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 Deputy Monitoring Officer had confirmed that Government guidance stated that Members did not have a disclosable pecuniary interest in the overall business of setting the council tax and that the Council’s Code of Conduct also confirmed that Members did not have a prejudicial interest in that business on the agenda. However, in view of legal advice received, Councillor Flinders declared a disclosable pecuniary interest specifically in relation to York Central and any funding allocated to the project in view of his employment. In light of this declaration and in accordance with the appropriate constitutional requirements, Councillor Flinders was granted dispensation to vote on the overall setting of the budget.

The following personal interests were declared:

The following prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests were declared:

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

a)   Invite Council’s nomination for the Lord Mayor Elect 2019/20 in line with the Council’s Protocol for Nomination of Lord Mayors; and

b)   Invite the Lord Mayor Elect 2019/20 to announce their nominee for Sheriff for 2019/20.

The Lord Mayor invited Cllr Gillies to nominate the Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Year. Councillor Gillies nominated Cllr Keith Myers as the Lord Mayor Elect and this nomination was unanimously agreed.

Cllr Keith Myers confirmed that he would be honoured to accept this office with the assistance of his Lady Mayoress, Mrs Suzanne Myers. He also announced that Mrs Noelle Treanor and her husband Squadron Leader (Retd.) Barry Treanor would be Sheriff and Sheriff’s Consort for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

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 on this agenda (namely, the setting of the budget) may do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Wednesday 27 February 2019. To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

The Lord Mayor advised Members that under Public Participation procedures, at Budget Council each registered speaker had a maximum of 3 minutes to address Council or ask a question on any matter directly relevant to the setting of the budget, as laid down in Standing Orders governing Council meetings.

Three members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting under public participation.

Gwen Swinburn, a resident, addressed the council in relation to budget proposals. She spoke on the budget consultation process, which she stated was unfit for purpose and published on the last possible legal day. She expressed concern that neither the draft budget, nor amendments addressed the cuts in a satisfactory manner. She also spoke on the lack of Equalities Impact Assessments for the proposed cuts.

Jenny Dunning, a resident, spoke with regard to the budget proposals in relation to residents’ parking charges. She stated that the income that the Council made from ResPark charges far outweighed the administration and enforcement costs of the scheme. She suggested that the cost of parking permits should be reduced, and brought more in line with surrounding areas, such as Leeds, Kirklees and Hull.

Peter Richardson, a resident, addressed the council on the budget proposals in relation to council tax. He stated that he felt the Council were double charging the public in relation to the Adult Social Care precept. He suggested that the Council needed to refund around £100 pre Council Tax payer.

To consider the recommendations made by Executive, at their meeting on 14 February 2019, regarding the disposal of open space at Rowntree Park Lodge and the third monitor report on the Capital Programme. These are set out in the attached Part B minute and will be moved by the Executive Leader.

Councillor Gillies moved, and CouncillorWaller seconded, the following recommendations made by the Executive at their meeting on 14 February 2019 following consideration of a report on the Disposal of Open Space at Rowntree Park Lodge and Update of Financial Business Case (Minute 111) as follows:

“ (i)    That Council allocate a further £110,000 capital budget, funded from prudential borrowing, to facilitate the regeneration of Rowntree Park Lodge in accordance with the revised business case, this allocation to be funded from the revenue receipts from the holiday lets together with funds from existing budgets to deal with property maintenance.

(ii)      That the decision to commence delivery of the scheme be delegated to a future Decision Session of the Executive Leader (Incorporating Finance & Performance) following further consultation and engagement with the Friends of Rowntree Park and local residents to establish how funding priorities will be identified using the net income from Rowntree Lodge.”

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

Resolved:  That the recommendation contained in minute 111 of the Executive Meeting held on 14 February 2019 in relation to the Disposal of Open Space at Rowntree Park Lodge be approved.

