Report of Director of Finance

Report of Cabinet 16 January 2017 (to follow)

Please note that this report has been printed separately for Budget Panel on 10 January, Cabinet on 16 January and Council on 24 January. Members are reminded to bring their copy to this meeting, including any updates received.

Council received a report that had been considered at Cabinet on 16 January 2017 and Budget Panel on 10 January 2017.  The Cabinet minutes and Council Tax Resolution 2017/18 report were circulated separately to councillors. 

The Mayor moved the budget report which was seconded by Councillor Watkin.

Councillor Bell moved an amendment to the budget report, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes, which was seconded by Councillor Asif Khan.  The amendment included the following proposals –

“ – cutting the costs of mayor’s office – saving £237k

- pegging the Mayor’s salary to the leader of HCC

- freeze council tax – not increased

- remove the council tax subsidised Mayor’s Lib Dem adviser £130k over 3 years

- cut to printing budget – saves £225k over 3 years

- work with children’s play workers to make it self-sufficient over 3 years

- consultants – freeze the costs

- freeze taxi and cemetery fees – this reverses all increases and leaves income budgets set at 2016/17 level

- scrap bulky white goods

Use of reserves to create a £1,000,000 earmarked reserve for the regeneration of St. Albans Road: this will be a transfer from the Economic Impact Reserve “

Members debated the original motion and the amendment.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 the votes were recorded as follows –

The amendment was then put to the vote

Those members voting in favour of the amendment

Councillors Bashir, Bell, Connal, Dhindsa, Joynes, Ahsan Khan, Asif Khan, Mauthoor, Shah and Turmaine

Those members voting against the amendment

Mayor Thornhill, the Chairman Councillor Walford, Councillors Barks, Bolton, Cavinder, Collett, Crout, Dychton, Fahmy, Grimston, Hastrick, Hofman,

J Johnson, S Johnson, Kent, Laird, Maestas, Rindl, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Steele, Taylor, Watkin and Williams

The amendment was LOST by 10 votes to 25.  There were no abstentions.

The original motion was then put to Council.

Those Members voting in favour of the original motion:

Mayor Thornhill, the Chairman Councillor Walford, Councillors Barks, Bolton, Cavinder, Collett, Crout, Dychton, Fahmy, Grimston, Hastrick, Hofman,

J Johnson, S Johnson, Kent, Laird, Maestas, Rindl, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Steele, Taylor, Watkin and Williams

Those Members voting against the original motion:

Councillors Bashir, Bell, Connal, Dhindsa, Joynes, Ahsan Khan, Asif Khan, Mauthoor, Shah and Turmaine

The original motion was CARRIED by 25 votes to 10.  There were no abstentions. 

RESOLVED –

1.      that the proposals recommended by Cabinet on 16 January 2017 be agreed:

         a)      that the council’s net General Fund expenditure for 2017/18 shall be £14,261,936.

         b)      that the Capital Programme shall be as set out in the Cabinet report.

         and in approving these recommendations

         c)      to have regard to the Director of Finance’s assessment of financial risks and the level of balances and provisions required, as set out in the Cabinet report.

2.      Setting the amount of Council Tax for Watford borough Council

         That Watford Borough Council’s Council Tax Base for 2017/18 has been calculated at 32,062.1 in accordance with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56