Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources).

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) introduced the report on the Council Budget 2019/20, the Medium Term Financial Plan 2019/20 and the Council Tax setting 2019/20.

It was moved by Councillor M D Conolly, and duly seconded by Councillor P G Heath, that the recommendations set out in the report incorporating the recommendations of the Cabinet at its meeting held on 4 March 2019 be approved.

It was moved as an AMENDMENT by Councillor M R Eddy, and duly seconded by Councillor B Gardner, that

"Council resolves to add an additional project to the capital programme entitled ‘Installation of solar canopies’ with a proposed budget of £200k expenditure split equally between 2019/20 and 2020/21, with the intention of installing up to 100 solar canopies in appropriate locations across the council's estate, to be funded from general reserves or other resources that the Strategic Director (Resources) may identify, and to invest the savings from electricity bills (estimated at £25,000 per annum if all 100 solar canopies are in operation) in an ear-marked reserve to aid the future installation of electric charging points and the conversion of the council's vehicle fleet to electric vehicles."

Councillor K E Morris acknowledged the merit of the idea and suggested that if Councillor M R Eddy withdrew the amendment he would ask for a feasibility report to be submitted to Cabinet exploring the costs and savings of the proposed Amendment by Councillor M R Eddy’s amendment. 

Councillor M R Eddy agreed to withdraw his amendment in light of the Leader’s assurance that the report would be produced.

On being put to the vote it was

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 MTFP be approved;

                          (b) That a Council Tax increase of 2.7% for DDC purposes be approved, resulting in an increase on Band D properties of £4.95 per year and an annual DDC Council Tax of £187.29.

(c)   To note that it is the view of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources), the Section 151 Officer, that the budget has been prepared in an appropriate and prudent manner and that based upon the information available at the time of producing this report the 2019/20 estimates are robust and the resources are adequate for the Council’s current spending plans in 2019/20;

(d)   That the various Council recommendations at the end of the sections within the attached budget and MTFP, and summarized in Annex 10 to Appendix 1, are approved as follows:

(i)               Approve the General Fund Revenue budget for 2019/20 and the projected outturn for 2018/19;

(ii)              Approve the policies and protocols regarding the General Fund balances and earmarked reserves, and transfers between reserves as set out in Annex 4.

(iii)            Approve the HRA budget for 2019/20 and the projected outturn for 2018/19 at Annex 5.

(iv)            Approve the Capital and Special Revenue Projects Programmes;

(v)             Approve that capital resources required to finance new projects are secured before new projects commence.

(vi)            Approve the Capital, Treasury Management and Investment Strategies, including the Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision statement (Annexes 7A, 7B and 7C).

(vii)           Approve the Council Tax Resolution as set out at Annex 8A;

(viii)         Note that if the formal Council Tax Resolution at Annex 8A is approved, the total Band D Council Tax will be as follows:

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: