Agenda item

To consider the Cabinet’s recommendations in respect of the Budget and Council Tax for the 2022-23 financial year.

Further to Minute No.107 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 14th February, 2022, consideration was given to the report that proposed the Council’s Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23.

 

The proposed Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23 had been based on the outcome of the Council’s Final Local Government Finance Settlement, budget consultation process and consideration of Directorate budget proposals through the Council’s formal Budget and Scrutiny processes (Overview and Scrutiny Management Board), alongside a review of the financial planning assumptions within the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. In was stated in the report that in setting the proposed 2022/23 budget, Cabinet had recommended an increase of 1.5% in the Council’s basic Council Tax and an Adult Social Care precept of 3.0%. The report proposed the revenue budget for 2022/23, an updated Capital Programme to 2025/26 and the updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2025/26.

 

In moving the budget report the Leader noted his thanks to Councillor Alam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance, and all the Elected Members who had contributed to the development of the proposed Budget 2022/23. The Leader also noted his thanks to the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Services and her team for their support in the proposed budget’s development. The Leader noted his particular thanks to the Assistant Director for Financial Services, Graham Saxton, for his advice and support over many years in advance of his imminent retirement from the Council.

 

The Leader advised that the proposed budget reaped the benefits of the difficult financial choices that had been taken in previous years and also set the Council and the Borough on the right course following the Covid-19 pandemic. The Leader stated that the proposed budget was both a prudent budget and one that supported the Borough’s most vulnerable residents.  The Leader advised that the proposed budget reflected the impact on the Council’s finances of the pandemic and of 12 years of austerity and the impact that these events had had on the most vulnerable residents and communities across the Borough.

 

The Leader noted that the delivery of Adult Social Care Services would remain the most significant area of pressure for the Council’s finances in the coming year and stated that new Government policies with regard to the funding of Adult Care Services had the potential to add even further pressure to the Adult Social Care budget. The Leader advised that the proposed budget contained significant budget increases for payments to home care providers and the provision of Learning Disability Services, as well as enabling home care personal assistants to be paid the Real Living Wage. The Leader noted that due to increases in demand for services, that the funding received by the Council from the Government their delivery would be insufficient, and as such it had been necessary to propose and increase in the Adult Social Care element of the Council Tax in order to ensure that services could continue to be delivered.

 

The Leader stated that in spite of the challenging financial situation and ongoing uncertainties that, due to good financial management over many years, there was now an opportunity to invest in services that would improve the quality of life for residents across the Borough, including extra investment in:

 

·        Youth Services

·        Libraries, including extra money for books and improved facilities

·        the Neighbourhood Road Safety programme

·        Streetscene Services

·        Licensing

·        Planning Enforcement

·        Social Workers to work with children and young people at risk of criminal exploitation.

·        the provision of school unform for families in receipt of free school meals when children transitioned schools.

 

The Leader stated that the proposed increase in Council Tax would mean an average increase of 93p a week in bills for households across the Borough. The Leader advised that the extra support with Council Tax that was being proposed in the budget for the poorest families across the Borough would mean that approximately 10,500 families would not pay any Council Tax in 2022/23.

 

The Leader noted the current cost of living crisis and advised that in the coming weeks there would be further announcements of how the Council would support families with rising energy bills.

 

In concluding his remarks the Leader stated that whilst the future held many uncertainties, that the proposed budget delivered on the priorities of the people of Rotherham. 

 

In seconding the budget report Councillor Alam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance, advised that the proposed budget was a responsible budget that put the priorities of the residents of the Borough first. Councillor Alam noted that, due to ongoing financial challenges, the proposed budget contained proposals that were financially responsible but that also enabled the delivery of the Council’s and resident’s priorities. Councillor Alam stated that the proposed budget was an inclusive budget that would work to reduce inequality and promote social justice across the Borough.

 

Councillor Alam stated that whilst the delivery of the savings that were detailed in the budget and that were required due to reductions in Government funding over many years would be challenging, that they also provided the opportunity to deliver services in a more creative way that were also more open and transparent to residents.

