Agenda item

Cllr Steve Galloway sought Council’s agreement to alter Recommendation (ii) of the Executive in relation to the Revenue Budget (Minute 163), to read as follows:

 

“(ii)      That, consequential upon the above amendments, Council approve the proposals set out in the report, namely:

a)                 The net revenue expenditure requirement for 2008/09 as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 17);

b)                 The housing revenue account proposals outlined in Annex 12;

c)                  The dedicated schools grant proposals outlined from paragraph 80 onwards;

d)                 The revenue growth proposals for 2008/09 outlined in Annex 3, totalling £8.013m;

e)                 The revenue savings proposals for 2008/09 outlined in Annexes 1 and 4, totalling £6.198m;

f)                    The use in 2008/09 of £1.823m of revenue reserves, as outlined in paragraph 49;

g)                 The adoption of a risk based calculation to inform the Director of Resources’ opinion on the appropriate minimum level of general reserves, as described in paragraph 51;

h)                  The fees and charges proposals in Annex 8.”

 

Council having agreed to the above alteration Cllr Steve Galloway moved, and Cllr Jamieson-Ball seconded, the recommendations of the Executive, as altered, in relation to the Council’s budget for 2008/09, including the Revenue Budget, Fees and Charges, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme Budget proposals.

 

Cllr Scott then moved, and Cllr Potter seconded, the following amendment to the Executive recommendations, as altered, on behalf of the Labour Group:

 

“Contingency Fund

(1)         At the end of recommendation (i) (b) (page 2 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the sum of £44k for special responsibility allowances for Members in line with inflation’.

Council Tax

(2)                           In recommendation (i) (a) replace the figure ‘4.75%’ with ‘4.50%’.

(3)                           In recommendation (iii) (page 3 Council Summons) on line 4 replace the figure ‘4.75%’ with ‘4.50%’

Net Revenue Expenditure

In Recommendation (ii)(a) replace the figure ‘£112.294m’ with ‘£112.132m’

(4)            Recommendation (i)c)

Replace the figure in brackets for item CorpNew2 (2^nd bullet point ) with the words ‘(further £40k)’

Replace the figure in brackets for item HSIG1 (4^th bullet point) with the words ‘(further £50k)’

Delete CSYG2 – end of prudential borrowing, highways & street ops (294k) (bullet point 7 on page 3 of Council Summons)

 

 

(5)            Growth

At the end of paragraph (ii) d) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the following item:

• CSYG2 –CSYG2 - end of prudential Borrowing, Highways and Street Ops. +£294K

and the inclusion of the following items from Annex 9 of the Executive revenue budget papers (Annex 7 of new report to Council):

·        CSIG12 – ‘Smarter Choices’ travel promotion (£50k)

as well as the above proposed increases to growth in relation to items HSIG1 and CorpNew2 referred to in Recommendation (i)c) above and subject also to the following additional items:

·        Funds for fireworks display (£50k)

·        additional contact hours for Home Care in relation to city wide enabling and intermediate care teams (£50k)

·        additional funding to York Credit Union (£25k)

·        increases to the proposed recycling pilot scheme (£20k)

·        keeping St Georges Field toilets open all year (£20k)

·        grant to the Older Peoples Assembly (£10k)

·        grant to York Unifying and Multicultural (£1k)’

[Note: as result of the above amendment, growth will total £8.124m]

(6)            Savings

(a)     At the end of recommendation (ii) (e) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the following items:

·        RESHS2 – reduction in Audit/Fraud resources by 1fte (£24k)

·        LCHS3 – family support staffing reduction (£24k)

·        LCMS4 – sports SLA and grants (£10k)

·        LCMDS6 – school swimming support (£2k)

and the inclusion of the following item from Annex 5 of the Executive papers (Annex 7 of new report to Council) amended to:

·        CSHS4 – reduction in the number of subsidised bus services (£21k)’

Together with the following alteration to:

·        LCHS9 – a further reduction in parks and open spaces maintenance (£23k)

As well as the additional items as follows:

·        reduction in the Directors with move towards Strategic Directors (£60k)

·        reintroduction of JC Deceaux contract for city centre and bus shelter advertisements (£35k)

·        reduction in available budget to remunerate a Deputy Leader and one Executive Member (32k), as well as a Main Opposition Deputy Leader and Shadow Executive Member (£11k)

·        replacement of EMAPs with a revised structure of devolved power to Executive Members and Directors (£10k)

·        removal of  1 Private Street Adoption officer post (£23k)

·        centralisation of HR activity (£20k)

