Agenda item - General Fund Revenue Budget & Council Tax 2012/13

Extract from the proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on the 9^th February 2012, together with a report of the Director of Finance (copies attached).

69.1         The Mayor noted that all three budget areas listed as Items 69, 71 and 72 would be debated together , along with Item 70 Supplementary Financial Information, once the proposed budget and the various amendments had been moved and seconded and invited Councillor J. Kitcat to propose the Administration’s budget for 2012/13.

 

69.2         Councillor J. Kitcat sated that it was an honour and a privilege to introduce the Cabinet’s Budget proposals covering the General Fund and Revenue Budget, the Capital Resources & Capital Investment Programme and the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2012/13.  He believed that the proposed budget offered a great deal for the city in what were both difficult and challenging times and which were likely to see further cuts from the Government in the years ahead.  He noted that it had been an open and consultative budgetary process and one which had enabled changes to proposals to be taken on board.    He stated that long-term provision had been identified within the capital budget and that the HRA had been maintained.  He stated that there was a need to increase council tax by 3.5% in order to protect services and set the position for future years and therefore could not accept either the Conservative or Labour & Co-operative Groups’ amendments, but rather recommended the budget to the Council for approval.

 

69.3         Councillor Randall formally seconded the proposed Budget and stated that as the first Green budget it sought to protect services and support the vulnerable.  He noted that the Brightstart Nursery would be kept and that important front-line services would be maintained as a well as enabling the city to become more sustainable.  He hoped that it would be supported by the other groups and that the proposed amendment to retain council tax at 2.5% would not be kept at a cost of over £1m to this year’s budget and a significantly higher level of savings for future years.

 

69.4         Councillor A. Norman moved the six amendments to the Budget proposals on behalf of the Conservative Group and stated that, the amendments resulted from a failure to listen to the concerns of residents and referred to the Argus on-line poll regarding the level of council tax that should be imposed.  She believed that the proposed amendments would enable a council tax freeze and the ability to find an additional £1.2m in savings for 2012/13.  She also believed that it was likely the Government would review the situation next year and further assistance would be provided but in the meantime there was an opportunity to provide residents with additional money in their pockets and to bring extra resources into the city’s economy.

 

“Amendment 1 - It is proposed that the following additional savings are made in the General Fund revenue budget for 2012/13:

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.228m in the Human Resources budget as set out on page 153 of the agenda. The part year effect of the saving is £0.057m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 9 months thereby requiring £0.171m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To reduce the decentralised training and development budgets by 10% generating a saving of £0.056m.

 

·         To cease the publication of City News and reduce the Communications budget by £0.052m in a full year. The part year effect of the saving is £0.039m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 3 months thereby requiring £0.013m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To reduce the Communications budget by £0.044m in a full year from the budget for support for events marketing and seek to provide the support in other ways. The part year effect of the saving is £0.033m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require an estimated lead in time of 3 months thereby requiring £0.011m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.250m in management and administration set out on page 177 of the agenda. The part year effect of the saving is £0.125m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 6 months thereby requiring £0.125m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To remove the additional funding for part of the sustainability team of £0.150m set out in paragraph 3.35 on page 16 of the agenda. The core team will remain unaffected.

 

·         To keep the downland management contract with the existing provider for 6 months beyond the 1 April 2012 whilst a new contract is tendered and procured generating a saving of £0.050m in the relevant Resources and Finance budgets.

 

·         To allocate £0.150m of the second tranche of the New Homes Bonus money to support the General Fund Revenue budget rather than housing initiatives set out in paragraph 3.17 on page 10 of the agenda where there are not yet firm commitments for this additional investment.

 

·         This proposal retains £0.050m in officer time to undertake additional private sector work to bring back long term empty private sector properties into use and meet any costs that cannot be recovered from private sector landlords.

 

·         To switch  the funding arrangements for the Private Sector Renewal Grants capital programme of £1.500m and part of the funding for Woodvale cremators of £0.081m from borrowing to revenue reserves, thereby generating an ongoing saving of £0.207m in the debt financing budget. This proposal requires £1.581m of revenue reserves to reduce borrowing by the same amount.

 

The savings proposals set out above require a total of £1.901m revenue reserves. It is proposed that these are generated by:

 

·         Reallocating the £1.217m contribution to the Customer Access and Accommodation reserve set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda.

 

·         Using the uncommitted balance of £0.090m on the unringfenced Seaside Towns grant.

 

·         Reallocating £0.250m from the single status reserve generated from strike pay deductions as shown on page 43 of the agenda thereby maintaining a balance of £5.933m in the reserve.

 

·         Reallocating £0.344m of the resources set aside to support the implementation of a local council tax benefit scheme from April 2013 set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda.

 

The proposals will generate ongoing savings of £1.187m. It is proposed that these resources will be used as follows:

 

·         £1.187m to reduce the council tax increase in 2012/13 so that the council qualifies for £2.986m 2012/13 council tax freeze grant to enable a freeze in the level of council tax for 2012/13.

 

The proposals in this amendment will increase the savings gap for 2013/14 by £3.630m due to the ending of the 2012/13 council tax freeze grant and because some 2013/14 savings have been brought forward into 2012/13.

 

            Amendment 2 - It is proposed that the following additional savings are made in the General Fund revenue budget for 2012/13:

 

·         Reduce the budget for de-centralised training and development budgets by a further 5% generating a saving of £0.028m.

·         Generate additional income through the Communications team by undertaking joint working with other local authorities, creating a saving of £0.030m.

 

            It is proposed to allocate the £0.058m generated from the above and from using £0.050m of the resources set aside to support the implementation of a local council tax benefit scheme from April 2013 set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda to the following:

 

·         £0.040m for Parking & Traffic to reduce the proposed annual charge for business permits from £300 (included as part of the savings on page 119 of the agenda) to £200 in 2012/13 and £250 plus inflation in 2013/14. However the council will seek additional savings in 2013/14 in order to keep the charge at £200 plus inflation for 2013/14. The quarterly charge for both years will be reduced in proportion. This proposal requires the use of £0.020m recurrent resources and £0.020m one off resources.

 

·         £0.068m for Parking & Traffic to reduce the proposed annual charge for Traders permits from £600 (included as part of the savings on page 119 of the agenda) to £400 in 2012/13 and £500 plus inflation in 2013/14. This proposal also increases the number of permits issued by releasing 40% of the waiting list and allows for the consequent loss in on-street parking income. However additional savings will be sought in 2013/14 in order to keep the charge at £400 plus inflation for 2013/14. The quarterly charge for both years will be reduced in proportion. This proposal requires the use of £0.038m recurrent resources and £0.030m one off resources.

 

Amendment 3 - It is proposed to reduce the budget in Human Resources for council funded union officials by £0.083m per annum. This would leave £0.063m per annum for council funded union officials in the budget, the existing time off arrangements for staff undertaking union duties from services across the council and the temporary funding for work in conjunction with single status.

 

It is proposed to allocate the £0.083m generated above to the following:

 

·         £0.013m for Library Services to reverse part of the saving identified on page 166 of the agenda in order to restore 0.5 day’s opening to both Hangleton and Portslade libraries.

 

·         £0.023m for City Parks to reverse part of the saving identified on page 121 of the agenda in order to reduce the annual allotment fee to £36 for a 5 pole plot and £72 for a 10 pole plot rather than the proposed fees of £44.20 and £88.40 respectively in 2012/13.

 

·         £0.012m to reverse part of the saving identified on page 122 of the agenda in order to maintain the tree donation charge at current level of £144 rather than the proposed charge of £288.

 

·         £0.035m for City Clean to reverse part of the saving identified on page 120 of the agenda in order to maintain current opening arrangements for seafront toilets at Black Rock, West Pier, King Alfred and King’s Esplanade.

 

Amendment 4 - It is proposed to close Brightstart Nursery from 1 September 2012 generating a full year saving of £0.078m. The part year saving in 2012/13 will be £0.042m requiring reserves of £0.136m to cover both a provision for possible redundancy and redeployment costs and the difference between the full and part year savings. To meet this possible requirement it is proposed to reallocate £0.136m of the resources set aside to support the implementation of a local council tax benefit scheme from April 2013 set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda. An Equalities Impact Assessment will be prepared before this proposal is implemented.

 

            It is proposed to allocate the £0.078m generated above to the following:

 

·         £0.030m for the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum to support their work with the children and young people’s network.

 

·         £0.048m to the Youth Service to reverse part of the proposed savings in that service set out on page 95 of the agenda.

            Amendment 5 - It is proposed to remove the remaining budget in Human Resources for council funded union officials of £0.063m per annum. This would leave provision for the existing time off arrangements for staff undertaking union duties from services across the council and the temporary funding for work in conjunction with single status.

 

            It is proposed to allocate the £0.063m generated above to the Parking & Traffic budget in order to reinstate a 3 hour charge of £9.50 during the week and £12 at weekends at the Lanes Car Park instead of going straight to the 4 hour charges of £12 weekday and £15 weekend from the 2 hour rates.

 

            Comments of the Chief Finance Officer:

            There is a risk that the Council will not be able to discharge its legal duties under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 without some funding of this nature and that costs would therefore simply be displaced to other budgets making the saving undeliverable. In this circumstance the council would need to make compensating savings elsewhere to offset the costs. 

            Amendment 6 - It is proposed not to sell the vehicle license plate CD1 and to switch the funding for voluntary and community organisations from the sale of this license plate to revenue reserves.

 

            This proposal requires one off resources of £0.120m and it is proposed to reallocate £0.120m of the resources set aside to support the implementation of a local council tax benefit scheme from April 2013 set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda.”

 

69.5         Councillor G. Theobald formally seconded the amendments and stated that he wished to thank the finance officers for their assistance with the formulation of the amendments.  He believed that the Administration had wasted its first year in office and queried whether any new ideas had come to fruition.  He stated that the council tax freeze for this year was a positive step and would boost the local economy and suggested that if the Administration had acted once the Government had made the offer of the £3m funding with a council tax freeze then the necessary savings could have been found.

 

69.6         Councillor Mitchell moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative Group and noted that the amendment covered a number of areas which affected the General Fund & Revenue Budget in the main but also the Capital Resources & Capital Investment Programme.  She also wished to thank the finance officers for their assistance and advice during the budget setting process.  She believed that the city’s residents expected the council to be on their side and therefore it was only right to set a council tax freeze and accept the funding on offer.  The Administration’s proposals to salami slice services was not the right approach and failed to protect services in future years and she questioned whether there was any support for the Intelligent Commissioning approach to service provision that was yet to materialise.  The amendment identified funding to enable the council tax freeze to be implemented and she hoped that the Administration would recognise the need to support it. 

 

“It is proposed that the following additional savings are made in the General Fund revenue budget for 2012/13:

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.228m in the Human Resources budget as set out on page 153 of the agenda as part of further ongoing efficiency improvements in this service. The part year effect of the saving is £0.057m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 9 months thereby requiring £0.171m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To reduce the decentralised training and development budgets by 10% generating a saving of £0.056m.

 

·         To cease the publication of City News and reduce the Communications budget by £0.052m in a full year. The part year effect of the saving is £0.039m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 3 months thereby requiring £0.013m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To reduce the support for events marketing and seek to provide the support in other ways reducing the Communications budget by £0.044m in a full year. The part year effect of the saving is £0.033m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require an estimated lead in time of 3 months thereby requiring £0.011m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.250m in management and administration as set out on page 177 of the agenda as part of the implementation of a senior management review to generate further savings for 2013/14 and beyond. The part year effect of the saving is £0.125m in 2012/13 as the proposal will require a lead in time of about 6 months thereby requiring £0.125m reserves to meet the difference between the full and part year impact.

 

·         To remove the funding for part of the sustainability team of £0.150m set out in paragraph 3.35 on page 16 of the agenda and undertake a review and consolidation of the sustainability policy work carried out across the council.

 

·         To keep the downland management contract with the existing provider for 6 months beyond the 1 April 2012 whilst a new contract is tendered and procured generating a saving of £0.050m in the relevant Resources and Finance budgets.

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.005m in the Mayoral budget as set out on page 149 of the agenda.

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.010m in the consultancy and supplies and services budgets of the Strategic Leadership Board / Chief Executive as set out on page 154 of the agenda.

 

·         To bring forward the 2013/14 saving of £0.035m in the Asylum Seekers budget as set out on page 104 of the agenda. The number of unaccompanied asylum seeker children is currently below the forecast in the 2012/13 budget and based on existing and recent trends, both nationally and locally, it is not anticipated that there will be any significant increase in the number of children currently supported.

 

·         To reduce the parking budget by £0.025m leaving £0.055m to support local community events by meeting the costs of any required parking suspensions. This proposal will potentially restrict the number of events that might be supported.

 

·         To allocate £0.200m of the New Homes Bonus money to support the General Fund Revenue budget rather than the housing initiatives as set out in paragraph 3.17 on page 10 of the agenda.

 

·         To switch part of the funding for the Private Sector Renewal Grants capital programme from borrowing to revenue reserves thereby generating an ongoing saving of £0.132m in the debt financing budget. This proposal will not affect the service and it requires £0.987m of revenue reserves to reduce borrowing by the same amount.

 

            The savings proposals set out above require a total of £1.307m revenue reserves. It is proposed that these are generated by:

 

·         Reallocating the £1.217m contribution to the Customer Access and Accommodation reserve set out in paragraph 3.25 starting on page 13 of the agenda.

 

·         Using the uncommitted balance of £0.090m on the unringfenced Seaside Towns grant.

 

            The proposals will generate ongoing savings of £1.237m. It is proposed that these resources will be used as follows:

 

·         £1.187m to reduce the council tax increase in 2012/13 so that the council qualifies for £2.986m 2012/13 council tax freeze grant to enable a freeze in the level of council tax for 2012/13.

 

·         £0.025m to help fund the annual running costs of the mobile library service as a contribution towards securing its future as a combined mobile library and community advice outreach service. To work with the voluntary sector and seek contributions from partner agencies to fully fund the project. It is also proposed to amend the 2012/13 capital investment programme by allocating £0.120m from the Local Transport Plan grant to purchase a new mobile library subject to the identification of the full running costs as set out above.

 

·         £0.025m for City Parks to reverse part of the saving identified on page 121 of the agenda in order to reduce the standard allotment fee to £35 rather than the proposed £44.20. It is also proposed that further savings of £0.031m should be identified in the 2013/14 budget to keep the fee at £35 plus inflation in 2013/14.

 

            The proposals in this amendment will increase the savings gap for 2013/14 by £3.661m due to the ending of the 2012/13 council tax freeze grant and because some 2013/14 savings have been brought forward into 2012/13.”

 

69.7         Councillor Hamilton formally seconded the amendment, and stated that the city faced a triple whammy in terms of cuts in services, reduced government funding and increased council tax over the next three years.  He believed that the funding provided for a council tax freeze should be accepted and that it was likely the government would have to consider a similar level of support next year.  He believed the amendment offered a way forward and was one that should be taken on board.

 

69.8         The Mayor then opened the matter up to a general debate and the following Members of the Council spoke on the various motions that had been put forward; Councillors Davey, West, Brown, Morgan, Wakefield and Duncan.

 

69.9         The Mayor stated that she intended to call a short adjournment to allow Members a refreshment break.  She then adjourned the meeting at 6.15pm.

 

69.10    The Mayor reconvened the meeting at 6.35pm.

 

69.11    The following Members then spoke on the various motions that had been put forward; Councillors Cox, Shanks, Lepper, Sykes, Mears, Deane, Robins, Peltzer Dunn, MacCafferty, Jarrett, Simson, Hyde, Follett, Barnett, Farrow, Littman, Jones, Wealls, Wells, Phillips, Pissaridou, C. Theobald, Hawtree, Bowden, Fitch, Summers, Janio, Randall, Carden, K. Norman, A. Kitcat, Gilbey, A. Norman, G. Theobald, Powell, Rufus and Mitchell.

 

69.12    The Mayor noted that all Members wishing to speak during the debate had done so and congratulated Councillors Summers and A. Kitcat on their maiden speeches.  She then called on Councillor J. Kitcat to respond to the debate and the amendments.

 

69.13    Councillor Kitcat thanked the Mayor and stated that whilst he understood the sentiments of the amendments he could not accept them and wished to recommend that the budget proposals as they were detailed in the agenda papers.  He believed that a council tax increase of 3.5% coupled with the various actions provided the best option for the council and the residents and noted that a number of other authorities had also chosen to refuse the government’s offer and increase their council tax rather than freeze and face significant cuts in future years.  He also wished to move a vote of thanks to the finance officers for their work and advice on the budget.

 

69.14    The Mayor stated that Items 69 and 70 would be taken together.  She intended to put each of the amendments to the vote, following which she would put the substantive recommendations to the vote as outlined in the procedural document.

 

69.15    Councillor Cobb moved that a recorded vote be held for each of the amendments and the three main items when the substantive recommendations were put forward.

 

69.16    The Mayor noted that a sufficient number of Members had indicated their support for the proposed series of recorded votes and therefore would ask the Head of Democratic Services to undertake the votes.

 

69.17    Conservative Amendment Number One:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.18    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.19    Conservative Amendment Number Two:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.20    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.21    Conservative Amendment Number Three:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.22    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.23    Conservative Amendment Number Four:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.24    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.25    Conservative Amendment Number Five:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.26    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.27    Conservative Amendment Number Six:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh		x
Bennett	ü				Meadows		x
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell		x
Buckley		x			Morgan		x
Carden		x			A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou		x
Farrow		x			Powell		x
Fitch		x			Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins		x
Gilbey		x			Rufus		x
Hamilton		x			Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton		x
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper		x			Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	18	35	-

 

69.28    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost.

 

69.29    The Mayor then noted that the Labour & Co-operative Group’s amendment would be put to the vote.

 

69.30    Labour & Co-operative Group amendment:

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh	ü
Bennett	ü				Meadows	ü
Bowden		x			Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell	ü
Buckley		x			Morgan	ü
Carden	ü				A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey		x			Phillips		x
Deane		x			Pidgeon	ü
Duncan		x			Pissaridou	ü
Farrow	ü				Powell		x
Fitch	ü				Randall		x
Follett		x			Robins	ü
Gilbey	ü				Rufus		x
Hamilton	ü				Shanks		x
Hawtree		x			Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers		x
Jarrett		x			Sykes		x
Jones		x			C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat		x			Turton	ü
J Kitcat		x			Wakefield		x
Lepper	ü				Wealls	ü
Littman		x			Wells	ü
MacCafferty		x			West		x

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	31	22

 

69.31    The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried and called on the Director of Finance to outline the budgetary position in light of the amendment being agreed.

 

69.32    The Director of Finance informed the Council that should the recommendations in relation to the budget be approved as amended; then changes to both the General Fund and Capital Budgets would result and these needed to be taken into account by Members prior to their vote.  She noted that a revised set of recommendations and budgetary positions was being circulated for Members information.

 

69.33    The Mayor then asked for the recommendations affecting the General Fund and Revenue Budget 2012/13 as amended to be put to the vote.

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	ü				Marsh	ü
Bennett	ü				Meadows	ü
Bowden	ü				Mears	ü
Brown	ü				Mitchell	ü
Buckley	ü				Morgan	ü
Carden	ü				A Norman	ü
Cobb	ü				K Norman	ü
Cox	ü				Peltzer Dunn	ü
Davey	ü				Phillips		x
Deane	ü				Pidgeon	ü
Duncan	ü				Pissaridou	ü
Farrow	ü				Powell	ü
Fitch	ü				Randall	ü
Follett	ü				Robins	ü
Gilbey	ü				Rufus	ü
Hamilton	ü				Shanks	ü
Hawtree	ü				Simson	ü
Hyde	ü				Smith	ü
Janio	ü				Summers	ü
Jarrett	ü				Sykes	ü
Jones	ü				C Theobald	ü
Kennedy	Absent				G Theobald	ü
A Kitcat	ü				Turton	ü
J Kitcat	ü				Wakefield	ü
Lepper	ü				Wealls	ü
Littman	ü				Wells	ü
MacCafferty	ü				West	ü

 

	For	Against	Abstain
Total	52	1

 

69.34     The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.

 

69.35    RESOLVED:

 

(1)         That subject to recommendation (3) below, the 2012/13 General Fund revenue Budget proposals contained in the body of the report as amended, including the following be approved:

 

(i)           A freeze in the Brighton & Hove element of the council tax;

(ii)         The 2012/13 budget allocations to services as set out in appendix 1 below;

(iii)       The council’s net General Fund budget requirement for 2012/13 of £223m;

(iv)       The reinvestments as set out in paragraph 3.35 as amended;

(v)         The budget savings package as set out in appendix 10 as amended;

(vi)       The contingency budget of £4.7m;

(vii)     The reserves allocations as set out in appendix 5 and table 3 as amended;

(viii)   The borrowing limit for the year commencing 1 April 2012 of £383m (to include long term liabilities relating to PFI schemed of £62m);

(ix)       The annual Minimum Revenue Provision statement as set out in appendix 8;

(x)         The prudential indicators as set out in appendix 9 to the report.

 

 

 

(1)         That the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy budget and resource projections for 2012/13 to 2014/15 as set out in appendix 6 to the report and as amended be noted;

 

(2)         That the supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax as provided in the addendum papers for the budget council meeting as listed in paragraph 4.5 of the report be noted.

 

(3)         That it be noted that on 19 January 2012 the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2012/13;

 

(a) for the whole Council area as 94,601.45 (Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)); and

 

(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special itemsrelate: -

      Rottingdean Parish – 1,548.24

      Hanover Crescent Enclosure – 40.06

      Marine Square Enclosure – 76.23

      Royal Crescent Enclosure – 30.57       

 

(4)         That the Council Tax requirement calculated for the Council’s own purposes for 2012/13 (excluding Parish precepts) is £119,433,000;

 

(5)         That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2012/13 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)    £716,689,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

 

(b)    £597,220,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act

 

(c)         £119,469,000 being  the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

 

(d)         £1,262.87 being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a)  above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).

 

(e)         £63,854 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act

 

(f)           £1,262.20 being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special items relates.

 

(g)         £1,285.45            Rottingdean Parish

         £1,438.14            Hanover Crescent

         £1,462.27            Marine Square

         £1,443.91            Royal Crescent

 

         being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the relevant amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for the dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Parts of the Council's area	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Rottingdean Parish	714.14	856.97	999.79	1,142.62	1,285.45	1,571.11	1,856.76	2,142.42	2,570.90
Hanover Crescent	798.97	958.76	1,118.55	1,278.35	1,438.14	1,757.73	2,077.31	2,396.90	2,876.28
Marine Square	812.37	974.85	1,137.32	1,299.80	1,462.27	1,787.22	2,112.17	2,437.12	2,924.54
Royal Crescent	802.17	962.61	1,123.04	1,283.48	1,443.91	1,764.78	2,085.65	2,406.52	2,887.82
All other parts of the councils area	701.22	841.47	981.71	1,121.96	1,262.20	1,542.69	1,823.18	2,103.67	2,524.40

* Entitled to disabled relief

 

(6)         That it be noted that the Police Authority and the Fire Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below;

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Sussex Police Authority	76.90	92.28	107.66	123.04	138.42	169.18	199.94	230.70	276.84

            * Entitled to disabled relief

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
East Sussex Fire Authority	45.48	54.57	63.67	72.76	81.86	100.05	118.24	136.43	163.72

                * Entitled to disabled relief

 

(7)         That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2012/13 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings;

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Parts of the Council's area	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Rottingdean Parish	836.52	1,003.82	1,171.12	1,338.42	1,505.73	1,840.34	2,174.94	2,509.55	3,011.46
Hanover Crescent	921.35	1,105.61	1,289.88	1,474.15	1,658.42	2,026.96	2,395.49	2,764.03	3,316.84
Marine Square	934.75	1,121.70	1,308.65	1,495.60	1,682.55	2,056.45	2,430.35	2,804.25	3,365.10
Royal Crescent	924.55	1,109.46	1,294.37	1,479.28	1,664.19	2,034.01	2,403.83	2,773.65	3,328.38
All other parts of the councils area	823.60	988.32	1,153.04	1,317.76	1,482.48	1,811.92	2,141.36	2,470.80	2,964.96

                        * Entitled to disabled relief

 

(8)         In accordance with Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Council determines its relevant basic amount of council tax for the financial year 2012/13 is not excessive.