Issue - decisions

Council RESOLVED:

(a)          that the capital programme and the associated funding up to the year ending 31st March 2017 be approved as submitted;

(b)          that the revised revenue estimates for the year 2011/12 and the revenue estimates for 2012/13 be approved as submitted in the General Fund summary;

(c)          that the council tax requirement for 2012/13 be £7,019,160;

(d)          that the Council set the amount of Council Tax for each of the relevant categories of dwelling in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 on the basis of a District Council Tax for general expenses on a Band D property of £115.46 plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Police and Fire Authorities, details of those precepts and their effect to be circulated with the formal resolution required at the Council meeting;

(e)          that the medium term financial strategy for the General Fund be approved based on the assumptions set out in the report to Cabinet on 9 February 2012;

(f)           that the precautionary items for the General Fund be approved;

(g)          that Executive Management Team be instructed to identify further savings of £200,000 in 2012/13 and of £470,000 in subsequent years;

(h)          that the Housing Revenue Account estimates and the rent increase for the financial year ending 31 March 2013 be approved, the rent increase being in accordance with rent restructuring guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government;

(i)            that the service and other charges for housing services for the financial year ending 31 March 2013 be approved;

(j)            that the Housing Revenue Account business plan for the next 30 years to 31 March 2042 be approved;

(k)          that the borrowing and investment strategy for the year to 31 March 2012 (revised) and for the year to 31 March 2013 be approved. This includes the proposed long term borrowing of around £205 million with regard to Housing Revenue Account Self Financing to be raised from the Public Works Loan Board and explicit approval is requested for this transaction;

(l)            that the prudential indicators required by the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities for the year to 31 March 2013 be approved; and

(m)         to request the Housing Portfolio Holder to investigate ways to maintain the level of support offered to sheltered housing tenants in warden schemes, this review to commence in summer 2012.

FURTHER TO RECOMMENDATION (c) ABOVE, COUNCIL RESOLVED TO AGREE THE FOLLOWING STATUTORY RESOLUTION IN RESPECT OF THE COUNCIL TAX FOR 2012/13:

That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2012/13 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

That it be noted that for the year 2012-13 Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire Police Authority and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authorities have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings as shown in Table 1:

and

SUPPORTING INFORMATION IN RESPECT OF SETTING THE COUNCIL TAX

Including the precepts from the County Council, the Police and Fire Authorities and all of the parishes, the formal Council Resolution would produce a council tax for a band D property of:

On these figures the council tax would range from £951.95 for Band A to £3,077.68 for Band H before any discounts or benefits.

Appendix C shows the General Fund summary including Parish precepts and the final Formula Grant figure.

Council RESOLVED to approve the Corporate Plan setting out the Council’s vision, aims approaches and actions for 2012–2017.

Cabinet AGREED to delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Leader to make any necessary changes to the Corporate Plan to add clarity to the Council’s vision, aims, approaches and actions.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Corporate Plan setting out the Council’s vision, aims approaches and actions for 2012–2017 be approved, subject to any clarifications made by the Chief Executive and Leader.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

a)            that the capital programme (Appendix A) and the associated funding up to the year ending 31st March 2017 be approved as submitted;

b)            that the revised revenue estimates for the year 2011/12 and the revenue estimates for 2012/13 be approved as submitted in the General Fund summary (Appendix B1);

c)            that the council tax requirement for 2012/13 be £7,019,160;

d)            that the Council set the amount of Council Tax for each of the relevant categories of dwelling in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 on the basis of a District Council Tax for general expenses on a Band D property of £115.46 plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Police and Fire Authorities, details of those precepts and their effect to be circulated with the formal resolution required at the Council meeting;

e)            that the medium term financial strategy for the General Fund (Appendix B2) be approved based on the assumptions set out in this report;

f)             that the precautionary items for the General Fund (Appendix B3) be approved;

g)            that Executive Management Team be instructed to identify further savings of £200,000 in 2012/13 and of £470,000 in subsequent years;

h)            that the Housing Revenue Account estimates and the rent increase for the financial year ending 31 March 2013 (Appendix C and C1) be approved, the rent increase being in accordance with rent restructuring guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government;

