Agenda item

Alternative Budget 2016/17

Report of the Conservative Group.

Minutes:

Councillor Greg Morgan, Shadow Executive Member for Resources presented the Conservative Group’s Alternative Budget. The focus of the proposals was:

·                Agreement that Council tax should be retained at its current level;

·                16 new investment proposals were put forward, totalling £580,000;

·                Proposals to deliver significant efficiency savings and income generation over the next three years which could lead to savings of £1.65m;

·                Proposals to address the financial risk and uncertainty for the future by setting aside over £5.3 million over the next three years into general balances.

 

In presenting the report, Councillor Morgan referred to his Group’s proposal to set aside funding for PCSOs for the next 3 years.

 

In debating the proposals put forward by the opposition, Members raised issued around the longer term funding of PCSOs; challenged the ability to increase productivity to save £1.5m; and the viability of a consultancy and further shared services.

 

AMENDMENT

The adoption of the Alternative Budget as set out in the report, was moved as an amendment by Councillor Greg Morgan, Shadow Executive Member for Resources and seconded by Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative Group.

 

This was put to the vote, recorded as follows:

 

FOR:  E Bell, A Cullens, J Dalton, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson,

K Iddon, P Leadbetter, G Morgan, M Muncaster, M Perks, D Platt, J Walker.

 

AGAINST: A Beaver, J Berry, A Bradley, C Bromilow, T Brown, P Clark, J Cronshaw, G Dunn, R Finnamore, C France, G France, M France, A Gee, D Gee, T Gray, M Jarnell, H Khan, M Lees, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, M Lynch, J Molyneaux, A Morwood, S Murfitt, B Murray, J Snape, K Snape, R Snape, R Toon, P Walmsley, A Whittaker, P Wilson.

 

The vote was LOST

 

 

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION (the Executive’s budget proposals) moved by Councillor Peter Wilson, seconded by Councillor Alistair Bradley.

 

FOR:  A Beaver, J Berry, A Bradley, C Bromilow, T Brown, P Clark, J Cronshaw, G Dunn, R Finnamore, C France, G France, M France, A Gee, D Gee, T Gray, M Jarnell, H Khan, M Lees, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, M Lynch, J Molyneaux, A Morwood, S Murfitt, B Murray, J Snape, K Snape, R Snape, R Toon, P Walmsley, A Whittaker, P Wilson.

 

AGAINST:  E Bell, A Cullens, J Dalton, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson,

K Iddon, P Leadbetter, G Morgan, M Muncaster, M Perks, D Platt, J Walker.

 

 

The vote was CARRIED and it was RESOLVED -

 

1.    The budget and proposals set out in this report be approved, including:

·         Council Tax set out in the resolution (at Appendix A1) and below.

·         The Council’s Pay Policy (at Appendix A2) and publication on the Council’s website from April 2016.

·         Maintain the fees and charges (at Appendix A3) at current 2015/16 prices.

 

2.    The Capital Programme to 2018/19 be approved (Appendices B1, B2, & B3).

 

3.    The Budget Investment Package Report be approved (Appendices C & C1).

 

4.    The Treasury Management Strategy and its core principles be approved (Appendices D, D(1) & D(2)).

 

5.    The advice of the Statutory Finance Officer in relation to the robustness of the budget and the risks contained within it as set out in the Statutory Report be noted (Appendix E).

 

6.    The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved (Appendices F & F1).

 

7.    Significant Budget Movements from the 2015/16 Budget be noted (Appendix G).

 

8.    The Special Expenses and Parish Precepts be noted (Appendix H).

 

9.    The Budget Consultation 2016/17 Report be noted (Appendix I).

 

10. The report Assessing the Impact of Budget Proposals 2016/17 be noted (at Appendix J).

 

11. The Council Tax set out in Appendix A1 be approved as follows:

Supporting documents: