32.918 million.

2)        The District Council Precept on the Collection Fund (Council Tax Requirement) of £11.130 million in 2023/2024 (based on the Provisional Government Settlement) and a Band D Council Tax of £165.31.