i)              that the service and other charges for housing services for the financial year ending 31 March 2013 be approved (Appendix C2);

j)              that the Housing Revenue Account business plan for the next 30 years to 31 March 2042 (Appendix C3) be approved;

k)            that the borrowing and investment strategy for the year to 31 March 2012 (revised) and for the year to 31 March 2013 (Appendix D1) be approved. This includes the proposed long term borrowing of around £205 million with regard to Housing Revenue Account Self Financing to be raised from the Public Works Loan Board and explicit approval is requested for this transaction; and

l)              that the prudential indicators required by the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities for the year to 31 March 2013 (Appendix D2) be approved.

This recommendation is not subject to call-in

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder:

(a)          endorsed the Revenue Estimates for 2012/13 and the Capital Programme up to 2016/17, relating to services within the Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio, and recommended them for consideration by Cabinet;

(b)          recommended to Cabinet that £30,000 (thirty thousand pounds) be included as a Precautionary item in respect of Neighbourhood Planning.

Not subject to the Call-in procedure

The Policy & Performance Portfolio Holder,

(a)          endorsed the 2011-12 revised and the 2012-13 Revenue Estimates relating to services within the Policy & Performance Portfolio and recommended them for consideration by Cabinet and Council, and

(b)          noted the Capital Estimates approved at the Finance & Staffing Portfolio Holder meeting in December.

Other Options Considered: To reject the 2011-12 revised and 2012-13 original revenue estimates.

Reason for Decision: The draft estimates for all services of the Council require consideration and endorsement by Portfolio Holders for presentation to Cabinet and Council in February.

The Leader

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET     The revenue and capital estimates for 2012/13 and the Capital Programme up to 2016/17, relating to services within the Leader’s Portfolio.

AGREED                                            The Capital Expenditure Proposal Form relating to Community Grants for inclusion in the Capital Programme.

This Recommendation is not subject to call-in

The Sustainability, Planning and Climate Change Portfolio Holder endorsed and recommended that Cabinet approve for consideration by Full Council

(a)        the Revenue Estimates as shown at Appendix A; and         

(b)          the Capital Programme as shown at Appendix B, and associated proposal forms Appendix C1 to C2,

(c)          the change of name for the Capital Programme project formerly described as “St Denys Church, East Hatley” to “Heritage Responsibilities”, and an increase of £8,000 to this budget, increasing it from £22,000 to £30,000.

(d)          the funding of the above £8,000 increase in capital expenditure from the £54,622 balance of the Historic Buildings Preservation Fund Reserve.

(e)          A ‘Precautionary sum of £50,000 (fifty thousand pounds) in respect of costs that might be incurred in defending decisions at Appeal.

This Recommendation is not subject to call-in.

The Housing Portfolio Holder

(a)       endorsed the Revenue and Capital Estimates for the Housing General Fund  as shown at Appendix A to the report (Revenue) and Appendix B (Capital) and recommended them for inclusion in the overall estimates to be considered by Cabinet on 9 February 2012;

(b)        confirmed  the proposals for housing general fund capital expenditure shown at Appendix D(1-7), for inclusion in the capital programme,

(c)       endorsed the proposed housing charges for 2012/13 as shown in Appendix C and recommended them for approval by Cabinet,  and

(d)       requested that Cabinet include £140,000, for possible additional expenditure on accommodation for homeless people, on the list of precautionary items for 2012/13.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder ENDORSED the Revenue Estimates for 2012/13 and the Capital Programme up to 2016/17, relating to services within the Environmental Health Portfolio, and CONFIRMED the proposals for capital expenditure at Appendix D for inclusion in the Capital Programme.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder noted that he had already approved the Capital Estimate and

AGREED        The revised Land Charges scheme of charges.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET AND COUNCIL

The 2011/12 revised and the 2012/13 Revenue Estimates relating to services within the Finance and Staffing Portfolio.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

(a)          To review, formalise and publicise how the Council consults with young people, businesses and the community when setting the budget,

(b)          That the purpose and allocation of the New Homes Bonus is made clear to Parish Councils through the forums and other communication channels.