Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor invited all Members with any personal or prejudicial interests in the business on the agenda to declare their interests at this point in the meeting. Advice on the declaration of interests in respect of the Budget had been circulated to all Members by the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting.

The following personal interests were declared in relation to relevant aspects of the Capital and Revenue Budget proposals:

The Lord Mayor reported that there were no Civic announcements however Councillor Fitzpatrick wished to say a few words.

Councillor Fitzpatrick thanked members for all their support at her first Council meeting following her recent illness.

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 any 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 22 February 2012.

The Lord Mayor reported that there had been five registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme with regard to business associated with the setting of the Budget.

(i)           LyndallNicoll spoke on behalf of a friend with learning disabilities, against cuts and false economies being made, particularly in the areas of personal budgets, supported living services and telecare and employment schemes.

(ii)          Martin Readle spoke on closures of elderly persons homes and to the lack of consultation. He expressed his concerns at possible privatisation, to workers under threat of redundancy and to failures to deliver promises to protect the elderly.

(iii)        Kathy Denford, spoke as a worried York resident, who worked with vulnerable people. She expressed her support for the increase in council tax which should be used to make residents more equal. Concerns were raised as to how the budget cuts would affect the vulnerable and to possible privatisation of services.

(iv)        Andrea Dudding, of UNISON, spoke on the challenges the budget cuts would have on staff and residents. However she welcomed the two year budget and the Fairness Commission report but reiterated the knock on effect on citizens and their families which would affect spending the city.

(v)           Angela Harrison, Chief Executive of the Council for Voluntary Services, also spoke on the proposed cuts. She pointed out that voluntary service core grants were match funded by other bodies so there was a strong likelihood that other funding would also be lost. She stressed that there was a need to work together to ensure that their vital work continued.

To receive any petitions to be presented by Members in relation to business associated with setting the Council’s budget for the coming financial year, in accordance with Standing Order No.7.

In accordance with Standing Order 7, an e-petition was presented by Cllr Steward on behalf of local residents, calling for the council to commit to freezing York’s council tax when setting the budget for the next financial year.

The Lord Mayor confirmed receipt of the e-petition which would be considered when Members came to debate the budget.

To consider the recommendations made by the Cabinet, at their meeting on 14 February 2012, following consideration of the third monitor report on the Capital Programme.  These are set out in the attached Part B minute and will be moved by the Cabinet Leader.

Cllr Alexander moved, and Cllr Gunnell seconded, the recommendations made by the Cabinet on 14 February 2012 in relation to the Capital Programme Monitor 3 (Minute 103 refers), as follows:

“That Council approve

·       the increase in prudential borrowing relating to the Self issue library machines to the value of £57k taking the total amount to £247k in 2011/12 to be funded from departmental revenue budgets.

·       the increase in prudential borrowing relating to the Travellers Sites Electricity Units to the value of £46k taking the total amount to £230k in 2011/12 to be funded from departmental revenue budgets.

·       the net adjustments of a decrease of £15.091m in 2011/12. The increase as a result of re-profiling and adjustments of £16.395m in 2012/13. The increase as result of re-profiling and adjustments of £135k in 2013/14 and the decrease of £221k in 2014/15,  as set out in the report and contained in Annex A.”

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

RESOLVED:       That the recommendation contained in Minute 103 of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 February 2012 be approved.

To consider the recommendations made by the Cabinet, at their meeting on 14 February 2012, in relation to:

a)   The Council’s Capital Programme Budget for 2012/13 -2016/17

b)   The Council’s Revenue Budget proposals for 2012/13 and 2016/17 and

c)   The Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2012/13 – 2016/17

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

Note:

The original reports to Cabinet, on which their recommendations are based, were circulated to all Members on 3 February 2012 and can be found on the Council’s website, here:

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=6680&Ver=4

Cllr Alexander moved, and Cllr Gunnell seconded, the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of the Council’s Capital Programme Budget for 2012/13 – 2016/17, the Financial Strategy for 2012 – 2017 (including detailed Revenue Budget proposals for 2012/13 and 2013/14) and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2012/13 – 2016/17, set out in the report at page 3 of the Council papers, as follows:

