Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDATION

1.    It is recommended that the Council approve the following:

(a)  The revised Revenue Budget for the financial year 2021/22 and the Revenue Budget for the financial year 2022/23 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix 1) which includes:

            (i)     A Revenue Contribution to Capital of £2.0m, to support the provision of housing affordable to Island residents

           (ii)     The COVID Contingency estimated at £9.1m, to guard against continuing and legacy risks

(b)  Any variation arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement 2022/23 or any further savings made in 2021/22 arising at the year-end (after allowing for specific carry forward requests) be transferred to the Revenue Reserve for Capital, COVID Contingency, Transformation Reserve, and General Reserves with the level of each transfer to be determined by the S.151 Officer.

(c)  That the level of Council Tax be increased by 1.99% for general purposes in accordance with the referendum threshold[1] for 2022/23 announced by Government (as calculated in Appendix 2)

(d)  That the level of Council Tax be increased by a further 1.0% beyond the referendum threshold (as calculated in Appendix 2) to take advantage of the flexibility offered by Government to implement a "Social Care Precept"; and that in accordance with the conditions of that flexibility, the full amount of the associated sum generated of £905,600 is passported direct to Adult Social Care

(e)  That the amounts set out in Appendix 2 be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2022/23 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

(f)    The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority and Parish and Town Council precepts, and amend the calculations set out in Appendix 2 accordingly

(g)  The savings proposals for each Portfolio amounting, in total, to £3.0m for 2022/23 and continuing into future years as set out on the next page:

*Excludes the additional funding passported through to Adult Social Care of £3.7m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 3.7%) and the additional funding for Children's Services, Education & Skills of £2.3m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 7.3%)

** Excludes £19.4m of PFI grant funding, on a Gross expenditure basis the savings amounts to 0.2%

(h)  Directors be instructed to start planning how the Council will achieve the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 59

A 2022/23 Budget and Council Tax Setting report had been received from the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council. Amendments had been submitted by Councillor Dore, Conservative group and Councillor Garratt, the amendments had been accepted by the Section 151 Officer as being legal and presented a balanced budget.

The Leader advised that both Councillor Dore and Councillor Garratt had withdrawn their alternative budget proposals. She also advised that £170,000 from the capital budget would be allocated to flooding in Binstead, it being confirmed by the Director of Finance this was achievable.

The Leader spoke on the budget proposals recommended by the Cabinet.

The proposer of the amendment spoke on their budget proposal.

The ungrouped councillors were invited to make comment on the budget proposals,

Other members of the council also made comment on the budget proposals.

The Leader, the proposer of the amendment and the other group leaders then summed up.

The Leader moved the recommendation by Cabinet which was duly seconded.

An amendment to the proposal attached as Amendment 2 (and forming part of these minutes) was moved by Councillor Robertson and duly seconded.

A named vote was taken the results were as follows:

For (19)

Cllrs Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Geoff Brodie, Vanessa Churchman, Warren Drew, Suzie Ellis, Steve Hastings, Stephen Hendry, Clare Mosdell, John Nicholson, Martin Oliver, Tig Outlaw, Gary Peace, Matthew Price, Chris Quirk, Ray Redrup, Joe Robertson, Peter Spink, Ian Ward

Against (19)

Cllrs David Adams, Debbie Andre, Jonathan Bacon, Claire Critchison, Ian Dore, Rodney Downer, Paul Fuller, Andrew Garratt, Chris Jarman, Julie Jones-Evans, Phil Jordan, Joe Lever, Michael Lilley, Karl Love, Karen Lucioni, John Medland, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Richard Quigley, Ian Stephens

Abstain (1)

Cllr Daryll Pitcher

The vote was tied, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution the Chairman used his casting vote and voted for the amendment.

The Conservative amendment then became the substantive motion.

A named vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

For (34)

Cllrs Jonathan Bacon, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Geoff Brodie, Vanessa Churchman, Claire Critchison, Warren Drew, Ian Dore, Rodney Downer, Suzie Ellis, Steve Hastings, Stephen Hendry, Chris Jarman, Julie Jones-Evans, Phil Jordan, Joe Lever, Michael Lilley, Karl Love, Karen Lucioni, John Medland, Clare Mosdell, John Nicholson, Martin Oliver, Tig Outlaw, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Gary Peace, Matthew Price, Richard Quigley, Chris Quirk, Ray Redrup, Joe Robertson, Peter Spink, Ian Stephens, Ian Ward.

Against (5)

Cllrs David Adams, Debbie Andre, Paul Fuller, Andrew Garratt, Daryll Pitcher

RESOLVED:

1.    THAT the Council approve the following:

(a)  The revised Revenue Budget for the financial year 2021/22 and the Revenue Budget for the financial year 2022/23 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix 1 amended) which included:

            (i)     A Revenue Contribution to Capital of £2.0m, to support the provision of housing affordable to Island residents

           (ii)     The COVID Contingency estimated at £9.1m, to guard against continuing and legacy risks

Appendix 1 (Amended) included the following changes listed in the tables below:

i)       AdditionalSavings -Reductions to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59

1.           It is recommended that the Cabinet endorse the following:

(a)   The recommendations to the Council set out below.

2.          It is recommended that the Council approve the following:

(a)    The revised Revenue Budget for the financial year 2021/22 and the Revenue Budget for the financial year 2022/23 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix 1) which includes:

(i)      A Revenue Contribution to Capital of £2.0m, to support the provision of housing affordable to Island residents

(ii)    The COVID Contingency estimated at £9.1m, to guard against continuing and legacy risks

(b)    Any variation arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement 2022/23 or any further savings made in 2021/22 arising at the year-end (after allowing for specific carry forward requests) be transferred to the Revenue Reserve for Capital, COVID Contingency, Transformation Reserve, and General Reserves with the level of each transfer to be determined by the S.151 Officer.

(c)    That the level of Council Tax be increased by 1.99% for general purposes in accordance with the referendum threshold^[1] for 2022/23 announced by Government (as calculated in Appendix 2)

(d)    That the level of Council Tax be increased by a further 1.0% beyond the referendum threshold (as calculated in Appendix 2) to take advantage of the flexibility offered by Government to implement a "Social Care Precept"; and that in accordance with the conditions of that flexibility, the full amount of the associated sum generated of £905,600 is passported direct to Adult Social Care

(e)    That the amounts set out in Appendix 2 be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2022/23 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

(f)     The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority and Parish and Town Council precepts, and amend the calculations set out in Appendix 2 accordingly

(g)    The savings proposals for each Portfolio amounting, in total, to £3.0m for 2022/23 and continuing into future years as set out on the next page:

*Excludes the additional funding passported through to Adult Social Care of £3.7m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 3.7%) and the additional funding for Children's Services, Education & Skills of £2.3m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 7.3%)

** Excludes £19.4m of PFI grant funding, on a Gross expenditure basis the  ...  view the full decision text for item 98

The proposed budget had undergone a lot of discussion, including with Town and Parish Councils and other groups and a public consultation exercise. There had been over 1000 responses which had been considered in the final draft. The focus of the budget was to meet the key objectives with three main areas – securing front line adult social care services, children’s services and the provision of affordable housing for rent.

Highlights picked out by councillors included:

·       Investment plans and a list of regeneration projects with a good record of accessing funding.

·       Investment of significant sums into education, including a new Yarmouth school in January 2023 and remodelling of The Bay secondary site in October 2022

·       Increased support for foster carers and improved housing options for care leavers

·       The provision of affordable housing and finding ways to fast track housing with the input of local councillors

·       £750,000 had been put aside for compulsory purchases to be used for island residents.

Thanks were expressed to Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council for their work in relation to planning enforcement ideas. Other Town and Parish Councils also wished to follow suit.

The Cabinet members were thanked for their work in bringing the draft budget together.

This item had been previously discussed and no further comments were made.