Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

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.

It was noted that the Monitoring Officer had confirmed that government guidance stated Members did not have a disclosable pecuniary interest in the business of setting the council tax and that the Council’s code of conduct also stated that Members did not have a prejudicial interest in that business.

No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Special and Ordinary meetings of Council held on 17 December 2020.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Special and Ordinary meetings of Council held on 17 December 2020 be approved as a correct record in each case, to be signed by the Chair at a later date, subject to the addition of the following wording to the end of the section on questions to Cllr D’Agorne under Minute 85 (Questions to the Leader or Executive Members):

                   “From Cllr Douglas: How did the Green Party become involved in the payoff to the Chief Executive and its principles so compromised?

Following a request by Cllr Ayre the Lord Mayor referred this question to the Monitoring Officer who stated that this was a matter being debated via the Audit and Governance Committee and also with external auditors, and as a result it would be inappropriate to comment further.  In response to a challenge from Cllr K Taylor, the Lord Mayor sought clarification from the Monitoring Officer as to whether it might be more appropriate to discuss this matter more fully when the auditor’s report had been completed, either at Audit & Governance Committee or at Full Council.  TheMonitoring Officer confirmed that this was the case.”

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

The Lord Mayor drew attention to the fact that it was a year since Council last met in person.  She suggested that Members give some thought to the creation of a memorial space in York to remember all those who had lost their lives during the pandemic.

The Lord Mayor then noted the recent deaths of two people of significance to York, namely:

George Barton, former Member of City of York Council;

Richard Shephard, former Head of Minster School and former Chamberlain of York Minster.

Members observed a few moments’ silence in memory of them both.

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 setting of the Council’s budget for the coming financial year, may do so.

Please note that the deadlines for registering to speak at our meetings have changed to two working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at remote meetings. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 23 February 2021.

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 Remote Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this remote 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've made some changes to how we're running council meetings.  See our coronavirus updates at www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that 5 members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting under the Public Participation item in relation to business associated with setting the council’s budget for the coming financial year. 

Gwen Swinburn expressed the view that public consultation on the draft budget was inadequate and asked that this matter be referred to the Audit & Governance Committee.

Tom Franklin welcomed the budget proposals but also expressed concerns about the consultation process, which he suggested should take place over a longer period next year.

Matthias Ruth, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of York, welcomed the proposals for investment to address climate change and looked forward to connecting with the council on this.

Jason Rose, Executive Director of York Fighting Coronavirus Together, supported the response to the pandemic but asked Members to prioritise the most vulnerable and financially disadvantaged people when implementing it.

Katherine Macy, highlighted the issues faced by carers from her own experience and welcomed the proposals in the budget to invest in carers.

To consider a report of the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Governance recommending additional delegations, in line with the previous Council decision, to enable the submission of a response on behalf of City of York Council to the statutory consultation on Local Government Reorganisation.

Council received a report from the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Governance which recommended additional delegations, in line with the previous Council decision (Minute 68 of the meeting on 31 October 2020 refers), to enable the council to respond to the statutory consultation on Local Government Reorganisation.

Cllr Aspden moved, and Cllr D’Agorne seconded, the following recommendations, as set out in the report:

“Council is asked to:

a)   Agree to support the North Yorkshire unitary proposal, given that of the only two options to be considered by Government, it aligns with City of York Council’s case to remain as an existing unitary Council in its present form, and to make clear City of York Council’s opposition to the East West proposal.

Reason: to allow officers to submit a clear response to the consultation.

b)   Agree to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to submit a consultation response within the consultation process for City of York Council to remain as a unitary authority, as outlined in paragraph 13.

Reason: to ensure officers are able to support the policy position agreed at Full Council in October 2020.

c)   Agree to delegate to the Chief Operating Officer authority to undertake any actions he considers appropriate to promote City of York Council’s case to remain as a unitary authority, as outlined in paragraphs 14 and 15.

Reason: to ensure officers are able to use appropriate resources to maintain ongoing support for the policy position agreed at Full Council in October 2020.”

A named vote was then taken, with the following result:

The recommendations were therefore declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved:  That the above recommendations be approved.

