Agenda item

2022/23 BUDGET SETTING

To approve the 2022/23 budget and associated medium term financial strategy and treasury management strategy.

Minutes:

Council considered a report from the Leader to set the 2022/23 budget. Council noted the following supplements published following the despatch of the agenda:

· Budget Council meeting procedure 2022 published on 4 February;

· Addition of recommendation [ j) the new homes bonus grant funding of £1.33m is allocated to the managing climate change reserve. ] to the 2022/23 Budget Setting report published on 11 February;

· Budget amendments 2022/23 published on 11 February; and

· Additional S25 opinion of the S151 officer following the publication of budget amendments published on 11 February.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning introduced the report and moved the budget.

The Leader seconded the report and the budget.

Councillor John Harrington, as Group Leader of the Independents for Herefordshire Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Jonathan Lester, as Group Leader of the Conservative Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Terry James, as Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Ellie Chowns, as Group Leader of The Green Party Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Bob Matthews, as Group Leader of the True Independents Group spoke on the budget.

Council debated the budget. During the course of the debate Councillor Roger Phillips declaredan other interest in agenda item no. 9 – 2022/23 Budget Setting - as vice chairman of the Rural Services Network.

Amendment 1 – Proposed by Councillor John Harrington and seconded by Councillor Paul Andrews

To add recommendation below:

k) to use collection of Business Rates in 2022/23 to offset inflation increase to car park charges identified in appendix B S8

Councillor Harrington proposed the amendment.

Council debated the amendment.

Councillor Andrews seconded the amendment.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning, as the mover of the original motion, spoke before the vote on the amendment.

The amendment was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority.

FOR (48): Councillors Paul Andrews, Bartlett, Bartrum, Bolderson, Boulter, Bowen, Bowes, Chowns, Crockett, Davies, Durkin, Fagan, Foxton, Gandy, Guthrie, Hardwick, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, I’Anson, James, Jinman, Johnson, Mike Jones, Kenyon, Lester, Marsh, Matthews, Millmore, Milln, Norman, Phillips, Price, Probert, Rone, Shaw, Stark, Stone, Summers, Swinglehurst, Symonds, Tillett, Toynbee, Tyler and Watson.

AGAINST (1): Councillor Wilding.

Abstentions (0)

RESOLVED: That the following recommendation is added to the budget:

k) to use collection of Business Rates in 2022/23 to offset inflation increase to car park charges identified in appendix B S8

Amendment 2 – Proposed by Councillor Nigel Shaw and seconded by Councillor Jonathan Lester

To change recommendations b and c to 0% and resultant change to band D charge in recommendation c.

Councillor Shaw proposed the amendment.

Council debated the amendment.

Councillor Lester seconded the amendment.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning, as the mover of the original motion, spoke before the vote on the amendment.

The amendment was put to the recorded vote and was lost by a simple majority.

FOR (22): Councillors Bartrum, Bolderson, Bowen, Durkin, Gandy, Guthrie, I’Anson, James, Johnson, Mike Jones, Kenyon, Lester, Matthews, Millmore, Phillips, Price, Probert, Rone, Shaw, Stone, Swinglehurst and Tillett.

AGAINST (27): Councillors Paul Andrews, Bartlett, Boulter, Bowes, Chowns, Crockett, Davies, Fagan, Foxton, Hardwick, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, Jinman, Marsh, Milln, Norman, Stark, Summers, Symonds, Toynbee, Tyler, Watson and Wilding.

Abstentions (0)

Amendment 3 – Proposed by Councillor Nigel Shaw and seconded by Councillor Jonathan Lester

To change recommendation b to 0% and resultant change to band D charge in recommendation c.

Councillor Shaw proposed the amendment.

Councillor Jonathan Lester seconded the amendment.

Council debated the amendment.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning, as the mover of the original motion, spoke before the vote on the amendment.

The amendment was put to the recorded vote and was lost by a simple majority.

Abstentions (0)

Amendment 4 – Proposed by Councillor Nigel Shaw and seconded by Councillor Jonathan Lester

To change recommendation j: the new homes bonus grant funding of £1.33m is allocated to Market Towns Funding.

Councillor Shaw proposed the amendment.

Council debated the amendment.

Councillor Jonathan Lester seconded the amendment.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning, as the mover of the original motion, spoke before the vote on the amendment.

The amendment was put to the recorded vote and was lost by a simple majority.

FOR (18): Councillors Bartrum, Bolderson, Bowen, Durkin, Gandy, Guthrie, I’Anson, James, Johnson, Mike Jones, Lester, Millmore, Phillips, Probert, Rone, Shaw, Stone and Swinglehurst.

AGAINST (31): Councillors Paul Andrews, Bartlett, Boulter, Bowes, Chowns, Crockett, Davies, Fagan, Foxton, Hardwick, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, Jinman, Kenyon, Marsh, Matthews, Milln, Norman, Price, Stark, Summers, Symonds, Tillett, Toynbee, Tyler, Watson and Wilding.

Abstentions (0)

The 2022/23 budget and associated medium term financial strategy and treasury management strategy as amended by amendment 1 was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority.

FOR (27): Councillors Paul Andrews, Bartlett, Boulter, Bowes, Chowns, Crockett, Davies, Fagan, Foxton, Hardwick, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, Kenyon, Marsh, Milln, Norman, Stark, Summers, Symonds, Toynbee, Tyler, Watson and Wilding.

AGAINST (20): Councillors Bartrum, Bolderson, Durkin, Gandy, Guthrie, I’Anson, James, Johnson, Mike Jones, Lester, Matthews, Millmore, Phillips, Price, Probert, Rone, Shaw, Stone, Swinglehurst and Tillett.

ABSTENTIONS (1): Councillor Bowen.

RESOLVED: That: Council approves:

a) the council tax base of 70,252.52 Band D equivalents in 2022/23;

b) an increase in core council tax in 2022/23 of 1.99%;

c) an additional precept in respect of adult social care costs of 1% applied to council tax in 2022/23 resulting in a total council tax increase of 2.99%, increasing the band D charge from £1,652.30 to £1,701.70 for Herefordshire Council in 2022/23;

d) the balanced 2022/23 revenue budget proposal totalling £175.9m, subject to any amendments approved at the meeting, specifically the net spending limits for each directorate as at appendix C;

e) the use of the new service grant one off funding in 2022/23 to support the economy and environment three year savings delivery plan;

f) to use the one off collection fund surplus of £1.3m to fund property services budget costs in 2022/23;

g) delegates to the section 151 officer the power to make necessary changes to the budget arising from any variations in central government funding allocations via general reserves;

h) the medium term financial strategy (MTFS) 2022-25 at appendix A;

i) the treasury management strategy at appendix D be approved;

j) the new homes bonus grant funding of £1.33m is allocated to the managing climate change reserve; and

k) to use collection of Business Rates in 2022/23 to offset inflation increase to car park charges identified in appendix B S8.

As an amendment was made by Council to the budget the Leader was asked whether he, on behalf of the Cabinet, accepted the amendment.

The Leader indicated on behalf of the Cabinet that he accepted the amendment to the budget.

Supporting documents: