Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet.  Referred from Cabinet on 5 February 2020.

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 amendment.

The report was received and the recommendations set out in the report moved by Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Tutt.  The Council considered the Section 25 Statement of the Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer), a General Fund Summary and the recommendations from the meeting of Cabinet held on 5 February 2020, in respect of the:  

• General Fund Budget 2020/21 and Capital Programme
• Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2020/21 and HRA Capital Programme 2019-23; and
• Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2020/21, Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy

Councillor Holt made his budget speech setting out the proposals, and Councillor Smart responded on behalf of the opposition.

The budget was debated by members from across the Council.  As part of this debate, Members thanked the Chief Finance Officer and her team for the preparation of the budget.

The motion was put to a recorded vote, and carried.

RESOLVED (By 17 votes to 8 with 1 abstention) - 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 5 February 2020:

(i)          To agree the General Fund budget for 2019/20 (Revised) and 2020/21 (original) Appendix 1 including growth and savings proposals for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix 2 to the Cabinet Report.

(ii)         To agree the charge for Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough Council Band D change to £251.71, an increase of 2% for 2020/21.

(iii)        To agree the revised General Fund capital programme 2020/21, as set out in Appendix 3 to the Cabinet Report.

(iv)        To approve the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix A to the Cabinet Report.

(v)         To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2020/21, as set out at paragraph 8 of the Cabinet Report.

(vi)        To approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators 2020/21 to 2022/23, as set out at paragraph 6 of the Cabinet Report.

(vii)      To approve the Capital Strategy, as set out at Appendix E to the Cabinet Report.

(viii)     To approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) income and expenditure proposals, including revised HRA budget for 2019/20 and the budget for 20/20/21, rents and service charges and the arrangements for finalising Eastbourne Homes’ management fee, including to:

a)    Agree the HRA budget for 2020/21 and revised 2019/20 budget as set out at Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report.

b)    Agree that social and affordable rents (including Shared Ownership) are increased by 2.7% in line with Government policy.

c)    Agree that service charges for general needs properties are increased by 2.7% (CPI +1%).

d)    Agree that the service charge for the Older Persons’ Sheltered Accommodations increases by an average of 0.5%.

e)    Agree that the support charges for Sheltered Housing Residents are set at £7.70 per unit, per week, an increase of 20p.

f)     Agree that heating costs are increased by 2.7% (CPI+1%) in line with estimated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Stephen Holt

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework)

(1) To agree the General Fund budget for 2019/20 (Revised) and 2020/21 (original) at Appendix 1 to the report, including growth and savings proposals for 2020/21 as set out at Appendix 2 to the report.

(2) To agree an increase in the Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough Council of 2% resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £251.71 for 2020/21.

(3) To agree the revised General Fund capital programme 2020/21 revised as set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the updated General Fund budget and medium term financial strategy, together with the updated capital programme position.

Thanks were conveyed to the Cabinet members, Heads of Service and the finance team for their work as part of the process in producing the budget.

The Cabinet commented on the pressures facing local authorities across the country to provide affordable housing and significant reduction in central government funding.

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework)

(1) To agree the General Fund budget for 2019/20 (Revised) and 2020/21 (Original) at Appendix 1 to the report, including growth and savings proposals for 2020/21 as set out at Appendix 2 to the report.

(2) To agree an increase in the Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough Council of 2% resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £251.71 for 2020/21.

(3) To agree the revised General Fund capital programme 2020/21 revised as set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reason for decisions:

The Cabinet has to recommend to Full Council the setting of a revenue budget and associated council tax for the forthcoming financial year by law.