Issue - decisions

Issue - decisions

Draft Revenue and Capital Estimates 2015/2018. To agree the Council Tax Base. To agree the Collection Fund surplus/deficit. Approve detailed revenue estimates including growth and savings and fees and charges. Approve the Council Tax Support Sche

06/02/2015 - Financial Planning - Draft Revenue and Capital Estimates 2015-18 and the Treasury Management Strategy 2015-18 - Recommendations from Cabinet 19 January 2015

Council received a report of Cabinet, including the original report presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 19 January 2015 and an additional report from the Shared Director of Finance setting out the Council Tax Resolution for 2015/2016.

 

The Mayor moved the budget report incorporating the following amendments to the minutes from Cabinet, which was seconded by Councillor Watkin –

 

·       £250,000 to be added to the Capital Programme for work to community centres;

·       Saving of £1,650 would not be taken from the Democratic Services budget.

 

Councillor Bell moved the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Khan –

 

·               £30,000 for weekend burials (paid from the net revenue from fees and charges) in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

·               £40,000 for free graffiti and bulky waste removal in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

·               Cut the cost of the Mayor’s office £70,198 – 2015/16; £120,190 – 2016/17; £120,190 – 2017/18

·               Cut £1,680 for the cost of mobile phones for Cabinet in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

·               £50,000 from Reserves for Watford Women’s Centre for three years, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

·               £1,500,000 from Reserves for St Albans Road 2015/16

 

Members debated the original motion and the amendment.

 

During the debate Councillor Sharpe raised a point of order following an allegation made by Councillor Dhindsa.

 

After consultation with the Head of Democracy and Governance and the Managing Director the Chairman invited Councillor Dhindsa to withdraw the allegation, which he did.

 

The amendment was then put to the vote

 

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

 

Those Members voting in favour of the amendment:

 

Councillors Bashir, Bell, Connal, Dhindsa, Joynes, Khan, Mauthoor, Mills, Shah and S Williams

 

Those Members voting against the amendment:

 

Mayor Thornhill, The Chairman Councillor Derbyshire, Councillors Aron, Bolton, I Brown, J Brown, Collett, Counter, Crout, Greenslade, Hastrick, Hofman, Jeffree, Johnson, Lynch, Mehta, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Taylor, Walford, Watkin and T Williams

 

Those Members abstaining from voting

 

Councillor Brandon

 

The amendment was LOST by 10 votes to 23 and 1 abstention.

 

The original motion was then put to Council.

 

Those Members voting in favour of the original motion:

 

Mayor Thornhill, The Chairman Councillor Derbyshire, Councillors Aron, Bolton, I Brown, J Brown, Collett, Counter, Crout, Greenslade, Hastrick, Hofman, Jeffree, Johnson, Lynch, Saffery, Scudder, Sharpe, Taylor, Walford, Watkin and T Williams

 

Those Members voting against the original motion:

 

None

 

Those Members abstaining from voting

 

Councillors Bashir, Bell, Brandon, Connal, Dhindsa, Joynes, Khan, Mauthoor, Mehta, Mills, Shah and S Williams

 

The amendment was CARRIED by 22 votes to 0.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.      that the proposals recommended by Cabinet on 19 January 2015 be agreed:

 

a)      that the Council’s net General Fund expenditure for 2015/16 shall be £15,176,500.

 

          b)  that the Capital Programme shall be as set out in the Cabinet report with the addition of £250,000 for improvements to the community centres.

 

and in approving these recommendations

 

c)      has 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.

 

d)      the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme continues for financial year 2015/16 (paragraph 7.6.5 of the Cabinet report refers).

 

e)      the Treasury management Strategy for 2015-2018 as set out in Appendix 11 of the Cabinet report be agreed.

 

f)       that the Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the Director of Finance, be given the delegated authority to approve any variation to the Treasury Management Strategy during the year which may be brought about by investigating the opportunity to invest for greater than 1 year and to invest in other investment instruments i.e Government bonds, Gilts and property with a view of maximising the Councils returns without significantly increasing risk.

 

2.      that Watford Borough Council’s Council Tax Base for 2015/16 has been calculated at 30,805 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 made under Section 31B (1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended.

 

3.      that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2015/16 in accordance with Sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

                                               

(A)

Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the Act.

(Effectively the gross expenditure and transfers to reserves)

 

£65,150,020

(B)

Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act.

(Effectively the gross income and transfers from reserves)

 

£57,453,800

(C)

Being the amount by which the aggregate at 2.3 (A) above exceeds the aggregate at 2.3 (B) above calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A (4) of the Act as its Council Tax Requirement for the year

 

£7,696,220

(D)

Being the amount at paragraph 2.3 (C)divided by amount at 2.2 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33 (1) of the Act as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (at Band D)

 

£249.84

(E)

Council Tax Valuation Bands

Conversion Factor to Band D

Watford’s Share (£)

A

6 / 9

166.56

B

7 / 9

194.32

C

8 / 9

222.08

D

1

249.84

E

11 / 9

305.36

F

13 / 9

360.88

G

15 / 9

416.40

H

2

499.68

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at paragraph 2.3 (D) 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 2015/16 in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands

 

 

 

4.      that a report including the precepts of both the County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner be presented to the Functions Committee on 26 February 2015 to set the total Council Tax.

 


26/01/2015 - Financial Planning - Draft Revenue and Capital Estimates 2015-18 and the Treasury Management Strategy 2015-18

A report was received from the Director of Finance Shared Services to enable Cabinet to consider service level expenditure, funding and council tax levels for the medium term 2015/16 to 2018/19 including consideration of the use of reserves and balances.  This budget was a component part of the 2015/16 Council Tax calculations.  The report included advice from the Director of Finance on the adequacy of general reserves and balances in the context of the three year planning horizon 2015-18 and set out:

 

  • the draft revenue estimates for the period 2015-18, including a revised budget for 2014/15
  • the draft capital programme for the period 2015-18
  • the Treasury Management strategy 2015-18

 

The report had also been considered by Budget Panel at its meeting on 15th January and the minutes were circulated at the meeting.

 

The Chair introduced Councillor Khan, Chair of Budget Panel, and welcomed the Panel’s role in the budget process to ensure that the budget was sustainable, prudent and well managed.

 

Councillor Khan described the Budget Panels’ discussions over the last two meetings regarding reported over and under spends in the budget.  The Panel had questioned these and were satisfied with the answers received.  The Panel had also interrogated the reasons behind fluctuations in business rates and rental income.  The Panel had recommended a freeze for charges for graffiti removal from private properties pending a review of the service.

 

The Chair asked whether Councillors understood the changes regarding business rates.  The Director of Shared Services Finance had given a presentation on the topic.  The Council still only received a small percentage of business rates.  Previously there had been no incentive for Council to collect business rates, however, this had now been introduced.

 

The Director of Shared Services Finance responded that from a financial point of view the situation was becoming clearer but there were still some uncertainties nationally.  Watford was in a ‘safety net’ position due to the rateable values decreasing as a result of a revaluation.  If the Council wished to influence the position then it needed to bring in new business.

 

Councillor Khan commented that at previous Budget Panel meetings there was an ethos of looking at supporting economic growth and regeneration.  The Panel had received a briefing from the Economic Development Manager.  The Panel had also looked at the New Homes Bonus for the period until 2017/18.

 

The Director of Shared Services Finance responded that most Councils were making the assumption that the New Homes Bonus would be changed.

 

The Chair said that on paper it appeared that the Council received a good amount of funds through the New Homes Bonus but there were also funds taken away through different mechanisms so the position of the Council remained unchanged.  The Chair welcomed Budget Panel’s entrepreneurial approach.  The less dependant the Council could be on government grant, the better and it enabled the funds to go to places where it was needed most.

 

The Chair continued, in response to a statement from Councillor Khan regarding the property review, that Lambert Smith Hampton had completed a review of the Council’s property.  The Council had introduced a market rate for its properties and then allowed third sector groups to apply for grants towards their rent, therefore making funding transparent.  Hard decisions had to be made, for example charging for car parking on the Watford Business Park, but it meant that significant cuts to Council services had been avoided.  The Chair questioned why private property graffiti removal charges should be frozen over other charges made by the Council.  Many Councils do not offer the service.

 

Councillor Watkin commented that there was expected to be an underspend which would be put into the Council’s reserves.  There had been some growth within the budget and some loss of income.  However, planning applications were increasing which contributed to a growth in revenue.  There had also been a saving of just under £900k in overheads and costs which would not affect Council services.  There was no need to increase Council Tax.  The overall budget would decrease as the Council moved towards self-sustainable funding, over four years there would be a reduction in the reserves of £1million.

 

In response to a comment on the Council’s car parks the Chair remarked that there would be investment in the car parks from an external partner.  Councillor Scudder commented that the car parks were already outsourced but would now be managed by a different company.  The Chair continued that the Council was separating satellite car parks from shopper car parks as keeping them all the same was not meeting the needs of the town.

 

There were two changes to the budget proposed:  using a saving of £1,650 from Democratic Services Member training budget for tea and coffee refreshments for Members at meetings.


The second change was to the Capital programme, adding a one-off allocation of £250,000 to support match-funded bids for the refurbishment of community centres.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those voting in favour of the resolutions:

Councillors Crout, Johnson, Scudder, Sharpe, Thornhill and Watkin

The resolutions, as set out in the report, were CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

·        Resolves in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by Watford Borough Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2015/16 is 30,804.58 as outlined in paragraph 7.5 and summarised at Appendix 7.

·        Approves the estimate of surplus and deficit position on the Collection Fund.

·        Approves the 2015/16 savings of £869,650 as detailed at Appendix 1.

·        Approves the 2015/16 growth of £581,260 and as detailed at Appendix 2A, 2B and 2C.

·        Approves the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16, which are included in the base estimates and detailed at Appendix 4.

  • Approves all the assumptions made within the Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix 5 which includes a council tax freeze for 2015/16.

 

That Council be recommended to approve:

 

§         The General Fund Budget Requirement (Net Expenditure) (before use of grants and reserves) as outlined at paragraph 7.1 and detailed at Appendix 5 as follows:

§         Revised budget for 2014/15 as £13,990,215

§         Base budget for 2015/16 as £15,174,850.

§         The Capital Programme as set out at Appendix 10.

  • The financial risks set out in Appendix 9.

§         The current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme continues for financial year 2015/16 (paragraph 7.6.5 refers).

  • The use of reserves and balances as identified in paragraph 7.8

  • The Treasury Management Strategy for 2015-18 as set out in Appendix 11.

  • That the Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the Director of Finance, is given the delegated authority to approve any variation to the Treasury Management Strategy  during the year which may be brought about by investigating the opportunity to invest for greater than 1 year and to invest in other investment instruments i.e Government bonds, Gilts and property with a view of maximising the Councils returns without significantly increasing risk.

§         To delegate to the Director of Finance and Portfolio Holder the ability to amend the budget figures in accordance with decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting and any minor variations that may occur before the Council meeting on 28th January 2015.

 


 

rating button