Agenda and minutes

Before the formal business of the meeting began, the Lord Mayor invited all present to stand for a minute’s silent reflection in memory of the late Ian Gillies, former Councillor, Council Leader and Lord Mayor, and the late Mick Bradley, former Councillor, Lord Mayor, and Honorary Alderman.

She then welcomed Cllr Richard Watson on his return to the Council following his success at a recent by-election, and offered congratulations to Cllr Bob Webb, who had recently welcomed his first child.

The Lord Mayor also welcomed a group of international students from the University of York who were present to observe the meeting.

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Waudby.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(1)         Members must consider their interests, and act according to the

following:

(2)         Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)         Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 November 2024.

Resolved:   That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 November 2024 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business.

The Lord Mayor paid tribute to former Councillors Ian Gillies and Mick Bradley, PC Rosie Prior, and York D-Day veterans Joe Thomas and Joseph Wood, all of whom had sadly passed away since the last meeting of Council.

The Lord Mayor also gave a brief summary of the activities of the civic party over recent months, noting that she had met with representatives of over forty organisations. She highlighted the contribution to the city of all of York’s volunteers, charity workers and fundraisers, and offered her thanks to them for their efforts.

At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council, or to ask a Member of the Council a question, on a matter directly relevant to the business of the Council or the City, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 25 February 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this public meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission.  The remote public meeting can be viewed live and on demand at

www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we're running council meetings.  See our updates at www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that one member of the public had registered to speak at the meeting under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn spoke in relation to the Budget recommendations at Agenda item 8, expressing concern over a lack of effort to tackle deprivation in the city. She suggested that the Respark scheme could be expanded, and requested that Equalities Impact Assessments be provided for all spending decisions and that changes to the budget process be considered by Scrutiny.

To consider any petitions received from Members in accordance with Standing Order B6. Notice has been received of no petitions.

It was reported that notice of no petitions had been received under Rule B6.

To consider the recommendations made by Executive, at their meeting on 21 January 2025, regarding the third monitor report on the 2024/25 Capital Programme.  These are set out in the attached Part B minute and will be moved by the Executive Leader.

Please note you can view the Executive Budget Agenda for 21 January 2025 here: https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=14504

Cllr Douglas moved, and Cllr Kilbane seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 75 of the Executive meeting held on 21 January 2025:

“Recommended:

i.      Recommend to Full Council the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2024/25 budget of £20.923m as detailed in the report;

Reason:     To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.”

On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED, and it was

Resolved: That the above recommendation be approved.

To consider the recommendations made by the Executive, at their meeting on 21 January 2025, in relation to:

i)      The Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 (Revenue Budget)

ii)    The Capital Budget 2025/26 to 2029/30

iii)  The Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

iv)  The Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators 2025/26 to 2029/30.

These recommendations are set out in the attached report and will be moved by the Executive Leader.

Please note you can view the Executive Budget Agenda for 21 January 2025 here: https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=14504

Cllr Douglas moved, and Cllr Kilbane seconded, the following recommendations made by the Executive at its meeting on 21 January 2025 in relation to:

i)        The Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 (Revenue Budget)

ii)      The Capital Budget 2025/26 to 2029/30

iii)    The Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

iv)    The Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators 2025/26 to 2029/30

as set out in paragraphs 14 to 17 of the report at Agenda Item 8 on the Council agenda:

“Revenue Budget

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

                                      d)     The 2025/26 revenue savings proposals as outlined in annex 2

                                      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 Capital Receipts Policy set out in annex 7

                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

Executive recommends that Council approves the budget proposals outlined in the Capital Budget 2025/26 to 2029/30 and in particular:

                i.          Agree to the revised capital programme of £385.383m that reflects a net overall increase of £60.947m (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;

               ii.          Note the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £32.862m 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 £385.383m 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

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

Executive recommends that Council approve;

                i.          The treasury management strategy for 2025/26 including the annual investment strategy and the minimum revenue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To consider the Council Tax Resolution for 2025/26, as set out in the attached report.

Following the setting of the budget for 2025/26 under minute 64 above, Cllr Douglas moved, and Cllr Kilbane seconded, the Council Tax resolution for 2025/26, as set out in the report and schedules at pages 58-61 of the Council agenda.

Following a brief debate Cllr Warters moved, and Cllr Webb seconded, that the question be now put.

On being put to the vote, this motion was declared CARRIED.

Therefore the required named vote was taken on the Council Tax Resolution, with the following result:

The motion was accordingly declared CARRIED, and it was

Resolved:

                    i.                That it be noted that on 2 December 2024 the Chief Finance Officer, under her delegated authority, calculated the council tax base for the year 2025/26:

(a)      for the whole Council area as 69,426.10 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; and

(b)      for those dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in column 1 in the attached Schedule A.

              ii.                    Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 (excluding Parish precepts) is £120,180,050.

             iii.                    That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2025/26 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)      £565,383,463      being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

(b)      £444,083,969      being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)       £121,299,494      being the amount by which the aggregate at 9(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 9(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. [Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act].

(d)      £1,747.17             being the amount at 9(c) above [Item R], all divided by Item T (7(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).

(e)      £1,119,444          being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Schedule A).

(f)         £1,731.05             being the amount at 9(d) above  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

The purpose of the report is to present for approval the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2025-2026.

Council received a report which presented the Pay Policy Statement for 2025-2026.

Cllr Lomas moved, and Cllr Kent seconded, the following recommendation contained in the report:

“Recommended:

i.            For the Council to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2025-2026.

Reason:     In order to fulfil the requirements of Section 38 – 43 of the Localism Act 2011 for the Council to produce and publish an annual policy statement that covers a number of matters concerning the pay of the Council’s senior staff, principally Chief Officers and relationships with the pay of the rest of the workforce.”

On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED, and it was

Resolved: That the above recommendation be approved.