Budget Council – 27 February 2025

List of Motions and Amendments to be Proposed

Liberal Democrat Amendment to the Budget proposals.

To be moved by Cllr Ayre as follows:

Revenue Budget

In relation to the Executive’s recommendations on the revenue budget (paragraph 14 of pages 43 and 44 of Council papers refers):

In sub paragraph c) add at the end of the sentence ‘subject to the following amendments;

· £600k to reverse the full impact of savings to the Library Service

· £370k additional funding to frontline neighbourhood services (of which £210k is one off and £160k recurring)

· £150k one off investment in bus services

· £300k one-off additional discounts to Green Waste charges and community waste disposal initiatives.

· £340k one-off reduction to fund partial reversal of parking increases pending completion of the review of city centre parking provisions set in the Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan

· £150k budget to reinstate Dial & Ride Service (funded partly by Public Health Grant)

· £200k one off investment in Social Service Day Club provision(funded from Public Health Grant)

· £60k budget for Treasury Management to fund additional capital investment

In sub paragraph d) add at the end of the sentence ‘subject to the following amendments;

· Delete additional Executive Support Assistant to Political Groups - £30k

· Reduction in Chief Officer roles, grades and capacity - £145k

· Reduction of two Executive Members - £40k

· Delete posts in the communications team - £90k

· Reduction in ICT budget - £140k

· No longer fund Economic Development, with the ambition of this being passed to the Combined Authority - £105k

· Reduction in council facility management contract spend - £150k

· Fund £150k additional street cleaning through voluntary tourist tax

· Remove vacant AD Public Health from establishment - £120k

· Use of CYT acquisition reserve subject to CYT board approval £500k

Add sub paragraph i) to paragraph 14

i) The use of £200k from the Public Health Reserve to fund the Social Care Day Clubs

Add sub paragraph j) to paragraph 14

j) The use of £500k from the Venture Fund

For information, the effect on the original motion of this amendment would be as follows:

Revenue Budget

14. Executive recommends that Council:

i. Approves the budget proposals outlined in the Financial Strategy report and in particular;

a) The net revenue expenditure requirement of £156.921m

b) A council tax requirement of £120.180m

c) The revenue growth proposals as outlined in paragraphs 51 to 53, subject to the following amendments;

•        £600k to reverse the full impact of savings to the Library Service

•        £370k additional funding to frontline neighbourhood services (of which £210k is one off and £160k recurring)

•        £150k one off investment in bus services

•        £300k one-off additional discounts to Green Waste charges and community waste disposal initiatives.

•        £340k one-off reduction to fund partial reversal of parking increases pending completion of the review of city centre parking provisions set in the Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan

•        £150k budget to reinstate Dial & Ride Service (funded partly by Public Health Grant)

•        £200k one off investment in Social Service Day Club provision (funded from Public Health Grant)

· £60k budget for Treasury Management to fund additional capital investment

d) The 2025/26 revenue savings proposals as outlined in annex 2, subject to the following amendments;

· Delete additional Executive Support Assistant to Political Groups - £30k

· Reduction in Chief Officer roles, grades and capacity - £145k

· Reduction of two Executive Members - £40k

· Delete posts in the communications team - £90k

· Reduction in ICT budget - £140k

· No longer fund Economic Development, with the ambition of this being passed to the Combined Authority- £105k

· Reduction in council facility management contract spend - £150k

· Fund £150k additional street cleaning through voluntary tourist tax

· Remove vacant AD Public Health from establishment - £120k

· Use of CYT acquisition reserve subject to CYT board approval £500k

e) The fees and charges proposals as outlined in annex 3

f) The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 25/26 budget set out in annex 5

g) The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) proposals outlined from paragraph 141

h) The Flexible Use of Receipts Policy set out in annex 7.

i) The use of £200k from the Public Health Reserve to fund the Social Care Day Clubs

j) The use of £500k from the Venture Fund

ii. Notes that the effect of approving the income and expenditure proposals included in the recommendations would result in a 4.99% increase in the City of York Council element of the council tax, 2% of which would relate to the social care precept.

Reason: To ensure a legally balanced budget is set

Capital Budget 2025/26 to 2029/30

In relation to the Executive’s recommendations on the capital budget (paragraph 15 of page 44 of Council papers refers):

Under paragraph 15 (i), insert new sub paragraphs:

e) Agree to the addition of the following schemes to be funded from borrowing

· Active Travel Fund                £425k

· Ward Highway Schemes       £500k

· Acomb Library                       £300k

· Westfield MUGA                    £300k

f) Remove the following schemes funded by borrowing

· CRIS Replacement (fund from ICT budget)                                                               £125k

· Crematorium Upgrade          £300k

g) Remove the following schemes funded from borrowing and only progress with alternative funding business cases

· Woodland Car Park               £400k

· CCTV and ANPR                   £100k

h) Reallocate £500k from Highway Schemes to Ward Highway Schemes

For information, the effect on the original recommendation of this amendment would be as follows:

The Executive is requested to recommend that Council:

i. Agree to the revised capital programme of £385.983m that reflects a net overall increase of £61.547m (as set out in table 2 and in Annex 1). Key elements of this include:

a) New schemes funded by prudential borrowing totalling £8.750m as set out in table 3 and amended by recommendations in para  e), f) and g) below;

b) Extension of prudential borrowing funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £24.712m as set out in table 4;

c) Extension of externally funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £11.935m as set out in table 5;

d) An increase in HRA funded schemes totalling £16.150m funded from a combination HRA balances/capital receipts as set out in table 6;

e) Agree to the addition of the following schemes to be funded from prudential borrowing

· Active Travel Fund                £425k

· Ward Highway Schemes       £500k

· Acomb Library                       £300k

· Westfield MUGA                    £300k

f) Remove the following schemes funded by prudential borrowing

· CRIS Replacement (fund from ICT budget)                                                               £125k

· Crematorium Upgrade          £300k

g) Remove the following schemes funded from borrowing and progress with alternative funding business cases

· Woodland Car Park               £400k

· CCTV and ANPR                   £100k

h) Reallocate £500k from Highway Schemes to Ward Highway Schemes

ii. Note the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £33.462m the details of which are considered within this report and the financial strategy report.

iii. Approve the full restated programme as summarised in Annex 2 totalling £385.983m covering financial years 2025/26 to 2029/30 as set out in table 12 and Annex 2

Reason:     In accordance with the statutory requirement to set a capital budget for the forthcoming financial year.

Capital and Investment Strategy

16. Executive recommends that Council:

i. Approve the Capital and Investment Strategy at Annex A

Reason: To meet the statutory obligation to comply with the Prudential Code 2017

Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators

17. Executive recommends that Council approve;

i. The proposed treasury management strategy for 2025/26 including the annual investment strategy and the minimum revenue provision policy statement;

ii. The prudential indicators for 2025/26 to 2029/30 in the main body of the report;

iii. The specified and non-specified investments schedule (annex B)

iv. The scheme of delegation and the role of the section 151 officer (annex D)

Reason: To enable the continued effective operation of the treasury management function and ensure that all council borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable.