Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Finance and Investment (to follow).

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 18.6 (voting on budget decisions) a recorded vote will be held in respect of this item.

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) presented the Council Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022/23 – 2025/26.

 

Members were reminded that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1972 applied to this item of business.

 

In response to a question from Councillor C A Vinson as to whether the Council Tax increase was 2.51% as opposed to the 2.6% set out in the report recommendations, the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) advised that it should have stated 2.51% and that this would need to be reflected in the final recommendation. 

 

It was moved by Councillor C A Vinson, duly seconded by Councillor O C de R Richardson,

 

(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 the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Digital be authorised to draw on the Earmarked Smoothing Reserve to meet in year variations in the budget.

 

(c)   That a Council Tax increase of 2.51% 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 £202.14.

 

(d)  To note that it was the view of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources), the Section 151 Officer, having due regard to the circumstances and the range of uncertainties, that the budget had been prepared in an appropriate and prudent manner and that as far as could be determined, and based upon the information available at the time of producing the report, the estimates were robust and the resources were adequate for the Council’s spending plans in 2022/23;

 

(e)  That the various Council recommendations at the end of the sections within the attached budget and MTFP, and summarised in Annex 10 to Appendix 1, be approved.

 

Councillor S H Beer, duly seconded by Councillor D G Cronk, moved an AMENDMENT to the Motion as followed:

 

Community Grants Fund

1. The sum of £200k is allocated for community grants in the Revenue Projects budget in 2022-23. 

2. There is a better way to use DDC grant funding for the wider benefit of our residents. 

3  Targetted funds which improve the lives of vulnerable people should be a priority.  

4. DDC should make a multi-annual grant to certain organisations, who come to us every year for support and which we give money to each year, because we value what they do. Bechange, Pegasus and Dover SMART are obvious contenders, as they always ask for a grant and we always award one. So are the three Age Concern operations in the district, who currently get little or nothing but deliver a significant service.

These organisations provide significant support to vulnerable people and need predictability of income. They should be supported on a long term basis instead of their having to apply for small amounts of money from the Community Grants (Neighbourhood Forums ) fund each year.

See Annex 9 of the Budget for a list of organisations we already fund every year, no application needed.

 Recommendation

1 A rise in Community Grants 2022-23 to £200k. 

2. £50k of this to be added to the long term grants programme, as in Annex 9, to be distributed to agreed organisations providing services to vulnerable people. 

3 The Grants Committee to be consulted before the Portfolio Holder for Finance forms a view as to precisely how long term grants will be distributed

 

Proposal for a new “Public Toilets PLUS” Capital Project

1 Dover district urgently needs better quality public toilets. While they are not a statutory duty, they are an essential service for community health and wellbeing and are well used by the elderly, by parents and carers and by vulnerable people of all ages.

2 Urban areas in particular need a completely new style of toilet, which is warmer, cleaner and fully accessible. If well designed and situated, they will need less attention from DDC and will cost less to manage.

3 As well as serving local people they will serve tourists, many of whom, we know, are actually influenced by the quality of public toilets when they decide on a day trip or short break.

Recommendation

1 That council invests in a new three year capital project (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) aiming to replace the most run down and inadequate public conveniences in the district with new buildings incorporating toilets or with facilities incorporated into new builds.

2 That priority is given to those in urban areas, where a new facility can be built on a DDC owned site, which includes an opportunity to produce a return on investment.

3 That the new “Public Toilet PLUS” buildings also include affordable housing for sale or for rental, short term housing for vulnerable people, or commercial premises for sale or for rental etc, depending on the location. 

4 That every effort is made to incorporate public toilets in new developments led by or influenced by DDC

Public Toilets PLUS - Project Proposal

Introduction

1. Freely available public conveniences are essential to public health and wellbeing. A lack of clean accessible public conveniences has a severe impact on vulnerable people, especially people with mobility problems and on people with young children.

2 Elderly people often restrict the time they spend out and about, shopping, socialising and exercising, because they are not able to use a suitable public toilet. So the availability of public toilets is important for the physical and mental health of our residents but particularly for the elderly.

3. Dover District Council owns and manages a range of public convenience buildings across the district (sometimes supported by parish councils). Some are in good condition and need no extra attention (e.g. Reach Road, St Margarets conveniences, the relatively new WC with disabled access in Marine Road, Deal.)

Several are in urgent need of refurbishment (e.g. the toilets in Marke Wood Recreation  Ground in Walmer and Granville Road, Walmer)

A number need to be knocked down and replaced with a completely new facility, (e.g. South St and King St toilets in Deal, Stembrook toilet in Dover).

