Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly, presented the proposed Council Budget 2018/19 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2018/19 - 2021/22.

It was moved by Councillor M D Conolly, and duly seconded, that the recommendations set out in the report incorporating the recommendations of the Cabinet at its meeting held on 5 March 2018 be approved.

RESOLVED:       (a)     That the General Fund Revenue Budget, the Capital and Special Projects Programmes, the Housing Revenue Account Budget, the Council Tax Resolution and the content of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2018/19 - 2021/22 be approved.

                            (b)     To note that it was the view of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community (Section 151 Officer) that the budget had been prepared in an appropriate and prudent manner and that based upon the information available at the time of producing the report the 2018/19 estimates were robust and the resources were adequate for the Council’s current spending plans in 2018/19.

                            (c)     That the various Council recommendations at the end of the sections within the attached budget and MTFP, and summarised in Annex 12 to Appendix 1, are approved as follows:

(i)            That the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2018/19 and the projected outturn for 2017/18 be approved.

(ii)           That the policies and protocols regarding the General Fund balances and earmarked reserves, and transfers between reserves as set out in Annex 6 be approved.

(iii)          That the 2017/18 Projected Outturn and the 2018/19 HRA budget at Annex 7 be approved.

(iv)         That the setting of the level of the on-going HRA minimum balance, the transfer of balances to the HIR, the use of prudential borrowing, and adjustment of the resources of the HIR accordingly be delegated to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Corporate Resources and Performance.

(v)          That the Capital and Special Revenue Projects Programmes be approved.

(vi)         That the capital resources required to finance new projects be secured before new projects commence.

(vii)        That the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision statement be approved.

(viii)       That the Council Tax Resolution as set out at Annex 10A be approved.

(ix)         That it be noted that if the formal Council Tax Resolution at Annex 10A is approved, the total Band D Council Tax will be as set out at Annex 12 of the report.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that the vote would have to be a recorded vote in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.6. The manner of the voting was as followed:

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

Due to its size, this report is reproduced as a supplementary paper to the main agenda.

(a) It was agreed:

(i) That, subject to Council approving the 2018/19 budget, the grants to organisations, as set out in Annex 11 of the report, be approved as follows:

Grants to Concessionary Rentals 2018/19 - £35,105

Various grants towards rentals/lease charges

Financial Assistance Payments to Other Outside Bodies:

Your Leisure - £137,500

Places for People - £95,000

One-off payment for managing the old Dover Leisure Centre site

Pegasus Playscheme - £1,500

Provision of a playscheme for children with disabilities

Age Concern - £1,500

Provision of area office services

Kent County Council - £3,000

Contribution to Sports Partnership

Gazen Salts Nature Reserve - £4,500

To assist in managing and maintaining the reserve

Sandwich Town Cricket Club - £10,000

To assist the Club in defraying its expenditure in managing, maintaining and improving the recreation grounds at The Butts and Gazen Salts

Dover Rugby Club - £12,000

For grounds maintenance at Crabble Athletic Ground, covered by savings made in the landscape maintenance contract

Victoria Bowls - £1,000

Contribution to running expenses of the club

Dover Bowling Club - £8,000

New grant for 2018/19 for grounds maintenance at Dover Bowling Green.  Covered by savings within the grounds maintenance budget.

Dover Citizens’ Advice Bureau - £102,000

Core funding grant plus £3,500 service charge contribution

Neighbourhood Forums - £22,500

Joint contribution with Kent County Council for neighbourhood projects

Home Improvement Agency - £8,000

‘In Touch’ Housing Improvement Agency funding

Deal Town Council - £5,000

Astor Theatre

Action with Communities in Rural Kent - £3,500

Contribution towards rural housing

     (ii) That the various Cabinet recommendations produced at the end of the sections within the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), and summarised in Annex 12 to Appendix 1 of the report, be approved as follows: 

(A)  Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community to approve revenue budget carry forwards within the guidelines set out.

(B) Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, the power to acquire freehold or leasehold residential properties and to agree terms and conditions in connection therewith.

           (C) Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and                      Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Built Environment and Corporate Resources and Performance, the provision of a further loan to East Kent Housing, on similar terms and conditions to the original loan, of up to £100,000 for completion of the single system implementation, and to determine the financing of the loan.        

(D) Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to apply capital receipts, revenue resources, grants, Section 106 monies, etc to finance the approved Capital and Special Revenue Projects programmes.

 (E) Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to authorise projects up to £50,000 that are included  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146