 

Councillor Alam advised that the proposed budget was a positive budget that would, in spite of Government cuts to funding, support residents, and in particular the most vulnerable residents across the Borough who had been most impacted by Government cuts to Council funding.

 

In concluding his remarks Councillor Alam thanked the Leader, members of the Budget Working Group, members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Services and her team for their support in the development of the proposed Budget for 2022/23.

 

At this point it was moved by Councillor Tarmey and seconded by Councillor A. Carter

 

“That the Budget and Council Tax 2022/23 report be accepted as proposed, with the exception of the following amendments to:

 

1.      Appendix 2 Proposed Revenue Investments 2022/23:

 

1.1.   22/23 R&E14 - Town Centre Management Fund. Remove this £70,000 investment proposal.

 

1.2.   22/23 CYPS2 - Universal Youth Work. Increase this proposed investment by £70,000 from £180,000 to £250,000. To be funded by the removal of the Town Centre Management Fund investment. The additional investment is to be used for the purpose of expanding Voluntary & Community Sector commissioning.

 

2.    Appendix 3C to 3F Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2025/26. Using £3,099,540 of the £4.1m Transformation Corporate Reserve to fund the following Capital investments:

 

2.1.   Borough-wide Tree Planting Programme – Appendix 3D. Increase the 2022/23 budget from £200,000 to £250,000, an additional cost of £50,000. (CLT001).

 

2.2.   Capital Investment Ward Budgets – Appendix 3D. Increase 2022/23 budget from £10,680 to £21,360 for each of the three member wards, at an additional total cost of £96,120. (CPC008, 009, 014, 015, 017, 018, 019, 020, 037).

 

2.3.   Capital Investment Ward Budgets – Appendix 3D. Increase 2022/23 budget from £7,120 to £14,240 for each of the two Member Wards, at an additional total cost of £113,920. (CPC010, 013, 022, 029, 030, 031, 032, 033, 034, 035, 036, 038, 039, 040, 041, 042).

 

2.4.   Operational Building Decarbonisation - Appendix 3D. Accelerate the planned programme by bringing forward to 2022/23 £1.7m of investment currently allocated in 2025/26 (reducing the 2025/26 spend to £0). This will result in a total investment in 2022/23 of £3.2m. (CSB008).

 

2.5.   Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Expansion - Appendix 3D. Increase 2022/23 budget from £173,000 to £225,000, an additional £52,000, achieved by doubling the Residential Charging Infrastructure budget line from £52,000 to £104,000. (CSB009).

 

2.6.   2020-2024 Roads Programme £24m - Appendix 3D. Increase 2022/23 budget from £6m to £6.7m an additional increase of £0.7m. (CGR008).

 

2.7.   Implement a 25% discount to the price of the Garden Waste Collection Service for Rothercard holders on a trial basis for 2022/23.The discount will apply to the first bin only at an estimated cost of £387,500. Additionally, those households who have already paid for the service would be refunded the value of the discount should they subsequently apply for and receive a Rothercard within the financial year 2022/23.”

 

In moving the amendment Councillor Tarmey stated that, whilst he was largely supportive of the proposed budget and of its objectives, that the proposed amendment sought to address some concerns about some particular parts of it. Councillor Tarmey advised that as the Council’s financial reserves were in such a good position that part of the Transformation Reserve should be spent in supporting residents. Councillor Tarmey noted that this spending would still leave the Council’s reserves in an overall healthy state. Councillor Tarmey noted that it was essential that spending was focussed on priorities that would directly support resident and not on “vanity projects” such as the Town Centre Management Fund and its related schemes.

 

In seconding the amendment Councillor A. Carter noted that, whilst the Council had made some progress in addressing climate change and in supporting vulnerable residents and young people, that more should be done to address these priority areas. Councillor A. Carter stated whilst he supportive of the overall direction of the budget, that the proposals that it contained were not bold enough in their ambition. Councillor A. Carter also advised that it was essential that more should be done in empowering local communities to be able influence decisions that impacted on their area.

 

In response to the proposed amendment Councillor Allen stated how passionate she was about the proposed Town Centre improvements, noting that these were far from “vanity projects” and how they would have positive impact on residents and communities. Councillor Beck stated that it appeared that the Liberal Democrats wanted to do more of what Labour were proposing, but in way that irresponsibly used the Council’s reserves.

 

Councillor Barley stated that she was unable to support the proposed amendment as whilst she was supportive of the proposed increases in spending on Youth Services, that she would like to see the Council’s reserves spent differently. Councillor Roche noted that whilst he was supportive of the sentiments of the proposed amendment in that it was supportive of the overall objectives of the proposed Labour budget, the Council’s reserves should only be used to support spending commitments when absolutely necessary. 

 

Councillor Hoddinott advised that the Council had made very substantial investments in the Borough’s roads over recent years and that the proposed increases in spending contained in the proposed budget amendment were very small in comparison. Councillor Hoddinott also noted that whilst the proposed Liberal Democrat amendment included increases in spending on Youth
Services, that the Liberal Democrats when in Government had supported massive cuts to Youth services that were still being felt to the present day. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester advised that he could not support the proposed amendment as he had not been given sufficient time to consider it in detail and asked that in future years that proposed budget amendments were shared with Members further in advance of the Council meeting in order for them to be studied in more detail by Members. 

 

Councillor Alam stated that the proposed Town Centre improvements were far from being a “vanity project” and would build and develop the Town Centre in a way that would bring new communities together. Councillor Yasseen noted her support for the investments that were being proposed in the Labour budget to develop the Town Centre and that would create greater cohesiveness between businesses and residents. Councillor Cusworth stated that the 2010 Coalition Government, of which the Liberal Democrats had been part, had decimated Youth Services, and as such it would take significant investment and time to repair the damage that had been done. Councillor Atkin stated that the Council’s decarbonisation targets were already incredibly ambitious and that it was an unrealistic proposal to try and accelerate these further.

 

The Leader stated that whilst it may be tempting to use reserves to pay for services, that the reality of this was that the routine spending of reserves risked putting the Council in a precarious financial situation where it was at risk of being reliant on Government support and the subsequent loss of autonomy that came with such support The Leader thanked Councillor Tarmey for his supportive comments about the overall direction of the proposed Labour budget but advised that he would be unable to support the proposed amendment. 

 

In response to the points raised in the debate on the amendment, Councillor Tarmey noted how much common ground that the Liberal Democrats shared with Labour on many social issues. Councillor Tarmey noted his frustration that the Council was holding large amounts of reserves, some of which it was not legally required to do so when the money could be being invested in supporting communities across the Borough. In concluding his comments Councillor Tarmey thanked the Strategic Director , Finance and Customer Services, and her team for the technical support that they had provided in the development of the proposed budget amendment.

 

On being put the vote the amendment was lost.

 

At this point it was proposed by Councillor Barley and seconded by Councillor Z Collingham:

 

“That the Budget and Council Tax 2022/23 report be accepted as proposed, with the exception of an amendment to provide a further Council Tax Discount for 2022/23, to be applied after all other Council Tax discounts, the Council Tax Support Scheme, and the proposed Council Tax support top-up for 2022/23. The maximum discount is to be the amount of the 4.5% increase in Rotherham Council’s Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept from 2021/22 to 2022/23 for the relevant Council Tax Band (£72.66 at band D). The discount is not to be applied to Town and Parish Council Precepts, the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority Precept.

 

The cost of the proposal is estimated to be £5.2m and will be funded by the use of the £4.1m Transformation reserve and £1.1m from the Budget and Financial Strategy reserve.

 

This would be implemented with the following approach:

 

·         Those liable to pay a full Council Tax bill with no discounts, will have a discount equivalent to the value of the 4.5% increase in Council Tax from 2021/22 to 2022/23 applied to their bill. As such their amount to pay in regard to the RMBC element of the bill will not increase from 2021/22 to 2022/23.

