In the absence of the Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Peter Haynes led the Council in prayer.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs. E.M. Bew, J.W. Newman, Mrs. J.E. Pemberton.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on this Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th February, 2006.

The Chairman advised that the list of attendees would be amended to include Councillor Mrs. E.A. Taylor, and apologised to her for the omission.

RESOLVED:  That, subject to that amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 10th February, 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman's announcements and petitions from members of the public.

The Chairman reminded Members that the Civic Service would be held on Sunday, 19th March at 3.30 pm in the Cathedral and that the Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor would be in attendance.

The Chief Executive announced that the Council has received the Inspector's report on the Unitary Development Plan and that there would be a confidential briefing for Members at the conclusion of the Council meeting.

To receive questions from members of the public.

Under the Constitution a member of the public can ask a Cabinet Member or Chairman of a Committee any question relevant to a matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties, or which affects the County, as long as a copy of the question is deposited with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services more than six clear working days before the meeting.  No such questions had been received.

To receive any written questions.

Councillors may ask questions of Cabinet Members and Chairmen of Committees so long as a copy of the question is deposited with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  A list of questions, set out in the order in which they had been received, was circulated at the beginning of the meeting.

Councillor D.J. Fleet had submitted two questions.  The Chairman ruled that the second of these could be dealt with at Item 1.2 of the Cabinet Report to Council - Revenue Budget 2006/07 (see Minute No 77).

Question asked by Councillor D.J. Fleet.

"Is the refurbishment of Eign Gate now complete?   If so when will Members be informed of the final total cost of the works together with the cost of street lights, furniture etc."

Councillor Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) replied that the Eign Gate refurbishment scheme was substantially complete.  He said that although final accounts for the scheme were yet to be confirmed, the current costs were £662,427, against a capital budget allocation of £680,000.  He did not expect that the final costs would be significantly different and would arrange for Councillor Fleet to have the details as soon as possible.

In response to a further question from Councillor Fleet, Councillor Wilcox said he was unaware that the lighting columns were lit for 24 hours a day and would investigate the matter with a view to them being lit during periods of darkness only.

Question asked by Councillor W.J. Walling

"In the light of the considerable amount of disquiet that has been expressed by very many members of the public to me and my colleagues concerning the proposals for the refurbishment of High Town, disquiet which I and my colleagues share would this Council please consider deferring the much reduced and disappointing plans for the refurbishment until next year, leaving the Widemarsh Pedestrianisation scheme time to settle and avoiding all the highly disruptive stop-start refurbishment work, which will be caused by the Mayfair and the Three Choirs Festival?"

Councillor Wilcox advised that future uncertainties regarding local authority funding made it imperative for this refurbishment work to be done by the end of the 2006/2007 financial year, or the opportunity to fund the work may be lost.  High Street was now open and would stay open until after the May Fair, when work would start in High Town. The scheme would be done in five stages to minimise disruption but still allow the work to proceed as quickly as possible. The work in High Town would stop for the Three Choirs Festival, when the works compounds would be removed, and continue afterwards until expected completion in mid November. 

In response to another question about the wisdom of continuing with this work during the Three Choirs Festival and the effect that would have on the image of the County and on the Council, Councillor Wilcox stated that a considerable amount of funding would be lost if the works were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To consider any Notices of Motion.

There were no Notices of Motion.

To receive the report and to consider any recommendations to Council arising from the meeting held on 23rd February, 2006.

Before calling on the Leader of the Council, to present the report of Cabinet, the Chairman advised that the Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2006/07 would be debated at page 17 of the agenda.  If any Member wished to move an amendment, they should do so once the Leader had proposed the Council Tax and Budget.  Once the Council had agreed the whole of the Cabinet report, it would move to item 10 of the agenda to set the Council Tax and Revenue Budget for 2006/07, formally, in accordance with the legislation.

Councillor Fleet was reminded that his question about the Service Level Agreement with Hereford City Council would be dealt with under this item

The Leader of the Council, Councillor R.J. Phillips, presented the report of the meetings of Cabinet held on 23rd February, 2006

In relation to Item 1.1 Corporate Plan 2006/09 - Councillor Phillips reminded Council that the Corporate Plan covers a three year period and sets out the Council's intentions for its contribution to the Herefordshire Plan and its own organisational improvement.  It includes performance measures and targets for 2006 to 2009, actions to achieve them, associated risks and their mitigation and the resources to be allocated.

