Agenda item

Report of Councillor Giles on behalf of the Cabinet.

 

Councillors are reminded that in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct and Local Government Act 1992 Section 106, if you are two months or more in arrears with your council tax payments, you must disclose this at the meeting and must not vote at any decision being taken which might affect the level of the council tax or arrangements for administering it.  Failure to comply is a criminal offence.

 

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

 

To consider the attached summary report, the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 February 2019 (Minute Extracts for Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees in respect of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account are attached at item 9a and 9b), and to consider the recommended amendments to the budget set out at item 9c.

Full Council received for consideration the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 February 2019 (minute extracts for Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees in respect of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account attached at items 9a and 9b to the agenda), and the report of the Chief Finance Officer tabled at the meeting setting out updated recommendations, based on the latest information and reflecting technical amendments that had been made to the Council Tax base figures, which had resulted in minor changes to the Town and Parish Council precepts.

 

Councillor Smith (Leader of the Council) moved, and Councillor Giles (Cabinet Member for Finance) seconded, the motion that:

 

‘The recommendations contained in the report of the Chief Finance Officer entitled ‘Council Tax Budget Summary and Setting of the Council Tax 2019/20’ as tabled be approved, and the recommendations of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 February 2019 in respect of Minute 62 ‘The Housing Revenue Account 2019/20’ and Minute 60 ‘General Fund Budget 2019/20’ be approved, subject to the amendments to the Cabinet recommendations set out in the Chief Finance Officer’s report tabled at the meeting’.

 

Councillor Osborne moved, and Councillor Smith seconded, five amendments to the budget as follows:

 

“1. Citizens’ science project - Air quality monitoring  £10k - To provide residents with self-build sensors installed outside their homes that generate a continuously updated particular matter map from the transmitted data. This could focus on areas not already covered by local authority equipment.  The funding should include officer time and work with partners on the construction of the equipment and ensuring accurate calibration.  The principle of the project is to kick start an air quality partnership with private funding for the monitors in the future and provide an education opportunity.

 

2 .Biodiversity Improvements  £10k - For supporting bio diversity improvements on Lewes District Council land using a variety of improvements including nest boxes and wildflower, and to use it as a catalyst for more community engagement and interest in their local bio-diversity. Funding is to include officer time using established teams and to work with partners (such as Plumpton Headway, Mind) on the construction / supply of material and delivery in local communities.

 

3. Trade & Investment Account Manager - £25k - To pilot the creation of a new Trade and Investment Account Manager focusing on attracting new investment to Lewes District and supporting businesses to grow, trade locally, nationally and internationally.  Specifically targeting high growth scale-up businesses including priority sectors for the LEP, Newhaven Enterprise Zone and Greater Brighton City region.

 

4. Pop up and Flexible Business Space  -The proposed investment set out in these proposals are a cost effective way of bringing back underutilised council-owned assets into productive use. Furthermore, the proposed use would directly contribute to economic growth by supporting micro businesses to expand. By their nature, micro businesses are locally-owned; providing an environment where they can grow will help their owners who are likely to be residents of the district. It also provides an environment where micro businesses can network and support each other thereby improving their resilience and increasing their longevity.

 

Cost to Develop Pop-Up Business Case –

Newhaven - It is proposed that development of pop-up space is funded in two phases:

Phase 1:  £20K fund made available to fully develop a business case including the long-term viability assessment of growing pop-up office space in The Havens.

Phase 2:  Up to £105K capital (from the capital programme to be ring-fenced) to invest in the refurbishment, should the business case show a good rental income based on a 5 year plan.

Lewes - It is proposed that development of pop-up space is funded in two phases:

Phase 1.  £10k for a detailed and costed survey on 4 Fisher Street to understand the capital expenditure required.  This will then inform a full business case.

Phase 2.  Up to £300K capital (from the capital programme to be ring-fenced) to invest in the refurbishment, should the business case show a good rental income.

 

5. Recycling on the go bin roll out.£28k - To replace litter bins around the district with duel bins that allow residents to ‘recycle on the go’.   There are 40 further locations in the districts’ main shopping areas where we can install the duel bins, extending the ‘recycling on the go’ scheme. “

 

Councillor Rowell moved, and Councillor Osborne seconded an amendment to Councillor Osborne’ fourth item above in relation to ‘Pop up and Flexible Business Space’ as follows:

 

“In both instances Phase 2 last sentence states '...should the business case show a good rental income'.  Amend to read ‘… should the business case show a sufficient return after allowing for a community benefit associated with the spaces being rented out, based on a 5 year plan'.

 

As Councillor Osborne accepted these changes, it was agreed these be incorporated into the wording of amendment 4.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Smith and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Giles, then jointly delivered the budget speech.  Councillor Osborne then spoke to her amendments, and other members of the Council had the opportunity to debate the budget and the proposed amendments.

 

Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4 (as amended) and 5 were then put to the meeting in turn and each was Declared Carried.

 

The substantive Council motion, incorporating the amendments was then put to a recorded vote and Declared Carriedas follows:

 

Resolved – That approval be given to the following:

 

1.            The recommendations as detailed in the reports from the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Service Delivery to Cabinet on 11 February 2019, including an amended recommendation (i), and subject to the amendments set out above, including:

 

i).            The General Fund net expenditure for 2019/20 of £13,457,400 and the growth and savings proposals.

 

ii).          The charge for council tax for Lewes District Council ‘general expenses’ Band D is set at £187.08; an increase of 1.99%.

 

iii).         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) income and expenditure proposals, including revised HRA budget for 2018/19 and the budget for 2019/20, rents and service charges and the arrangements for finalising Eastbourne Homes’ management fee.

 

iv).         General Fund capital programme as set out in the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

 

v).          The Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

 

2.            To note the updated Business Rates return to the Government (NNDR1) and the levy figures for the Business Rate pilot pool confirmed by the lead authority (Wealden District Council) set out in in Appendix 1(a) to the Officers’ Report, and to note Appendix 1(b) to the Officer’s Report setting out the revised Reserves position.

 

3.            That the expenses incurred by the Council set out below be approved as Special Expenses chargeable to the residents of each of the Town/Parish areas indicated and that any other expenses (excluding local precepts) incurred by the Council be approved as general expenditure for the purposes of Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

Town/Parish Area	Special Expense
	2019/20
	£
Lewes	334,370
Newhaven	155,620
Telscombe	53,400
Seaford	54,760
Peacehaven	37,930
Chailey	1,070
Ringmer	4,180
Total	641,330

 

 

4.            That consequent upon a General Fund budget of £13,457,400 and other matters, the basic amount (Band D) of Council Tax for the Borough Council's functions will be £204.53 calculated as follows:

 

 

	General Expenses only	Total including special items
	£'000	£'000
Gross Expenditure:
General Fund	49,585
HRA	19,186
Business Rates payable to Government and Pilot	8,668
	78,565	78,565
Special expenses		641
Parish and Town Council Precepts		3,729
Less Income:
Service Income	(57,081)
Other Government Grants	(3,256)
Business Rates income	(11,292)
Collection Fund Surplus (Council Tax)	(59)
	(71,688)	(71,688)
COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT	6,877	11,247
Band 'D' Council Tax	£187.08	£305.96

 

5.            That it be noted that at its meeting on 18 December 2018 the Cabinet (in exercise of powers delegated to them by the Council) delegated the final determination of the Council Tax Base to the Chief Finance Officer. The following calculations for the year 2019/20 have been made in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31(B)(4) and 34(4) of the Local Government Act 1992, as amended:-

 

(a)          36,760.40 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of the Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 , as amended, as its Council Tax Base for the year ) Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992).

(b)   Part of the Council's Area Tax Base Parish of Barcombe 633.0 Parish of Beddingham and Glynde 186.7 Parish of Chailey 1,298.8 Parish of Ditchling 1,128.4 Parish of East Chiltington 192.8 Parish of Falmer 65.5 Parish of Firle 123.1 Parish of Hamsey 258.3 Parish of Iford 91.7 Parish of Kingston 430.8 Town of Lewes 6,138.8 Town of Newhaven 3,739.1 Parish of Newick 1,103.3 Town of Peacehaven 4,717.6 Parish of Piddinghoe 125.9 Parish of Plumpton 665.7 Parish of Ringmer 1,879.5 Parish of Rodmell 210.0 Parish of St Ann Without 40.3 Parish of St John Without 27.2 Town of Seaford 9,544.1 Parish of Southease 23.3 Parish of South Heighton 269.8 Parish of Streat 81.1 Parish of Tarring Neville 9.2 Town of Telscombe 2,526.6 Parish of Westmeston 154.9 Parish of Wivelsfield 1,094.9   Being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations, as amended, as the amounts of its Council Tax base for the year for dwelling in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

6.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended:

		(a)	£82,934,951	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.
		(b)	£71,687,900	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
		(c)	£11,247,051	being the amount by which the aggregate at 5(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 5(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).
		(d)	£305.96	being the amount at 6(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (5 above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including local precepts).
		(e)	£4,369,781	being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.
		(f)	£187.08	being the amount at 6(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 6(e) above by the amount at 4(a) above (Item T), 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,
		(g)	Parts of the Council’s area   Barcombe 236.66 Piddinghoe 266.27 Beddingham and Glynde 245.75 Plumpton 272.68 Chailey 235.00 Ringmer 237.97 Ditchling 262.65 Rodmell 243.49 East Chiltington 214.60 St Ann Without 187.08 Falmer 194.61 St John Without 187.08 Firle 265.53 Seaford 273.23 Hamsey 255.16 Southease 187.08 Iford 237.11 South Heighton 230.77 Kingston 302.58 Streat 229.76 Lewes 419.73 Tarring Neville 187.08 Newhaven 360.79 Telscombe 297.43 Newick 244.06 Westmeston 232.27 Peacehaven 308.80 Wivelsfield 260.18   Being the amounts given by adding the amount at 5(f) above, the amounts of the special items or items relating to dwelling in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 5(B) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.
		(h)	Parts of the Council’s area

 

	Council Tax Valuation Bands
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	6/9	7/9	8/9	1	11/9	13/9	15/9	2
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Barcombe	157.77	184.07	210.36	236.66	289.25	341.84	394.43	473.32
Beddingham and Glynde	163.83	191.14	218.44	245.75	300.36	354.97	409.58	491.50
Chailey	156.67	182.78	208.89	235.00	287.22	339.44	391.67	470.00
Ditchling	175.10	204.28	233.47	262.65	321.02	379.38	437.75	525.30
East Chiltington	143.07	166.91	190.76	214.60	262.29	309.98	357.67	429.20
Falmer	129.74	151.36	172.99	194.61	237.86	281.10	324.35	389.22
Firle	177.02	206.52	236.03	265.53	324.54	383.54	442.55	531.06
Hamsey	170.11	198.46	226.81	255.16	311.86	368.56	425.27	510.32
Iford	158.07	184.42	210.76	237.11	289.80	342.49	395.18	474.22
Kingston	201.72	235.34	268.96	302.58	369.82	437.06	504.30	605.16
Lewes	279.82	326.46	373.09	419.73	513.00	606.28	699.55	839.46
Newhaven	240.53	280.61	320.70	360.79	440.97	521.14	601.32	721.58
Newick	162.71	189.82	216.94	244.06	298.30	352.53	406.77	488.12
Peacehaven	205.87	240.18	274.49	308.80	377.42	446.04	514.67	617.60
Piddinghoe	177.51	207.10	236.68	266.27	325.44	384.61	443.78	532.54
Plumpton	181.79	212.08	242.38	272.68	333.28	393.87	454.47	545.36
Ringmer	158.65	185.09	211.53	237.97	290.85	343.73	396.62	475.94
Rodmell	162.33	189.38	216.44	243.49	297.60	351.71	405.82	486.98
St Ann Without	124.72	145.51	166.29	187.08	228.65	270.23	311.80	374.16
St John Without	124.72	145.51	166.29	187.08	228.65	270.23	311.80	374.16
Seaford	182.15	212.51	242.87	273.23	333.95	394.67	455.38	546.46
Southease	124.72	145.51	166.29	187.08	228.65	270.23	311.80	374.16
South Heighton	153.85	179.49	205.13	230.77	282.05	333.33	384.62	461.54
Streat	153.17	178.70	204.23	229.76	280.82	331.88	382.93	459.52
Tarring Neville	124.72	145.51	166.29	187.08	228.65	270.23	311.80	374.16
Telscombe	198.29	231.33	264.38	297.43	363.53	429.62	495.72	594.86
Westmeston	154.85	180.65	206.46	232.27	283.89	335.50	387.12	464.54
Wivelsfield	173.45	202.36	231.27	260.18	318.00	375.82	433.63	520.36

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 6(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

 

7.         To note that East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended, for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below.

 

 

	Council Tax Valuation Bands
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	6/9	7/9	8/9	1	11/9	13/9	15/9	2
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Precepting Authorities
East Sussex County Council	956.52	1,115.94	1,275.36	1,434.78	1,753.62	2,072.46	2,391.30	2,869.56
Sussex Police Authority	126.61	147.71	168.81	189.91	232.11	274.31	316.52	379.82
East Sussex Fire Authority	62.45	72.85	83.26	93.67	114.49	135.30	156.12	187.34

 

8.         That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 6(h) and 7 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2019/20 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

	Council Tax Valuation Bands
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	6/9	7/9	8/9	1	11/9	13/9	15/9	2
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Barcombe	1,303.35	1,520.57	1,737.80	1,955.02	2,389.47	2,823.91	3,258.38	3,910.04
Beddingham and Glynde	1,309.41	1,527.64	1,745.88	1,964.11	2,400.58	2,837.04	3,273.53	3,928.22
Chailey	1,302.24	1,519.28	1,736.32	1,953.36	2,387.44	2,821.51	3,255.61	3,906.72
Ditchling	1,320.67	1,540.79	1,760.90	1,981.01	2,421.23	2,861.45	3,301.69	3,962.02
East Chiltington	1,288.64	1,503.41	1,718.19	1,932.96	2,362.51	2,792.04	3,221.61	3,865.92
Falmer	1,275.31	1,487.87	1,700.42	1,912.97	2,338.07	2,763.17	3,188.29	3,825.94
Firle	1,322.59	1,543.03	1,763.46	1,983.89	2,424.75	2,865.61	3,306.49	3,967.78
Hamsey	1,315.68	1,534.96	1,754.24	1,973.52	2,412.08	2,850.63	3,289.21	3,947.04
Iford	1,303.65	1,520.92	1,738.20	1,955.47	2,390.02	2,824.56	3,259.13	3,910.94
Kingston	1,347.29	1,571.84	1,796.39	2,020.94	2,470.04	2,919.13	3,368.24	4,041.88
Lewes	1,425.39	1,662.96	1,900.52	2,138.09	2,613.22	3,088.34	3,563.49	4,276.18
Newhaven	1,386.10	1,617.12	1,848.13	2,079.15	2,541.18	3,003.21	3,465.26	4,158.30
Newick	1,308.28	1,526.33	1,744.37	1,962.42	2,398.51	2,834.60	3,270.71	3,924.84
Peacehaven	1,351.44	1,576.68	1,801.92	2,027.16	2,477.64	2,928.11	3,378.61	4,054.32
Piddinghoe	1,323.09	1,543.60	1,764.12	1,984.63	2,425.66	2,866.68	3,307.73	3,969.26
Plumpton	1,327.36	1,548.59	1,769.81	1,991.04	2,433.49	2,875.94	3,318.41	3,982.08
Ringmer	1,304.22	1,521.59	1,738.96	1,956.33	2,391.07	2,825.80	3,260.56	3,912.66
Rodmell	1,307.90	1,525.88	1,743.87	1,961.85	2,397.82	2,833.77	3,269.76	3,923.70
St Ann Without	1,270.29	1,482.01	1,693.72	1,905.44	2,328.87	2,752.29	3,175.74	3,810.88
St John Without	1,270.29	1,482.01	1,693.72	1,905.44	2,328.87	2,752.29	3,175.74	3,810.88
Seaford	1,327.73	1,549.01	1,770.30	1,991.59	2,434.17	2,876.73	3,319.33	3,983.18
Southease	1,270.29	1,482.01	1,693.72	1,905.44	2,328.87	2,752.29	3,175.74	3,810.88
South Heighton	1,299.42	1,515.99	1,732.56	1,949.13	2,382.27	2,815.40	3,248.56	3,898.26
Streat	1,298.75	1,515.20	1,731.66	1,948.12	2,381.04	2,813.94	3,246.88	3,896.24
Tarring Neville	1,270.29	1,482.01	1,693.72	1,905.44	2,328.87	2,752.29	3,175.74	3,810.88
Telscombe	1,343.86	1,567.84	1,791.81	2,015.79	2,463.74	2,911.69	3,359.66	4,031.58
Westmeston	1,300.42	1,517.16	1,733.89	1,950.63	2,384.10	2,817.57	3,251.06	3,901.26
Wivelsfield	1,319.03	1,538.86	1,758.70	1,978.54	2,418.22	2,857.88	3,297.58	3,957.08

 

9.         Determine that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2019/20 is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended.

 

Note: As the billing authority, the Council has not been notified by a major precepting authority that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2019/20 is excessive and that the billing authority is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended.

 

Recorded Vote in accordance with the requirements of the Local Authorities (Standing Order) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014:

 

For the Motion:

Councillors S Adeniji, S Barnes, N Bikson, L Boorman, J Carr, S Catlin, M Chartier, S Davy; W Elliott, N Enever, P Franklin, P Gardiner, S Gauntlett, B Giles, J Harrison-Hicks, O Honeyman, V Ient, T Jones,  A Lambert, I Linington, R Maskell, E Merry; D Neave, T Nicholson, O’Keeffe, S Osborne, J Peterson, R Robertson, S Saunders, A Smith, R Turner and L Wallraven (32).

 

Against the Motion:

Councillors J Denis, S Murray, and T Rowell (3).

 

(Note: Councillor Carter left the meeting prior to the vote being taken on this item and therefore is not recorded as voting above).