Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets on behalf of the Cabinet. Referred from Cabinet on 2 February 2023, incorporating the recommendations from the Cabinet reports on:

·         General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/24 and Capital Programme.

·         Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2023/24, Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy.

·         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2023/24 and HRA Capital Programme 2023-26.

Please note that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Amendment) Regulations 2014 requires named votes to be taken and recorded when setting the annual budget and council tax, including on substantive motions and any amendments.

Councillor Nicholson moved and Councillor MacCleary seconded the recommendations set out in the agenda and agenda supplement, in relation to the Council Budget and setting of the Council Tax for 2023/24.  This incorporated recommendations from Cabinet on 2 February 2023 regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/24 and Capital Programme, Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2023/24, Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2023/24 and HRA Capital Programme 2023-26.  The addendum included a minor amendment to the Fire Authority precept figure, and proposed additional fees related to the Port Health Authority.

Councillor Peterson moved and Councillor Linington seconded the following amendment as set out in an addendum tabled at the meeting:

            To amend Recommendation 1 to read:  “To approve the General Fund budget for 2022/23 (Revised) and 2023/24 (Revised), subject to a 0% increase in the Council Tax for Lewes District Council (per annum) resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £202.08 for 2023/24.”

The cost of not increasing the Council Tax in 2023/24 (circa £85k), would be offset by not proceeding with the increase to the waste budget in 2023/24 (circa £174k) which would be to fund the use of HVO fuel rather than diesel in the waste vehicle fleet.

Councillor Nicholson then spoke to the budget proposals and advised that these proposals arose from four years’ worth of focus from the alliance groups. Councillor Nicholson advised that it was based on the shared values of fairness and resilience, and the goals of making the Council more responsive to people’s needs, taking action on the climate crisis, a commitment to building more Council homes, using the Council’s resources wisely, and addressing those matters where there were areas for improvement.  The budget included a proposal for a 1% Council tax rise.

Councillor Peterson presented his proposed amendment for a 0% Council Tax rise, which he advised was made in the context of the current cost of living crisis, and its impact on residents.  He advised that the most straight forward way to pay for this was by postponing the investment in renewable fuel for the waste vehicles, but if this was not supported, there were other areas in the budget which could be reduced to fund this proposal.   

The Council debated the budget and amendment together. 

Prior to the Council was moving the vote, Councillor Nicholson was given the opportunity to sum up.

The Chair highlighted that it was required by legislation that all votes on the budget were recorded votes.

The amendment was put to a vote first and was lost, with the following votes recorded:

For: Councillors Bikson, Boorman, Burman, Davy, Duhigg, Linington, J Lord, S Lord, Maskell, Papanicolaou, Peterson, Rutland, Saunders, Turner and Wallraven (15)

Against: Councillors Amy, Banks, Bird, Brett, Clarkson, Clay, Collier, Denis, Gauntlett, MacCleary, Macleod, Makepeace, Manley, Nicholson, O’Brien, O’Connor, O’Keeffe, Robinson and Ross (19).

Abstentions:  None

The original proposals on the budget were then put to a vote and were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57