Agenda item

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 February 2018, will consider the report of the head of finance on the draft revenue budget 2018/19, and the capital programme to 2022/23.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet will consider on 9 February 2018, has been circulated to all councillors. Please bring this to the Council meeting. 

The Scrutiny Committee will consider this report at its meeting on 8 February 2018. Any views or recommendations will be reported to Council.

Cabinet’s recommendations will be circulated to all councillors prior to the Council meeting. 

A.   Question from Councillor Judy Roberts to Councillor Mike Murray, Cabinet member for Development and Regeneration

“What funding is allocated in the 2018-19 Vale budget specifically to the Housing Enabler role as outlined in the Joint Housing Delivery Strategy?” 

Answer

Councillor Ware responded to the question in the absence of Councillor Murray. She stated that the 2018/19 funding for the housing enabler role will be found from the existing housing team strength.

Supplementary question/answer

In response to a supplementary question Councillor Ware responded that requirements for additional resources would be subject to future growth bids.

B.   Debate on revenue budget 2018/19 and capital programme to 2022/23

The Chairman referred to regulations that require councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the budget, including amendments, and the council tax. In accordance with the regulations she would call for a named vote on each of these matters at this meeting.

The Chairman reminded councillors that they were not entitled to vote on any issue affecting the level or administration of the council tax or other decisions which might affect the making of any such calculation such as the budget, if they were over two months in arrears with their council tax payments. Where such circumstances applied, councillors were under a statutory obligation to disclose the restriction placed on them and refrain from voting at the relevant meeting. No councillor made any such declaration.

Council noted the report of the chief finance officeron the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

Councillor Sharp, Cabinet member for finance, presented the Cabinet’s proposals for the revenue budget 2018/19 and capital programme to 2022/23. On behalf of the council he thanked officers for their part in preparing the draft budget.

Councillor Sharp moved and Councillor Barber seconded a motion to approve Cabinet’s recommendations as follows:

1.    set the revenue budget for 2018/19 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018;

2.    approve the capital programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of the report;

3.    set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018;

4.    approve the medium term financial plan to 2022/23 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018.

The majority of councillors supported the budget which continued provision for grants to community projects, included provision for a feasibility study for electrical charging points at district council locations, included a fund to improve the look of public areas across the district and provided for a new leisure centre in Wantage. The increase in council tax is prudent to address the long term sustainability of the council by matching revenue against expenditure. 

Other councillors spoke against the budget. The fund to improve the look of public areas was not required because the work should already be undertaken by the parish councils, Oxfordshire County Council and existing contractors. The increase in council tax, following previous council tax freezes, illustrated that the council had failed to acknowledge the financial situation it faces. The failure to increase council tax in previous years had led to a loss of revenue which would impact on reserves in future years. Concern was also raised regarding slippage in the delivery of capital projects.    

In accordance with regulations requiring councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the council tax the Chairman called for a recorded vote, which was carried with the voting being as follows:

RESOLVED: to

1.    set the revenue budget for 2018/19 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018;

2.    approve the capital programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of the report;

3.    set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018;

4.    approve the medium term financial plan to 2022/23 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 9 February 2018.