Issue - meetings

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

·         General Fund Revenue Budget 2024-25 and Capital Programme

·         Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2024-25 Capital Strategy

·         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2024-25

·         Council Tax Discounts and Premiums 2024-25

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 Sharkey seconded the proposals in the report of the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets on behalf of the Cabinet, incorporating the recommendations from the Cabinet reports on: 

·         General Fund Revenue Budget 2024-25 and Capital Programme

·         Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2024-25 Capital Strategy

·         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2024-25

·         Council Tax Discounts and Premiums 2024-25.

Councillor Nicholson presented the budget and set out the context for the proposals in terms of shared values of the last four years against the backdrop of a challenging national financial position of recession and high inflation, and the impact of the housing and homelessness crisis. She highlighted the investments the Council would be making in its key priorities around the local economy and wellbeing, essential works to assets in including leisure centres, play spaces, public toilets, investing in a low emissions waste fleet, investing in biodiversity and open spaces, retrofitting Council housing to make it more energy efficient, and continuing its 100% Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The Council debated the budget and Councillors across the Council spoke in support and thanked the officers who had made it possible to have a balanced budget. Councillor Slater (as Cabinet Member for tenants and those in housing need) in particular thanked officers who had worked on the SHDF (Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund) bid over the Christmas period. 

In addition, Councillors spoke in the favour of the proposal also to replenish reserves, as a prudential and responsible Council.

In accordance with legislation, the vote was put to a recorded vote. The recommendations were approved unanimously as follows:

For: Councillors Agace, Alexander, Amy, Boniface, Brett, Carr, Clarkson, Clews, Cohen, Collier, Davies, Denis, Fabry, Francomb, Gallagher, Gauntlett, Hoareau, Honeyman, Keenan, Keene, Kortalla-Bird, MacCleary, Macleod, Makepeace, Maples, Mellor, Nicholson, O’Brien, O’Connor, Robinson, Saunders, Sharkey, Slater, Spiteri and von Kurthy.

Against: None

Abstentions: None

RESOLVED:

1.      To approve the recommendations as detailed in the reports from the Chief Finance Officer to Cabinet on 1 February 2024 as summarised below:

(i)        To approve the General Fund budget for 2023/24 (Revised) and 2024/25.  An increase in the Council Tax for Lewes District Council of 2.99% (including Special Expenses) resulting in a total Band D charge for of £228.17 for 2024/25. 

(ii)       To approve the revised General Fund capital programme 2024/25.

(iii)      To note the Section 151 Officer’s sign off as outlined in the Cabinet Report and at Appendix 1.

(iv)     To approve the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25.

(v)      To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2024/25.

(vi)     To approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2024/25 to 2026/2.

(vii)    To approve the Capital Strategy.

(viii)   To endorse the continuation of the Flexible use of Capital Receipts.

(ix)     To approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) income and expenditure proposals, including revised HRA budget for 2022/23 and the budget for 2023/24, rents and service charges and the HRA Capital Programme, including:

§   That social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77