“Capital Budget

34.        Cabinet recommends that Council;

i)     Agree to the revised capital programme of £187.364m that reflects a net overall increase of £53.641m (as set out in paragraph 32, table 9 and in Annex A ‘growth’ column of the Cabinet report). Key elements of this include:

                               a.    Extension of prudential borrowing funded rolling programme schemes totalling £2.105m as set out in paragraph 10 table 2 and summarised in paragraph 32 table 9;

                               b.    New schemes totalling £10.405m including increase in prudential borrowing of £2.595m as set out in paragraph 13 table 3 and summarised in paragraph 30 table 10;

                               c.    Reduction of existing prudential borrowing funded schemes totalling £4.500m as set out in paragraph 15 table 4 and summarised in paragraph 32 table 9;

                               d.    New externally funded and HRA funded schemes totalling £16.381m including HRA balances of £4.447m and including £500k of New Homes Bonus funding for replacement of street lighting  as set out in paragraph 18 table 5 and summarised in paragraph 32 table 9.

                               e.    Extension of the existing IT development programme totalling £750k in 2016/17 funded by prudential borrowing paid for from with in existing revenue budgets as set out in paragraph 31, table 8 and summarised in paragraph 32, table 9.

ii)    Approve the re-profiling of £150k from future years to 2012/13 in relation to replacement of unsound lighting columns scheme as shown in Annex A to the Cabinet report.

iii)  Approve the full restated programme as summarised in Annex A totalling £187.364m cover financial years 2012/13 to 2015/16 as set out in paragraph 34 table 10 of the Cabinet report.

iv)  Approve the establishment of the Economic Infrastructure Fund (EIF) and the proposed priority themes of expenditure as follows:

                               a.    Get York Moving including

·        Access York Park and Ride - £2.5m

·        Better Bus Fund - £2.0m see Annex C

                               b.    Digital York

                               c.    Reinvigorate York

                               d.    Economic Inclusion York

                               e.    Sustainable Economy York

v)   Approve Council funding to the EIF from £20m of prudential borrowing over the next 5 years, all of the New Homes Bonus funds (currently estimated at £8.5m) from 2012/13 onwards, except for £0.5m in 2012/13 which is allocated for Street Lighting replacement.

vi)  Agree that the Director of CBSS be authorised to take decisions on the financing of any expenditure, and profiling of any borrowing, in accordance with the overall financial framework agreed by Council

vii) Agree that decisions on the actual schemes, and monitoring of such schemes will be considered through regular financial monitoring reports to Cabinet 

Revenue Budget

35.        Cabinet recommends that Council

a.   approve the budget proposals outlined  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To consider the Council Tax Resolution for 2012/13, as set out in the attached report.

Councillor Alexander moved, and Councillor Gunnell seconded the Council Tax Resolution for 2012/13, as set out in the report at page 15 of the Council papers.

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

RESOLVED: (i)  That it be noted that on 14 December 2011 the Director of Customer and Business Support Services, under his delegated authority, calculated the Council Tax Base for the year 2012/13 as follows:

(a)      for the whole Council area as 67,420.75 [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 2012/13 (excluding Parish precepts) is £75,678,443.

(iii)        That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2012/13 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)      £354,936,959.00 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)     £278,642,907.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)     £76,294,052.00 being the amount by which the aggregate at 13(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 13(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)     £1,131.61 being the amount at 13(c) above [Item R], all divided by Item T (11(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)     £615,609.00 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)       £1,122.48    being the amount at 13(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 13(e) above by Item T (11(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

(iv)     That it be noted that the North Yorkshire Police Authority and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Act for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the tables below.

(v)      That the Council, in accordance with sections 30 and 36 of the Act, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below, and at Schedule B for Parished areas, as the amounts of Council Tax for 2012/13 for each part of its area and for each of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.