·        reduction in recruitment consultant expenditure (£20k)

·        additional street trader licence (£15k)

·        revised date for Council Tax direct debits (£7k)

·        revised date for NNDR direct debits (£6k)’

[Note: as result of the above amendment, savings will total £6.471m]

(7)       Fees and Charges

At the end of recommendation (ii)(h), add the following words ‘subject to the following alteration:

·        NSMS9 - increase Commercial Waste fees by a further 3% (£50k)

together with the additional items reducing the level of fees and charges, as follows:

·        reduction in residents parking fees by 10% (£44k)

·        free evening parking for Minster badge holders from 5.30pm (£35k)

·        free parking for Green Minster badge holders for residents with environmentally friendly vehicles (£10k)’

(8)            Revenue Reserves

In order to fund an increase in the use of reserves by £50k, in recommendation (ii) (f) replace the figure ‘£1.823m’ with ‘£1.873m’, for the purpose of enabling a review (LS19) of the senior management structure, creating strategic directorates aimed at delivering a part year saving of £60k and £150k per year thereafter.

(9)            Capital Programme

At the end of recommendation (a) on the Capital Programme (page 6 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of Balfour Street Play Area’.”

 

A vote was then taken on the above amendment except for that part (no. 9) that related to the Capital Budget and the amendment was declared LOST.

 

Cllr Gillies then moved, and Cllr Healey seconded, the following amendment to the Executive recommendations, as altered, on behalf of the Conservative Group:

 

(1)            Contingency Fund

At the end of recommendation (i)(b) (page 2 Council Summons) add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the following items:

• CX new Members SRA Allowances (£44k)
• CX new Members Allowances possible Superannuation costs (£50k) defer for 1 year’

to be replaced by:

• ‘The commissioning of the following reviews:

- Commercial Property Portfolio (£50k)

- Subsidised and Community Transport (£44k)’

(2)            Growth

In recommendation (ii) (d) replace the figure ‘£8.013m’ with ‘£8.183m’ and at the end of recommendation (ii) (d) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the following additional items:

• Development of Organisational Effectiveness Programme   (£85k)
• Review of Leisure and Culture Services (£50k)
• Review of services that the Council should strategically procure or ‘share’ (£25k)
• LCMS4 Sports SLA’s and grants (£10k)’

 

 

(3)            Savings

At the end of recommendation (ii) (e) (page 3 of the Council Summons) add the words ‘subject to the addition of the following items:

• CSNGIC start concessionary arrangements at 9:30am rather than 9:00am  (£23k)
• Reduction in the available budget to remunerate Executive and Shadow Executive Members by 3 in each group to better align the structure with Council Directorate (£57k)
• CSHS2 withdraw the provision of bus tokens (£125k)’

[Note; as a result of these changes, the savings total figure in (ii) (e) would be £6.420m]

(4)            Reserves

In recommendation (ii) (f) replace the figure ‘£1.823m’ with ‘£1.788m’.”

 

On being put to the vote, the above amendment was declared LOST.

 

Cllr D’Agorne then moved, and Cllr Taylor seconded, the following amendment to the Executive recommendations, as altered, on behalf of the Green Group:

 

(1)       At the end of Recommendation (ii)a), add the words ‘including a reduction in contingency funds of £100k’.

(2)            Growth

At the end of recommendation (ii) d) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the following additional items:

·        recycling from new flats as they are occupied during 2008/09 and integrated piloting of commercial waste recycling from selected customers (£117k) (mid-year start)

·        promotion of energy efficient work in private sector housing (£35k)

·        traffic congestion modelling and consultancy work (£35k)

·        development of a tree strategy for the city (£30k)

·        increase in budget for flood events and warping (£24k)

·        new cycling/walking officer (£17k)

·        setup and running costs of Cycle forum (£5k)

·        preparation of bid for cycle demonstration town status (£5k)

together with the inclusion of the following item from Annex 9 of the Executive revenue budget papers (Annex 7of new report to Council):

·        CSIG12 – Smart travel promotion (£25k)

[Note: as a result of these amendments, growth would total £8.306m]

(3)            Savings

At the end of Recommendation (ii)e) (page 3 of the Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the following item:

·        NSLS1 – reducing the number of staff in the waste strategy unit (£17k)”

And the inclusion of the following items from Annex 5 of the Executive papers (Annex 7 of new report to Council)

·        CSNG1c – starting concessionary pass arrangements from 9.30am (£40k)

·        CSHS6 – withdrawing contribution to york-England.com (£30k)

Together with the following:

·        deletion of Shadow Executive special responsibility allowances, not including leadership (£34k)

·        cessation of use of recruitment consultants to senior posts (£20k)

·        creation of an annual charge for members parking passes (£6k)’

[Note: As a result of these changes, savings would total £6.291m]

(4)       Fees and Charges

At the end of recommendation (ii)(h), add the following words ‘subject 

to the deletion of the following:

·        CSNS1 – 2.3% increase for first Respark holder: partial saving (£7k)
City Strategy – child cycle training fee increase (£3k)

and the inclusion of the following:

·        increase in standard stay parking  by 10p per hour (£40k) for Minster badge holders (alongside the proposed 20p increase for visitors);

together with increasing the commercial waste fees by a further 3% (raising £50k – NSMS9)’.”

[Note: as a result of these changes, savings and fees and charges will total £6.391]

 

On being put to the vote, the above amendment was declared LOST.

 

At this point, Steve Galloway moved that the meeting be adjourned and that the guillotine be suspended until at least 11:00 pm.  Cllr Sunderland seconded the motion, which was agreed by Council.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm and re-convened at 12:25 am.

 

Cllr Steve Galloway then moved, and Cllr Jamieson-Ball seconded, that Standing Order 14(i) be suspended to enable Council to consider further amendments to the Budget proposals.

 

Council having agreed the above motion to suspend Standing Order14(i), the Lord Mayor then ruled under Standing Order 14(o) that she would permit two amendments to be moved and discussed at the same time.   Cllr Scott then moved, and Cllr Potter seconded, the following amendment to the Executive recommendations, as altered:

 

Amendment A

 

“(1)            Contingency Fund

At the end of Recommendation (ii)a), add the words ‘including a reduction in contingency funds of £100k’

At the end of recommendation (i)(b) (page 2 of the Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the deletion of the sum of £44k for special responsibility allowances for Members in line with inflation’ and replace with ‘a review of  Subsidised and Community Transport (£44k)’

(2)            Recommendation (i)(c)   

Replace the figure in brackets for item CorpNew2 (2^nd bullet point ) with the words ‘(further £40k)’

Replace the figure in brackets for item HSIG1 (4^th bullet point) with the words ‘(further £50k)’

Delete

• CSYG2 – end of Prudential Borrowing, Highways & Street Ops (£294k) (bullet point 7 on page 3 of the Council Summons)
• LCHS -  Archives one day closing (£16k)

(3)            Growth

At the end of paragraph (ii) d) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words ‘subject to the inclusion of the following items from Annex 9 of the Executive revenue budget papers (Annex 7 of new report to Council):

·        CSIG12 – ‘Smarter Choices’ travel promotion (£50k)

As well as the above proposed increases to growth in relation to items HSIG1 and CorpNew2 referred to in Recommendation (i)c) above; and subject also to the following additional items:

·        Funds for fireworks display (£50k)

·        additional contact hours for Home Care in relation to city wide enabling and intermediate care teams (£50k)

·        additional funding to York Credit Union (£25k)

·        increases to the proposed recycling pilot scheme (£20k)

·        keeping St Georges Field toilets open all year (£20k)

·        grant to the Older Peoples Assembly (£10k)

·        grant to York Unifying and Multicultural (£1k)

·        Development of Organisational Effectiveness Programme (£85k from reserves)

·        Review of Leisure and Culture Services (£50k)

·        Review of services that the Council should strategically procure or ‘share’ (£25k from reserves)

·        Review of Commercial property portfolio (£25k)

·        promotion of energy efficient work in private sector housing (£35k)

·        traffic congestion modelling and consultancy work (£35k)

·        development of a tree strategy for the city (£30k)

·        increase in budget for flood events and warping (£24k)

·        new cycling/walking officer (£17k)

·        setup and running costs of Cycle forum (£5k)

·        preparation of bid for cycle demonstration town status (£5k)’

[Note: as result of the above amendment, growth will total £8.463m]

(4)          Savings

(a)     At the end of recommendation (ii) (e) (page 3 of Council Summons), add the words‘subject to the deletion of the following items:

·        RESHS2 – reduction in Audit/Fraud resources by 1fte (£24k)

·        LCHS3 – family support staffing reduction (£24k)

·        LCMS4 – sports SLA and grants (£10k)

·        LCMDS6 – school swimming support (£2k)

·        NSLS1 – reducing the number of staff in the waste strategy unit (£17k)

and the inclusion of the following item from Annex 5 of the Executive papers (Annex 7 of new report to Council) amended to:

·        CSHS4 – reduction in the number of subsidised bus services (£21k).’