4. Deal Pier café toilets provide a good example of how high quality toilets can be designed into a new building, resulting in them being managed efficiently. These are less likely to suffer from anti-social behaviour and less likely to need regular repairs.

5. The revenue cost to the local authority can be significantly reduced if toilets management is worked into any rental agreement for commercial occupiers of the premises. 

Site specific solutions

1 South Street Deal needs to be addressed as a priority since the site id potentially unsafe. The  works due to take place on the adjoining site of the Regent will be affected by and will affect the work. A complete reconfiguration of the bus waiting area and the toilets with further floors for other purposes will enhance the site and make a big contribution to the improvement of the street scene in this unloved area of the town.

2 The new Tides swimming pool building will provide an excellent opportunity to design in a new toilet facility, to be available to the public during Tides opening hours, removing the need for Victoria Park toilet, which could become a kiosk bringing in seasonal rental. (Parents and carers with children using the play area will find this especially helpful - they are very unwilling to use the Victoria Park toilet at present.)

3 Stembrook Dover

The whole area is marked for regeneration and development, so this public toilet will have to be removed eventually. An improved facility inside or attached to a new building will need to be provided if anti-social behaviour is to be prevented. DDC should be proactive in encouraging developers to provide this as part of the sale agreement.

Estimated costs

Deal South St rebuild – three storey building.

Feasibility study, design, professional fees etc £35k

Building £750k

Tides

Extra costs to include public toilets - £50k maximum

Dover Stembrook

DDC costs – working with developers/professional fees £20k

Extra costs to include public toilets - £50k (born by developer)

              Deal King Street

To be considered for rebuild in year 4

COSTS PROFILE over three years - Capital and Revenue

Costs (£000s) Revenue and Capital	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
Feasibility study and preparation work for South Street (Rev)	35
Tides adjustment – to build in public toilets (Cap)	50
Building works South St (Cap)		750
Building works Tides (already financed)		N/A
DDC work on Stembrook provision (Rev)			20
Contingency			50
Project total	£85	£750	70
	£905

 

Revenue implications for 2024 onwards:

1 Income will be produced from the South St building (could be Capital or Revenue depending on what is built)

2 Cleaning costs will reduce as vandalism is reduced.

3 New facilities might be more attractive to town councils who would then take over the service.

Funding sources for a balanced budget

CAPITAL - £800k

1 Sale of assets – Ex CAB building in Victoria Road is likely to raise £700k on sale.

2 Reclaim of refurb costs for Park Ave building from insurers - £100k

REVENUE - £55k

Project Feasibility costs £35k to be added to 2022-23 and £20k to 2024-25

Resource – Project feasibility Studies - £500k is allocated in new projects

CONTINGENCY - £50k from the Revenue Contingency fund

On being put to the meeting the AMENDMENT to the Motion FELL.

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 18.6 (voting on budget decisions) a recorded vote was held. The manner of voting was as followed:

 

FOR (8)	AGAINST (17)	ABSTAIN (0)
S H Beer	T J Bartlett
E A Biggs	M Bates
P M Brivio	D G Beaney
D G Cronk	T A Bond
J P Haste	S S Chandler
L A Keen	N J Collor
H M Williams	M D Conolly
C D Zosseder	D R Friend
	M F Hibbert
	P D Jull
	S C Manion
	D P Murphy
	O C de R Richardson
	M Rose
	C A Vinson
	R S Walkden
	P Walker

 

The original Motion was put to the meeting and

 

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 the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Digital be authorised to draw on the Earmarked Smoothing Reserve to meet in year variations in the budget.

 

(c)       That a Council Tax increase of 2.51% 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 £202.14.

 

(d)       To note that it was the view of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources), the Section 151 Officer, having due regard to the circumstances and the range of uncertainties, that the budget had been prepared in an appropriate and prudent manner and that as far as could be determined, and based upon the information available at the time of producing the report, the estimates were robust and the resources were adequate for the Council’s spending plans in 2022/23;

 

(e)       That the various Council recommendations at the end of the sections within the attached budget and MTFP, and summarised in Annex 10 to Appendix 1, be approved.

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 18.6 (voting on budget decisions) a recorded vote was held. The manner of voting was as followed:

 

FOR (25)	AGAINST (0)	ABSTAIN (0)
T J Bartlett
M Bates
D G Beaney
S H Beer
E A Biggs
T A Bond
P M Brivio
S S Chandler
N J Collor
M D Conolly
D G Cronk
D R Friend
J P Haste
M F Hibbert
P D Jull
L A Keen
S C Manion
D P Murphy
O C de R Richardson
M Rose
C A Vinson
R S Walkden
P Walker
H M Williams
C D Zosseder