It was with great sadness that the Chairman informed Council of the passing of three respected colleagues.

Councillor PM McCaull

The Chairman paid tribute to the Council’s Vice-Chairman, Cllr Peter McCaull, a councillor for nearly 44 years, who had achieved much for the county in general and the people of Leominster in particular.

Councillor RI Matthews was invited to speak as leader of the independent group of which Councillor McCaull had been a member.  He observed that Councillor McCaull had been held in the highest esteem throughout the county, and had been particularly passionate about supporting young people with their education, sport and also in arts and culture.

Councillor FM Norman was invited to speak on behalf of all the Leominster councillors.  She remarked on the great affection with which Councillor McCaull had been regarded in the Town.

Former Councillor L Marshall

The chairman also paid tribute to former council chairman, Lance Marshall, as someone who had been warmly respected amongst his peers and a staunch advocate of local democracy

Mick Ligema- Cultural Services Manager

Finally, the Chairman reported the sudden death of Mick Ligema - a long standing and well respected member of staff whose work in the leisure and cultural field had had a very positive effect on the county, reflected in the tremendous amount of feedback from officers, members and the many different groups with whom he had worked.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors PA Andrews, DW Greenow, J Hardwick, LC Tawn and A Warmington.

Agenda item 7:  2017/18 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy

Councillor A Seldon declared a non-pecuniary interest as a director of Bromyard Community Transport.

Agenda item 8 Pay Policy Statement

Councillor RJ Phillips declared a pecuniary interest as a member of the Local Government Association body dealing with the superannuation arrangements for Chief Officers.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the ordinary and extraordinary meetings held on 16 December 2016.

In relation to the minutes of the extraordinary meeting it was requested that on page 2 of the minutes (page 32 of the agenda papers) the sentence, “Councillor PJ Edwards seconded the motion” should be expanded as follows:  “Councillor PJ Edwards seconded the motion on behalf of Councillor McCaull and as Mr Kindred’s local ward councillor.”

RESOLVED:

That      (a)     the minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 16 December 2016  be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman; and

              (b)     the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Council held on 16 December 2016, as amended, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman's announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

The Chairman also reminded members that the process for nominating people for the community champions awards 2017 was underway and asked councillors to promote nominations of suitable people in their wards for consideration.

To receive questions from members of the public.

(Questions for this meeting of Council must relate to matters on the agenda.)

A copy of the public question and written answer is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 1.

To receive any written questions from Councillors.

(Questions for this meeting of Council must relate to matters on the agenda.)

No questions were submitted by councillors.

To approve the 2017/18 budget and medium term financial strategy (MTFS) as recommended by cabinet.

Guidance on how the debate on the budget will be conducted has also been published to the council’s website as a supplement available via the following link:

http://budget council meeting procedure

Council was asked to approve the 2017/18 budget and medium term financial strategy (MTFS) as recommended by cabinet.

The Chairman referred to the budget council meeting procedure that had been issued to members.  He informed the meeting that he intended to permit a debate on the budget as a whole in the spirit of the Constitution allowing all members the opportunity to speak before turning to the amendments that had been submitted.  On conclusion of the debate on the amendments the budget recommendations would then be put to the vote without further debate.

The Leader of the Council presented the report.  He made the following principal points:

·        Herefordshire was a rural county with an older demographic, facing a rising demand for services which made finding savings increasingly difficult. 

·        2016/17 had seen further funding reductions from central government setting the requirement for a further £10m savings in addition to those achieved in previous years.

·        The need to identify savings would continue in the coming years and beyond with a requirement for £17.5m between now and 2019/20 to offset the impact of reducing central government contributions to council funding. As funding from central government had reduced, the council had become almost totally reliant on council tax and business rates to fund its services.

·        He highlighted a number of the council’s achievements.

·        The Medium Term financial strategy (MTFS) underlined the council’s objective to support its new Economic Vision, to develop its business rates income and create job opportunities to ensure the council could continue to meet its statutory duties in the future.

·        In setting the budget the council would have to be even more challenging, provide services very differently, work better with partners, and look for efficiencies at every opportunity

·        Since 2010, the Council had saved almost £70m while keeping the core council tax rise to below 2% per annum over the past five years, and balancing the budget. 

·        An additional precept to support the delivery of adult social care had been levied in 2016/17 of 2% as permitted by central government

·        While the budget, and next two years of the MTFS were balanced, he outlined a number of underlying pressures on the council’s finances including the higher than average older population; the number and cost of looked after children and adults with learning disabilities; the cost of maintaining roads, waste collections and street cleaning; the additional cost of providing services across a dispersed, rural county; and the cost of funding the council’s investment programme and repaying loans

·        Government expenditure over income continued to rise, leading to uncertainty for the whole of the public sector.  The council had agreed a four year settlement with the government, which saw the central grant reduce to almost nothing, but the government had already made changes reducing the agreed New Homes Bonus income, while moving to a grant, guaranteed for one year only, for adult social care.

·        The Rural Sparsity Network continued to pressure government on the additional financial costs of being a rural county and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To approve the 2017 pay policy statement for publication.

Council was invited to approve the 2017 pay policy statement for publication.

The Leader, as Chairman of the Employment Panel, presented the report.

A Member noted that the living wage was not yet being paid although that level was being approached.  She welcomed the narrowing of the ratio between the lowest and highest paid staff.

RESOLVED:  That the pay policy statement summarising existing council policies (at appendix A to the report) be approved.

To approve the ordinary meeting dates of Council for 2017/18

(note: already agreed 3 March and 19 May 2017.)

14 July 2017

29 September 2017

15 December 2017

9 February 2018,

9 March 2018

25 May 2018.

(All meetings will start at 10:00am except for the annual meetings in May which will start at 10:30am)

RESOLVED:  That the following meeting dates of Council for 2017/18 be approved:

14 July 2017

29 September 2017

15 December 2017

9 February 2018,

9 March 2018

25 May 2018.