·         Those liable to pay a Council Tax bill with existing discounts, including the LCTS Top Up scheme, will have a discount equivalent to the value of the 4.5% increase in Council Tax from 2021/22 to 2022/23 applied to their bill. However, this discount will be provided on a pro-rata basis. For example, someone on maximum LCTS support has their bill discounted by 91.5%, leaving them with 8.5% of the bill to pay. This proposal would then apply 8.5% of the value of the proposed Council Tax increase from 2021/22 to 2022/23 to their bill as a further discount. As a Band D example, the increase in Band D bills from 2021/22 to 2022/23 for the Rotherham Council’s Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept element is £72.66, 8.5% as a discount would be £6.18.

 

·         The discount applied relates to the full financial year, as such if the bill payer’s situation changes, e.g. they should leave the Borough during the year or their situation changes in another way, then their discount will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis.

 

·         In all scenarios the discount applied can only be used to reduce the Council Tax bill, as a maximum, to a net nil bill.

 

·         Implementation of the above to take place through a rebilling exercise later in the year once the necessary software changes have been made and tested. This means the discount would not be included in the annual billing to take place in March.”

 

In moving the amendment Councillor Barley noted the unprecedented cost of living crisis that was getting worse by the day, where those residents who were struggling already would be struggling even more, and those residents who had been managing were starting to struggle. Councillor Barley advised that in this situation the Council should be doing everything that it could to assist residents and not be putting more money into reserves. Councillor Barley advised that proposed budget amendment would ensure that no household in the Borough would be paying more Council Tax in 2022/23 than they had in 2021/22. Councillor Barley stated that in most circumstances the funding of such a decision would involve difficult decisions regarding cutting services to deliver savings, but that in the current situation such choices would not need to be made as the Council could fund this proposal from its substantial reserves. Councillor Barley noted that it was wholly appropriate for Council reserves to not just to be used when the Council was in financial difficulties but when residents were facing financial difficulties also. Councillor Barley concluded in thanking the Strategic Director, Finance and Customer Services, and her team for the technical support that they had provided in the development of the proposed budget amendment.

 

In seconding the amendment Councillor Z. Collingham stated that, in light of the cost of living crisis, the Council should be looking at bold and innovative ways in which to support the residents of the Borough and that it should be freezing Council Tax, rather than increasing it. Councillor Z. Collingham stated that the proposed amendment would enable for all the proposed spending commitments detailed in the Labour budget to be delivered whilst also helping to relieve some of the financial pressures that were currently being felt by residents. Councillor Z. Collingham noted that as the Council currently held around £60million in reserves that it was not financially irresponsible to spend just £5million of those reserves to support every household across the Borough. Councillor Z. Collingham noted that as reserves were kept for a rainy day, and as that rainy day had now arrived that it was right to spend those reserves to support residents.

 

Councillor Roche stated that the proposed amendment was very short term in its focus as the Council’s reserves were not endless and it did not consider the future impact on residents who would be faced with larger Council Tax increases in the future. Councillor Roche noted that that the cost of living crisis was being caused by increases in fuel, gas and electricity prices and increases in National Insurance contributions, and not increases in Council Tax.

 

Councillor Baum-Dixon stated that the proposed budget amendment would deliver a freeze in Council Tax and would also enable spending to be delivered on Council services. Councillor Baum-Dixon reiterated that as reserves were kept for a rainy day, and as that rainy day had now arrived that it was right to spend those reserves to support residents. Councillor Baum-Dixon stated that the proposed budget had been fully costed and that as the Transformation Reserve, where the required budget for the Council Tax freeze would be taken from was not a statutory reserve, then it was right to use it to support residents at their time of need.

 

Councillor Lelliott stated that the cost of living crisis had been created by the current Conservative Government who had cut Universal Credit payments and were also planning to increase National Insurance contributions. Councillor Lelliott questioned why the Conservative Opposition was not lobbying the Government to do more about the cost of living crisis and stated that a one-year freeze in Council Tax was just a headline grabbing gimmick.

