Agenda item

To consider a report of Cabinet seeking approval of recommendations in regard to budget setting and provisional cash limits 2021/22.

The Council considered a report of Cabinet seeking approval of recommendations in regard to budget setting and provisional cash limits 2021/22.

The Leader and the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance jointly introduced the report, highlighting the direct and indirect financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the County Council’s budget. Covid pressures were on top of the savings that the Council already needed to make and meant that the late delivery of savings programmes could not be funded. Urgent expenditure for health and safety reasons was noted and it was confirmed that decisions and recommendations were being made on the basis of thorough analysis and projections. The County Council was in a very difficult position as a result of the pandemic, but strong financial management of reserves in the past meant that others were in greater difficulty. The final financial settlement from government for 2021/22 had not yet been received and therefore the position would be further updated at the February 2021 Council meeting. The recommendations were commended to the Council.

Opposition Group Leaders and other County Councillors responded to the report and to the recommendations and a number of views as to the cause of the Council’s current projection for a budget deficit were expressed.

Highlighting promises made by government that had not been met, an Amendment was proposed by Councillor Tod and seconded by Councillor Collett to add a further recommendation, that Council:

"condemns the Government for its failure to do 'whatever it takes' to support local government in meeting COVID costs - and agrees to call on Ministers and MPs to ensure an adequate funding settlement to local government”

The Amendment was debated and a number of points both supporting and opposing the amendment were made around the promises that had been made by government, the evolving severity of the pandemic and the volume of support that government had been able to deliver.

Councillor House requested a recorded vote on the Amendment and this received support in accordance with Standing Order 22.3.

A recorded vote on the proposed Amendment was conducted with the result:

For – 19

Councillors: John Bennison, Peter Chegwyn, Daniel Clarke, Adrian Collett, Mark Cooper, Alan Dowden, David Harrison, Dominic Hiscock, Keith House, Wayne Irish, Gavin James, Jackie Porter, Roger Price, David Simpson, Bruce Tennent, Mike Thornton, Martin Tod, Malcolm Wade and Michael Westbrook,

Against – 53

Councillors: Fred Birkett, Martin Boiles, Ray Bolton, Jackie Branson, Ann Briggs, Ziliah Brooks, Graham Burgess, Adam Carew, Fran Carpenter, Christopher Carter, Roz Chadd, Charles Choudhary, Rod Cooper, Peter Edgar, Keith Evans, Liz Fairhurst, Steve Forster, Andrew Gibson, Jonathan Glen, Judith Grajewski, Marge Harvey, Pal Hayre, Edward Heron, Geoff Hockley, Gary Hughes, Rob Humby, Roger Huxstep, Andrew Joy, David Keast, Mark Kemp-Gee, Peter Latham, Keith Mans, Alexis McEvoy, Anna McNair Scott, Derek Mellor, Floss Mitchell, Rob Mocatta, Kirsty North, Russell Oppenheimer, Neville Penman, Roy Perry, Stephen Philpott, Lance Quantrill, Stephen Reid, Patricia Stallard, Ellaine Still, Tom Thacker, Michael Thierry, Rhydian Vaughan, Jan Warwick, Michael White, Bill Withers, Seán Woodward

Abstain – 2

Councillors: Jane Frankum, Mel Kendal

The recommendations in the report were considered and it was

RESOLVED:

That County Council

1.    Note the updated position for the impact of Covid-19 in this year and for the medium term.

2.    Approve the addition of the schemes detailed in Appendix 4 to the Economy, Transport and Environment Capital Programme.

3.    Approve the updated departmental savings targets for a successor savings programme, as set out in paragraph 149.

4.    Approve the updated timetable for a successor savings programme, as set out in paragraph 150.