In relation to Item 1.2 - Revenue Budget 2006/07 - Councillor Phillips presented the Corporate Management Board's proposals for the Revenue Budget for 2006/07.  The proposals had been endorsed by the Budget Panel,  Strategic Monitoring Committee and Cabinet and commented on by Union representatives.  He reminded Council that the Government had introduced a new approach to calculating Formula Grant allocations known as the "Four Block Model" that deals in cash grant rather than assumptions about spending.  He said that the new system was less transparent than the previous system and thought it would be unsustainable beyond two years.  He was concerned that the new system shifted the council tax burden from urban to rural authorities and felt that central government needed to carry out a spending review to address the situation.

He spoke of the devolved budgets for schools (4.3% in 2006/07 and 4% in 2007/08) which would be useful for medium term financial planning but was concerned about a rise in the non-schools budget of only 2.4% which would not meet the previously agreed salary increase of 2.9% or the expected strain on pension costs over the next two year.  He said that the predicted rise in fuel and vehicle running costs would have a serious impact on providing services in Herefordshire.

He spoke of the rising demand for essential services, such as safeguarding children, care of the elderly, the disabled, those with learning difficulties and the mentally ill.

He said that the proposed increase in Council Tax was 4.7%, which was below the Government's recommended maximum level of 5% and was comparable to other local authorities and with the Fire and Police Authorities (4.9%).  However, he understood that this would still be a burden for the large numbers of people in Herefordshire who were on a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To set the Council Tax amounts for each category of dwelling in Herefordshire for 2006/07 and to calculate the Council's budget requirements.

Following the resolution at Minute 77 above, it was unanimously formally RESOLVED:

THAT

(1)            In respect of the Council’s 2006/07 Budget:

(a)               a council tax of £1,043.80 be levied (at Band D);

(b)               service areas contain expenditure within “cash limits” i.e. outturn budgets with no further allowance for pay or price inflation beyond that already provided; and

(2)in respect of council tax for 2006/07 that the following amounts be approved by the Council for the year 2006/07 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)     £303,922,929 being the estimated aggregate expenditure of the Council in accordance with Section 32(2)(a) to (e) of the Act;

(b)     £183,637,000 being the estimated aggregate income of the Council for the items set out in Section 32(3)(a) to (c) of the Act;

(c)     £120,285,929 being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its total net budget requirement for the year;

(d)     £47,041,744 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimated will be payable for the year into its general fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates, revenue support grant, additional grant or relevant special grant, increased by the transfer from the Collection Fund;

(e)     £1,073.12 being the amount at (c) above less the amount at (d) above all divided by the amount of the Council Tax base calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

(f)     £2,000,929 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;

(g)     £1,043.80 being the amount at (e) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (f) above by the amount of the Council Tax base 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 item relates;

(h)that the precepting authority details incorporated in Annex 1 (i-v), relating to Special Items, West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority be approved in accordance with Sections 30(2), 34(3), 36(1) and Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

(3)Pursuant to the requirements of the Local Government (Functions and Responsibility) (England) Regulations 2000, any decisions on the application of reserves and balances as required from time to time during the financial year be taken by Cabinet.

To receive the report of the meeting of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 14th February, 2006.  Councillor B. Hunt has been nominated for the purpose of answering questions on the discharge of the functions of the Police Authority.

Councillor B. Hunt presented the report of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 14th February, 2006.

Police Restructuring - The Leader informed Council that all the Councils within the West Mercia region were opposed to a single Regional Force and supported the retention of the West Mercia Constabulary.  He said it was important to ensure effective service delivery at the local level. 

Capital Programme - Councillor Hunt agreed to respond in writing to a request for details of the Capital Programme.

Ambulance Service - Councillor Hunt referred to the consultations for restructuring of the Ambulance Service and the proposal for a sub-regional structure to be coterminous with the West Mercia Police Authority Area and queried whether this was part of the Government's overall strategy for regional government.

RESOLVED:That the report of the meeting of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 14th February, 2006 be received.

To receive the report of the meetings of the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority held on 15th December, 2005 and 15th February, 2006.

Councillor G.W. Davis presented the report of the meetings of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority which were held on 15th December, 2005 and 15th February, 2006.

RESOLVED:That the report of the meetings of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority which were held on 15th December, 2005 and 15th February, 2006 be received.