Councillor Gillies then moved, and CouncillorWaller seconded, the following recommendation made by the Executive at their meeting on 14 February 2019 following consideration of a report on the Capital Programme – Monitor 3 2018-19 (Minute 112) as follows:

“That Council approve the adjustments resulting in a decrease of £15.952m in the 2018/19 budget, as detailed in the report and

in Annex A”.

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

Resolved:  That the recommendation contained in minute 112 of the Executive Meeting held on 14 February 2019 in relation to adjustments to the Capital Programme for 2018-19 be approved.

To consider the recommendations made by Executive, at their meeting held on 14 February 2019, in relation to:

a)   the Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24

b)   the Capital Financing & Investment Strategy

c)   the Capital Budget 2019/20 to 2023/24 (formerly Capital Programme 2019/20 and 2023/24)

d)   the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2019/20 to 2023/24

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

Note:

The original budget reports to Executive, on which these recommendations are based, were circulated to all Members and can be found on the Council’s website here:

https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=11007

Councillor Gillies moved and Councillor Waller seconded as follows below, the Executive’s recommendations from its meeting on 14 February 2019 relating to the setting of the Council’s budget from 2019/20 to 2034/24 and incorporating the:

i) Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24

ii) Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

iii) Capital Budget 2019/20 to 2023/24

iv) Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators 2019/20 to 2023/24

Capital Financing and Investment Strategy

Executive recommends that Council:

Approve the capital and investment strategy at Annex A

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

Capital Budget 2019/20 to 2023/24 (formerly Capital Programme 2019/20 and 2023/24)

Executive recommends that Council:

i.        Agree to the revised capital programme of £579.762m that reflects a net overall increase of £185.898m (as set out in paragraph 89 table 13 and in Annex A). Key elements of this include:

a)      New Schemes funded by Prudential borrowing totalling £28.960mas set out in tables 3 and summarised in table 13

b)      New Schemes funded by a combination of both Prudential borrowing and external funds of £28.7m as set out in table 4 and summarised in table 13;

c)      Extension to existing schemes of £7.372m funded by Prudential borrowing as set out in table 5 and summarised in table 13;

d)      Extension of prudential borrowing funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £6.903m as set out in table 5 and summarised  in table 13;

e)      Extension of externally funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £7.941m as set out in table 6 and summarised in table 13;

f)       An increase in HRA funded schemes totalling £106.022m funded from a combination HRA balances/Right to Buy receipts as set out in table 7 and summarised in table 13

ii.       Note the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £46.385m the details of which are considered within this report and the financial strategy report

iii.      Approve the full re-stated programme, as set out in table 13 and summarised in Annex B, totalling £579.762m and covering the financial years 2019/20 to 2023/24.

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

Revenue Budget (Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24)

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 123.372m

b.      A council tax requirement of £90.066m

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

d.      The 2019/20 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) budget set out in annex 4, the HRA savings proposals set out in annex 5 and the 30 year HRA Business Plan set out in annex 6

g.      The dedicated schools grant proposals outlined from paragraph 173

h.      The use of £100k of funds previously set aside in a Public Health Grant Reserve,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To consider the Council Tax Resolution for 2019/20, as set out in the attached report.

Finally, and in light of the setting of the budget for 2019/20 under minute no. 58 above, Councillor Gillies moved and Councillor Waller seconded the Council Tax resolution for 2019/20.

The required named vote, in accordance with legal regulations, was then taken on the Council Tax recommendation with the following results:

The motion was declared CARRIED and it was:

Resolved: 

(i)      That it be noted that on 26 November 2018 the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Customer and Corporate Services, under his delegated authority, calculated the council tax base for the year 2019/20:

(a)     for the whole Council area as 67,706.1 [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 2019/20 (excluding Parish precepts) is £90,066,040

(iii)     That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)     £400,468,192 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)     £309,650,190 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)     £90,818,002 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)     £1,341.36 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)     £751,962 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)      £1,330.25 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 Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.