 

Councillor Hoddinott noted that the Conservative Government had long been ignoring the crisis surrounding the funding of Social Care and that the current cost of living crisis had been created by the choices that had been made by the Conservative Government. Councillor Hoddinott advised that whilst the Council’s reserves were in a healthy position, they were not endless, and that in light of the pandemic and other global events, it was unclear what financial challenges that the Council could face in the future where it may have to utilise its reserves.  Councillor A. Carter noted that in his view the proposed Conservative amendment offered very little in that it only proposed a different way of paying for Labour’s proposals, and not any different proposals themselves. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester advised that he could not support the proposed amendment as he had not been given sufficient time to consider it in detail and asked that in future years that proposed budget amendments were shared with Members further in advance in order to enable a more informed debate.

 

The Leader stated that he would have taken the Conservative amendment more seriously had they been proposing to fund the freeze in Council Tax by making budget savings elsewhere, rather than proposing to keep spending as was being proposed but being funded from reserves. The Leader noted the difficult budget choices that the Council had had to make over the previous 12 years as a result of Government cuts and how these had impacted on residents. The Leader stated that the proposed freeze in Council Tax would not support the most vulnerable households in the Borough as the 10,500 worse off households in the Borough would not be paying any Council Tax in 2022/23 anyway under the proposed Labour budget. The Leader also questioned what a freeze in Council Tax in 2022/23 would mean for future years and noted it would result in either a 7.5% Council Tax rise in 2023/24 or in cuts to services.  Councillor Baker-Rodgers advised that she could not support the proposed amendment and asked how the Conservative Opposition could make such a proposal when the Conservative Government had cut £20 a week from the income of those residents in receipt of Universal Credit.

 

Councillor Cusworth noted her opposition to the proposed amendment and stated that the proposed Labour budget would deliver on the priorities of residents whilst also protecting the Borough’s most vulnerable families. Councillor Cusworth stated that the proposed Conservative amendment was hypocritical given how the Conservative Opposition had failed to support the Labour motion at Council in 2021 that stated the Council’s opposition to the removal of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit. Councillor Cusworth also noted her agreement with the Leader in that the proposed amendment would do nothing to support the most vulnerable residents in the Borough. Councillor Cusworth stated that the cost of living crisis and the other difficulties faced by residents across the Borough had been caused by the choices made by the Conservative Government. Councillor Cusworth stated that the Labour administration had been making difficult financial choices for many years, and as such it would not be financially responsible to start using reserves to support spending.

 

Councillor Tarmey noted that whilst he believed that the value of the Council’s Transformation Reserve was perhaps slightly too high, that the money held in it should not be spent irresponsibly either on a Council Tax freeze that would result in a large Council Tax increase in 2022/23 and that did not target support towards the Borough’s most vulnerable residents. 

 

In response to the points raised in the debate on the amendment, Councillor Barley noted that the proposed amendment was a short term solution that had been proposed in response to the cost of living crisis facing Rotherham residents. Councillor Barley noted further that it was the role of all Elected Members to do whatever they could to support residents at a time of crisis. Councillor Barley reaffirmed that the proposed amendment struck a good balance between delivering and protecting services and in supporting residents at a time of crisis.

 

On being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

 

The meeting now discussed the original substantive motion that had been moved by the Leader, Councillor Read and seconded by Councillor Alam.

 

Councillor Sheppard commended the budget and noted some of the investments that were planned in his Cabinet portfolio of responsibility of Social Inclusion including the expanded programme of tree planting across the Borough and the continued investment in Rotherham’s Libraries. Councillor Sheppard also advised how pleased he was that investments would be made in developing events during 2022/23, including the Rotherham Show and noted his anticipation of Rotherham hosting games during the Women’s Euro 2022 Championships.

 

Councillor Roche, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, noted the challenges that the previous 2 years of the pandemic had created and thanked staff across Adult Social Care and Health for their work in meeting the unprecedented challenges that they had faced. In noting his support for the proposed budget Councillor Roche drew attention to the plans to increase the wages of home care staff and how this would assist in addressing staff shortages in this area. Councillor Roche advised that whilst the overall budget for Adult Social Care was increasing in 2022/23, challenges in the delivery of services would remain as the demand for services and the number of individuals with complex cases continued to increase.