Together with the following alteration to:

·        LCHS9 – a further reduction in parks and open spaces maintenance (£23k)

As well as the additional items as follows:

·        reduction in the Directors with move towards Strategic Directors (£60k)

·        reintroduction of JC Deceaux contract for city centre and bus shelter advertisements (£35k)

·        reduction in available budget to remunerate a Deputy Leader and one Executive Member (£32k), as well as a Main Opposition Deputy Leader and Shadow Executive Member (£11k)

·        replacement of EMAPs with a revised structure of devolved power to Executive Members and Directors (£10k)

·        removal of 1 Private Street Adoption officer post (£23k)

·        centralisation of HR activity (£20k)

·        reduction in recruitment consultant expenditure (£20k)

·        additional street trader licence (£15k)

·        revised date for Council Tax direct debits (£7k)

·        revised date for NNDR direct debits (£6k)’

[Note: as result of the above amendment, savings will total £6.438m]

(5)     Fees and Charges

At the end of recommendation (ii)(h), add the following words: ‘subject to the following alteration:

·        NSMS9 - increase Commercial Waste fees by a further 3% (£50k),

Together with the additional items reducing the level of fees and charges, as follows:

·        reduction in residents’ parking fees by 10% (£44k)

·        free evening parking for Minster badge holders from 5.30pm (£35k)

·        free parking for Green Minster badge holders for residents with environmentally friendly vehicles (£10k)

·        together with the deletion of City Strategy – child cycle training fee increase (£3k)’

(6)          Revenue Reserves

In order to fund an increase in the use of reserves by £50k, in recommendation (ii) (f) and by £110k in recommendation (ii) (d) replace the figure ‘£1.823m’with ‘£1.983m’, for the purpose of enabling a review (LS19) of the senior management structure, creating strategic directorates aimed at delivering a part year saving of £60k and £150k per year thereafter and for funding the development of the OEP and the review of strategic procurement and shared services.”

 

Cllr Gillies then moved, and Cllr Healey seconded, the following amendment to the Executive recommendations, as altered:

 

Amendment B

 

(1)            Growth

“At the end of recommendation (ii)(d), add the words ‘subject to the following additional items:

• Commissioning of review on Commercial Property Portfolio (£50k)
• Commissioning of review relating to subsidised and community transport (£44k)

• Development of Organisational Effectiveness Programme   (£85k)
• Review of Leisure and Culture Services (£50k)
• Review of services that the Council should strategically procure or ‘share’ (£25k)
• LCMS4 Sports SLA’s and grants (£10k)’

[Note: These changes will result in a total growth figure of £8.277m]

(2)            Savings

At the end of recommendation (ii)(e), add the words ‘subject to the following additional items:

• Reduction in the available budget to remunerate Executive and Shadow Executive Members by 2 in each group to better align the structure with Council Directorate (£44k)
• CSHS2 – reduce the provision of bus tokens to £20 per eligible claimant (£51k)’

[Note: These changes will result in a total savings figure of £6.293m]

(3)            Reserves

In recommendation (ii)(f), replace the figure ‘£1.823m’ with ‘£1.992m’

(4)            Contingency Fund

At the end of recommendation (i)(b) (page 2 Council Summons) add the words ‘subject to the removal from 2008/09 of the following item:

• CX new Members SRA Allowances (£44k)

(5)            Capital Programme

At the end of the recommendation on the Capital Programme Budget, add the following:

‘(h)            Carbon management expenditure can only take place through the EMAP / Executive process’.”

 

Members were then invited to vote for one or other of the above two amendments.  The results were as follows:-

 

Amendment A – 20 in favour

Amendment B – 26 in favour.

 

Amendment A, as moved by Cllr Scott, was therefore declared LOST and Amendment B, as moved by Cllr Gillies, was declared CARRIED.

 

Council then moved into private session to debate that part of the original Labour Group amendment that related to the Capital Programme Budget.  That part of the amendment was then put to the vote, with the following result:-

 

For – 20

Against – 20

 

The Lord Mayor then used her casting vote to vote against the amendments, which was then declared LOST.  Council then moved back into public session.

