Budget Council – 27 February 2025

List of Motions and Amendments to be Proposed

Conservative Amendment to the Budget proposals.

To be moved by Cllr Steward 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 a) delete “£156.921m” and replace with “£156.896m”

In sub paragraph b) delete £120.180m and replace with £120.155m

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

· £1,570k impact of reinstating a free first garden bin collection service

· £50k additional funding to for community transport to support reprovision of Dial & Ride type services, if a city wide solution cannot be facilitated then specific areas to be able to bid for localised funding

· £30k to freeze “Minster Badge” price at £30

· £50k to provide free compost bins to be collected by the public.

· £100k revenue cost of adding £1m capital to the Highways Budget

· £200k (one off) budget for Parking incentives funded from Venture Fund

· £25k (one off) Farming and General Countryside Hardship Fund to ensure benefits are accessed.

· £15k (one off) funding to seek whether an orbital bus route can be provided.

· Remove £150k growth for Community Caretakers

· Reduce disability training growth by £40k (one-off), ensuring additional £10k embedded in annual budget

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

· Outsource management of the Mansion House - £25k

· Outsource Adult Social Care Personal Support - £60k

· Outsource Adult Social Care Day Support - £38k

· Outsource Flaxman Avenue services - £26k

· Reduce CCTV budget – seek funding from North Yorkshire Police - £100k

· Delete posts in Democratic Governance - £89k

· Delete budget for Our City - £60k

· Reduction in Chief Officer roles and capacity - £200k

· Reduce Executive Special Responsibility Allowances by 25% - £57k

· Reduction of two Executive Members - £40k

· Delete posts in the corporate policy team - £105k

· Delete posts in the communications team - £150k

· Reduce overtime budget - £100k

· Delete Political Assistant posts - £90k

· Delete post in Equalities Team - £50k

· Delete posts in the Communities Team - £160k

· Reduction in ICT budget - £150k

· No longer fund Economic Development - £105k

· Reduction in council publicity - £30k

· Review of staff travel by - £20k

· Remove school crossing patrols where other physical measures in place - £20k

Add sub paragraph i) to paragraph 14

i) The use of £200k from the Venture Fund to fund the parking initiatives.

In paragraph 14 ii) third line, delete ‘4.99%’ and replace with ‘4.97%’.

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 £156.896m

b) A council tax requirement of £120.155m

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

· £1,570k impact of reinstating a free first garden bin collection service

· £50k additional funding to for community transport to support reprovision of Dial & RIde

· £30k to freeze “Minster Badge” price at £30

· £50k to provide free compost bins to be collected by public

· £100k revenue cost of adding £1m capital to the Highways Budget

· £200k one off budget for Parking incentives funded from Venture Fund

· £25k one off Farmers Hardship Fund to ensure benefits are accessed

· £15k one off funding to seek whether an orbital bus route can be provided

· Remove £150k growth for Community Caretakers

· Reduce disability training growth by £40k (one-off

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

· Outsource management of the Mansion House - £25k

· Outsource Adult Social Care Personal Support - £60k

· Outsource Adult Social Care Day Support - £38k

· Outsource Flaxman Avenue services - £26k

· Reduce CCTV budget – seek funding from North Yorkshire Police - £100k

· Delete posts in Democratic Governance - £89k

· Delete budget for Our City - £60k

· Reduction in Chief Officer roles and capacity £200k

· Reduce Executive Special Responsibility Allowances by 25% - £57k

· Reduction of two Executive Members - £40k

· Delete posts in the corporate policy team - £105k

· Delete posts in the communications team - £150k

· Reduce overtime budget - £100k

· Delete Political Assistant posts - £90k

· Delete post in Equalities Team - £50k

· Delete posts in the Local Area Co-ordinator Team -  £160k

· Reduction in ICT budget - £150k

· No longer fund Economic Development - £105k

· Reduction in council publicity - £30k

· Review of staff travel by - £20k

· Remove school crossing patrols where other physical measures in place - £20k

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 Venture Fund to fund the parking initiatives.

ii. Notes that the effect of approving the income and expenditure proposals included in the recommendations would result in a 4.97% 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):

In paragraph 15 (i), first linedelete ‘£385.383m’ and replace with ‘£386.383m’

In paragraph 15 (i), second linedelete ‘£60.947m’ and replace with ‘£61.947m’

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

e) Increase borrowing by an additional £1m to fund Highway Maintenance in 2025/26

In paragraph 15 (ii), second linedelete ‘£32.862m’ and replace with ‘£33.862m’

In paragraph 15 (iii), second line delete ‘£385.383m’ and replace with ‘£386.383m’

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 £386.383m that reflects a net overall increase of £61.947m (as set out in table 2 and in Annex 1). Key elements of this include:

a) New schemes funded by prudential borrowing totalling £8.150m as set out in table 3;

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) Increase borrowing by an additional £1m to fund Highway Maintenance in 2025/26

ii. Note the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £33.862m 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 £386.383m 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.