To consider the recommendations made by Executive, at their meeting on 11 February 2021, regarding the third monitor report on the 2020/1 Capital Programme.  These are set out in the attached Part B minutes and will be moved by the Executive Leader.

Cllr Aspden moved, and Cllr D’Agorne seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 99 of the Executive meeting held on 11 February 2021:

“Recommended: That Council approve the adjustments detailed in the report and contained in Annex A, resulting in a decrease of £24.824m in the approved budget.

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

A named vote was then taken, with the following result:

The recommendation was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved:  That the above recommendation be approved.

To consider the recommendations made by the Executive, at their meeting on 11 February 2021, in relation to:

i)     The Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26

ii)    The Capital Budget 2021/22 to 2025/26

iii)  The Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

iv)  The Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators 2021/22 to 2025/26.

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

Note:

The original budget reports to Executive, on which their recommendations are based, will be circulated to all Members with this agenda and can be found on the council’s website, here:

https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=12508&Ver=4

Councillor Aspden moved and Councillor D’Agorne seconded, the following recommendations made by Executive at its meeting on 11 February 2021 in relation to:

·        the Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26

·        the Capital Budget 2021/22 to 2025/26

·        the Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

·        the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators 2021/22 to 2025/26,

as set out in paragraphs 42 to 45 of the report at Item 7 on the Council agenda:

Revenue Budget

“Executive recommends that Council:

i)     Approve the budget proposals outlined in the Financial Strategy report and in particular;

                               a.    The net revenue expenditure requirement of £131.392m

                               b.    A council tax requirement of £98.051m

                               c.    The revenue growth proposals as outlined in the body of the report

                               d.    The 2021/22 revenue savings proposals as outlined in annex 2

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

                                 f.    The consultation feedback as set out in annex 4

                               g.    The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) growth set out in annex 5,  the HRA savings proposals set out in annex 6, HRA 2021/22 budget set out in annex 7 and the HRA 30 year plan set out in annex 8.

                               h.    The dedicated schools grant proposals outlined from paragraph 156

                                 i.    The use of £52k New Homes Bonus to fund one off investment, as outlined in paragraph 87.

ii)    That Council note 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, 3% of which would relate to the social care precept.

Reason: To ensure a legally balanced budget is set.”

Capital Budget 2021/22 to 2025/26

“Executive recommends that Council:

i)     Agree to the revised capital programme of £546.880m that reflects a net overall increase of £41.037m (as set out in table 2 and in Annex A). Key elements of this include:

a.   New schemes funded by prudential borrowing totalling £7.513m as set out in tables 3;

b.   New schemes funded by a combination of both prudential borrowing and external funds of £3.300m as set out in table 4 and summarised in table 5;

c.   New schemes funded by a combination of prudential borrowing and other internal funds of £200k as set out in table 6;

d.   Extension of prudential borrowing funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £10.870m as set out in table 5 and summarised in table 7;

e.   Extension of externally funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £7.200m as set out in table 9;

f.     An increase in HRA funded schemes totalling £11.954m funded from a combination HRA balances/Right to Buy receipts as set out in table 10;

ii)    Note the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £20.483m the details of which are considered within this report and the financial strategy report

iii)  Approve the full restated programme as summarised in Annex B totalling £546.880m covering financial years 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in table 14 and Annex  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

To consider the Council Tax Resolution for 2021/22, as set out in the attached report.

Finally, and in light of the setting of the budget for 2021/22 under minute no.92 above, Councillor Aspden moved, and Councillor D’Agorne seconded, the Council Tax resolution for 2021/22, as set out in the report and schedules at pages 55-65 of the Council agenda.

After debate, 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 10 December 2020 the Chief Finance Officer, under her delegated authority, calculated the council tax base for the year 2021/22:

(a)     for the whole Council area as 67,511.60 [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)         That it be calculated that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2021/22 (excluding Parish precepts) is £98,051,150.

(iii)        That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)         £433,334,302        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)        £334,476,460         being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)         £98,857,842           being the amount by which the aggregate at 14(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 14(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)        £1,464.31               being the amount at 14(c) above [Item R], all divided by Item T (12(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)        £806,692                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)          £1,452.36               being the amount at 14(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 14(e) above by Item T (12(a) above), calculated by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.