 

Councillor Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, stated her support for the budget and noted how the proposals regarding free Town Centre parking would support the local economy and small businesses. Councillor Lelliott also highlighted the planned increased investment in vital services including Planning Enforcement and Licensing as well as the planned investment in decarbonising the Council’s buildings that would help the Council to achieve its challenging net zero targets. Councillor Lelliott also noted the success that the Council had had in accessing external funding to add to the budget that had been allocated to invest in the Town Centre.

 

Councillor Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, brought to the attention of the meeting several areas of proposed investment in his portfolio area including increased spending on road safety initiatives and on grass cutting and weeding. Councillor Beck noted the additional £500,000 that had been allocated in the proposed budget for the Streetscene Service that would enable the Service to have a permanent workforce and how this would enable the Service to deliver on the priorities of residents for their local areas. Councillor Beck also noted that the popular programme of wildflower verges on the Borough’s roads would be doubled in its size during 2022/23.

 

Councillor Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, stated that whilst the Council had made huge improvements in its delivery of Children and Young People’s Services, that it still faced a number of challenges. Councillor Cusworth stated that these challenges included issues around the financing of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the High Needs Block as well as around the cost of placements for Looked After Children. Councillor Cusworth advised that despite these challenges and the pressures that they placed on the budget, that she was pleased to announce several new proposed investments for 2022/23. These investments included an increase in Family Group Conferencing and extra funding for Universal Youth Work that Councillor Cusworth noted would have a positive impact on children and their families across the Borough. Councillor Cusworth also noted that the proposed budget would continue to provide support to families in receipt of free school meals with the cost of school uniforms when a child transitioned to a new school. Councillor Cusworth also noted that the proposed budget contained funding for additional Social Work provision that would enable an increase in the amount of support that could be provided for children and young people at risk of criminal exploitation.

 

Councillor Bennett-Sylvester noted that whilst he was supportive of the budget in principle, and that having discussed the proposals with the Local Government Association he was confident that the Council was financially well managed, he did have some reservations about the proposed budget. These reservations included the regressive nature of the charges for brown bins, how the road maintenance budget was managed and how, in his view, that there were activities that were funded from the Housing Revenue Account that should be funded from the General Fund. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester concluded his comments in welcoming the proposed increase in wages for Social Care staff. Councillor Atkin commended the proposed budget in being one of the very best that he had seen in all of his time as a Councillor and welcomed the extra funding for Planning Rnforcement and updating the Borough’s CCTV network. Councillor Baker-Rodgers stated that the proposed budget would protect and invest in services, maintain financial reserves and support residents across the Borough.

 

Councillor Allen noted the extensive public consultation that had informed the development of the proposed budget and advised that whilst different opinions had been expressed around specific elements of the budget, that there had been overwhelming public support for the budget’s overall themes and priorities. Councillor Allen expressed her support for the proposed investments in the Town Centre that would bring the new community that was developing in the Town Centre together by delivering on their needs and priorities.

 

In response to the issues raised in the debate the Leader thanked Members for their comments in support of the Budget. In response to Councillor Bennett-Sylvester, the Leader thanked him for his comments regarding the good financial management of the Council and for taking the time to discuss this with the Local Government Association. The Leader advised in response to Councillor Bennett-Sylvester’s concerns regarding the management and delivery of the Roads Improvement Programme, that whilst there would always be room for improvement in this area, he was confident that the Road Improvement Programme was being delivered in a way that delivered the best value possible for local residents. The Leader welcomed Councillor Atkin’s comments regarding Planning Enforcement and CCTV, noting that these would have a positive impact on residents across the Borough. In conclusion the Leader advised that the proposed budget delivered on the priorities of residents in a way that was also financially sustainable. The Leader also advised that the proposed budget would begin to roll back on some of the cuts to services that had been required since 2010 in the Council’s response to austerity by increasing investment in the services that had been impacted most by the cuts. The Leader concluded his remarks in commending the proposed budget to members.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, and the Council’s Constitution, a recorded vote was taken for this item as follows:

 

For: Councillors Alam, Allen, Andrews, Atkin, Aveyard, Baker-Rodgers, Beck, Bennett-Sylvester, Bird, Brookes, Browne, Clark, Cooksey, Cowen, Cusworth, Elliott, Griffin, Haleem, Havard, Hoddinott, Jones, Keenan, Khan, Lelliott, McNeely, Monk, Read, Roche, Sheppard, Taylor, Wyatt and Yasseen.

