Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet for the Revenue Budget and Precept for 2021/22 and the Capital Programme for 2021/22 to 2023/24.

The Leader introduced the Revenue Budget and Precept for 2021/22 and the Capital Programme for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24. 

The Leader reflected on the last year and the financial impact of the pandemic and highlighted the flexibility and resilience of the County Council’s  reserves strategy that had enabled the Council to use some of its free reserves to take action when needed quickly to support services.  The future was unpredictable, with no guarantee that there would not be further Covid-related costs going forward.  The Leader highlighted the difficulty of calculating the level of collection of council tax and business rates against the backdrop of the pandemic and the uncertainty of the level of ongoing funding from central Government to cover the County Council’s Covid costs.  In terms of specific proposals, the  Leader reported the Council would be using the £3m New Homes Bonus to directly support Operation Resilience; providing additional money from the Social Care grant for Children’s services, and £1.2m from the pay award to set aside for IT growth pressures.

The Leader referred to the County Council’s extensive Capital Programme amounting to £0.75 billion and the Council’s success in bidding for and use of Government grants to support the programme.

Finally, the Leader reported that the Council was being asked to agree a 1.99% council tax increase together with a further 3% specifically for social care in line with the Government’s recommendations.

In commending the revenue budget proposals Councillor Stephen Reid, the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance reported the proposals were for a balanced budget in line with the Council’s legal obligations.  The Executive Member extended thanks to all officers for their efforts during these very difficult times recognising the pressure on all departments to record Covid-related costs for monthly submissions to MHCLG for the purpose of recovery from the Government and extended thanks to the Director of Corporate Resources and her team for their work in preparing the budget.  It was therefore pleasing that the County Council’s Auditors had unconditionally accepted the County Council’s accounts. 

Opposition Members responded to the proposals. During the course of a full debate focussing on service delivery and the uncertainty of future Government funding, views in support of, or raising concern, about the proposals were expressed. No Amendments were moved therefore the recommendations were put to the vote in accordance with Standing Order 22.2, the outcome of which was recorded as follows:

FOR - 52 

Councillors: Jon Bennison, Martin Boiles, Ray Bolton, Jackie Branson, Ann Briggs, Zilliah Brooks, Graham Burgess, Adam Carew, Fran Carpenter, Chris Carter, Roz Chadd, Charles Choudhary, Rod Cooper, Peter Edgar, Liz Fairhurst, Steve Forster, Andrew Gibson, Jonathan Glen, Judith Grajewski, Marge Harvey, Pal Hayre, Edward Heron, Rob Humby, Gary Hughes, Roger Huxstep, Andrew Joy, David Keast, Mark Kemp-Gee, Peter Latham, Keith Mans, Alexis McEvoy, Anna McNair Scott, David Mellor, Floss Mitchell, Rob Mocatta, Kirsty North, Russell Oppenheimer, Mike Penman, Roy Perry, Stephen Philpott, Lance Quantrill, Stephen Reid, Patricia Stallard, Elaine Still, Robert Taylor,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 256