 

The Executive recommendations, as altered and amended, were then put to the vote, with the following result:-

 

For – 20

Against – 20

 

The Lord Mayor then used her casting vote to vote for the recommendations, which were therefore declared CARRIED and it was

 

RESOLVED:That the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Revenue Budget 2008/09 and the Capital Programme Budget 2008/09 to 2010/11, as altered and amended, be approved, as follows:

 

Revenue Budget 2008/09

 

(i)That the following amendments to the budget proposals be agreed:

a)     A reduction of the proposed Council Tax increase from 4.95% to 4.75% and consequent amendment of the income figure used (Annex 1).

b)     An addition to potential calls on contingency of a possible increase in expenditure on Scrutiny activities (Annex 2), subject to the removal from 2008/09 of the following item:

·        CX new Members SRA Allowances (£44k)

c)      Acceptance of the following savings and growth options for consultation listed in Annex 5:

Savings:

·        Corpnew2 – remove contingency for capital programme running costs (£350k)

·        CSMS2 – increase Standard Stay Car Parking Charges by 20p for visitors (£250k)

·        HSHS12 – reduction in mediation service (£35k)

·        NSNS4 – reduce gum busting carried out, by targeting priority areas (£17k)

·        LCHS – Archive one day closure (£16k)

·        NSLS4 – increase entry charge to Union Terrace Toilets from 20p to 30p (£10k)

·        LCMDS5 – closure of Burton Stone Lane Flexible Learning Centre (£4k)

·        LCMDS6 – School Swimming Support: cease support of the service (£2k)

Growth:

·        CSIG16 – inflationary increase to Voluntary Sector grants (£20k)

·        Corpnew2 – continuation of funding for Christmas lights display (no increase in expenditure from current year) (£30k)

·        NSIG5 – improve recycling levels (£30k)

·        HSIG1 – phased increase in residential and nursing fees (£50k)

·        NSIG2 – end of LPSA funding available for Out of Hours Noise Service (£50k)

·        NSNG7 – pilot the extension of recycling to terraced properties (£80k)

·        CSYG2 – end of Prudential Borrowing, Highways & Street Ops (£294k)

d)     Rejection of the remaining savings and growth options for consultation listed in Annex 5.

 

(ii)That, consequential upon the above amendments, the proposals set out in the report, be approved namely:

a)     The net revenue expenditure requirement for 2008/09 of £112.294m, as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 17);

b)     The housing revenue account proposals outlined in Annex 12;

c)      The dedicated schools grant proposals outlined from paragraph 80 onwards;

d)     The revenue growth proposals for 2008/09 outlined in Annex 3, totalling £8.013m, subject to the following additional items:

·        Commissioning of review on Commercial Property Portfolio (£50k)

·        Commissioning of review relating to subsidised and community transport (£44k)

·        Development of Organisational Effectiveness Programme (£85k)

·        Review of Leisure and Culture Services (£50k)

·        Review of services that the Council should strategically procure or ‘share’ (£25k)

·        LCMS4 Sports SLAs and grants (£10k)

e)     The revenue savings proposals for 2008/09 outlined in Annexes 1 and 4, totalling £6.198m, subject to the following additional items:

·        Reduction in the available budget to remunerate Executive and Shadow Executive Members by 2 in each group to better align the structure with Council Directorates (£44k)

·        CSHS2 – reduce the provision of bus tokens to £20 per eligible claimant (£51k)

f)        The use in 2008/09 of £1.992m of revenue reserves, as outlined in paragraph 49;

g)     The adoption of a risk based calculation to inform the Director of Resources’ opinion on the appropriate minimum level of general reserves, as described in paragraph 51;

h)      The fees and charges proposals in Annex 8.

 

(iii)             That the total Council Tax increase, including the Parish, Police and Fire Authority precepts be agreed at the Council meeting, on the basis of a 4.75% increase in the City of York element of the Council Tax.

 

(iv)              That the increase for council dwelling rents by an average of 5.25%, in line with government guidance on rent restructuring, be agreed, as set out in Annex 13.

 

Capital Programme Budget 2008/09 - 2010/11

 

That the three-year capital programme proposals as summarised in the report, be agreed, in particular:

a)     The asset sales shown in exempt Annex A;

b)     The use of £500k of prudential borrowing in 2010/11, as outlined in paragraph 21;

c)      The inclusion in the capital programme of all fully funded schemes as detailed in Annex B and discussed in paragraph 23;

d)     The inclusion in the capital programme of the bids recommended in paragraphs 25, 28 and 30;

e)     The advance of £255k of prudential borrowing to York Museums Trust for the refurbishment of the Hospitium in the Museum Gardens, as outlined in paragraphs 33 to 37;

f)        The additional £300k funding proposed for York High School, as outlined in paragraphs 38 and 39;

g)     The full programme, as summarised in Annex D.

h)      Carbon management expenditure can only take place through the EMAP / Executive process.