 

Against: Councillors Bacon, Ball, Barker, Barley, Baum-Dixon, Burnett, A. Carter, C. Carter, Castledine-Dack, T. Collingham, Z. Collingham, Fisher, Hunter, Mills, Reynolds, Tarmey, Thompson, Tinsley and Wooding.

 

Abstentions: None

 

Resolved: -

 

1.      That the Budget and Financial Strategy for 2022/23, as set out in the report and appendices, including the proposed budget adjustments and investments, a basic Council Tax increase of 1.5% and an Adult Social Care precept of 3%, be approved.

 

2.      That the proposed Local Council Tax Support Top Up scheme, that will provide additional support to low-income households who are most vulnerable to rising household costs and detailed in section 2.5.11-15 of the officer’s report, be approved.

 

3.      That the updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy up to 2025/26, be approved.

 

4.      That the Reserves Strategy, as detailed at Section 2.8 of the submitted report, be approved noting that the final determination of Reserves will be approved as part of reporting process for the financial outturn for 2021/22.

 

5.      That the comments and advice of the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services (Section 151 Officer), provided in compliance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as to the robustness of the estimates included in the Budget and the adequacy of reserves for which the Budget provides, as detailed at Section 2.12 of the submitted report), be noted and accepted.

 

6.      That the feedback from the public and partners, following the public consultation on the Council’s budget for 2022/23 that took place from 22nd December 2021 to 23rd January 2022 and attached as Appendix 9 of the submitted report, be noted.

 

7.      That the proposed increases in Adult Social Care provider contracts and for Personal Assistants as set out at Section 2.4 of the submitted report, be approved.

 

8.      That the revenue investment proposals, as set out at Section 2.7 and at Appendix 2 of the submitted report, be approved.

 

9.      That the Council Fees and Charges schedules for 2022/23, as detailed at Appendix 7 of the submitted report, be approved.

 

10.   That the application of the Business Rates Reliefs, in line with Government guidance and set out at Section 2.9 of the submitted report, be approved. 

 

11.   That the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme, as detailed at Section 2.10 and at Appendices 3A to 3F of the submitted report, be approved.

 

12.   That the Treasury Management matters for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 4 of the submitted report, including the Prudential Indicators, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Investment Strategy, be approved. 

 

13.   That the Flexible use of Capital Receipts Strategy 2022/23, as detailed at Appendix 5 of the submitted report, be approved.

 

14.   That the transfer of any 2021/22 revenue outturn underspend into the Council’s reserves, be held within the Budget and Financial Strategy Reserve.

 

15.   That any remaining Covid funding balances be transferred into the Council’s reserves to meet Covid related pressures and costs in 2022/23.

 

16.   That the Capital Programme Budget continues to be managed in line with the following key principles:

 

(i)      Any underspends on the existing approved Capital Programme in respect of 2021/22 be rolled forward into future years, subject to an individual review of each carry forward to be set out within the Financial Outturn 2021/22 report to Cabinet.

 

(ii)    In line with Financial and Procurement Procedure Rules 7.7 to 7.11 and 8.12, any successful grant applications in respect of capital projects will be added to the Council’s approved Capital Programme on an ongoing basis.  

 

(iii)   Capitalisation opportunities and capital receipts flexibilities will be maximised, with capital receipts earmarked to minimise revenue costs.

 

17.   That the Statutory Resolution of Council Tax for 2022/23, as set out at Appendix 6 of the submitted report, incorporating precept figures as advised from the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and the Town and Parish Councils within the Borough, be approved. 

 

Mover:  Councillor Read                         Seconder:  Councillor Alam