Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Customer & Corporate Services to present a report which provides details of the council’s overall finance and performance position for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018, together with an overview of any emerging issues.

Resolved:  (i)      That the finance and performance information set out in the report be noted.

                   (ii)      That the proposed change in council tax for empty homes, increasing to 100% the additional charge for properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, as outlined in paragraph 26 of the report, be approved.

Reason:     In accordance with the new power granted to councils from April 2018, to encourage the bringing of second properties into use.

                   (iii)     That the likely additional business rates income outlined in paragraph 30, and that some of this may be required to deal with the pressures outlined in the report, be noted.

Reason:     To ensure expenditure is kept within the approved budget.

The Corporate Director of Customer & Corporate Services presented a report which detailed the council’s overall financial and performance position for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018, together with an overview of any emerging issues.

The financial pressures facing the council were projected at £805k, broadly in line with previous years at this stage.  The report highlighted a number of known pressures, with strategies to manage and minimise these.  A total of £740k contingency was currently available.  All repayments were up to date on the two outstanding loans over £100k, both to Yorwaste.  It was expected that the council would again out-turn within the approved budget. 

The Corporate Director clarified that the recommendation in paragraph 26 should refer to ‘empty properties’ rather than ‘second homes’; the recommendation was therefore to increase to 100% the additional council tax charged on empty properties, in line with the powers granted by Government from April 2018.

Key statutory services continued to perform well, with 6 of the 18 strategic indicators for which there was new data showing improvements.  Details were set out in paragraphs 30–117.

Resolved:  (i)      That the finance and performance information set out in the report be noted.

                   (ii)      That the proposed change in council tax for empty properties, increasing to 100% the additional charge for properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, be approved.

Reason:     In accordance with the new power granted to councils from April 2018, to encourage the bringing of empty properties into use.

                   (iii)     That the likely additional business rates income outlined in paragraph 30, and that some of this may be required to deal with the pressures outlined in the report, be noted.

Reason:     To ensure expenditure is kept within the approved budget.