Issue - meetings

The Chief Officer – Assets, had submitted a report presenting the draft revenue and capital budget and formal advice on the robustness of the estimates included in the budget and the adequacy of the reserves which supported the Council’s budgetary plans.

The report had been considered by Executive on 9 February 2022. Executive had recommended that Council be requested to approve the recommendations within the report.

Councillor C Sharpe introduced the report and moved the recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor M Johnson.

Councillor M Johnson in supporting the recommendations set out the ambition to go into Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) from a position of financial strength and with a commitment to continue to have an impact during the final year of Allerdale Borough Council.

Councillor M Fitzgerald stated that she was proud to support the budget and noted the remarkable achievement of zero council tax increase, thanking Allerdale Borough Council staff for their efforts and achievements and for maintaining high standards of service throughout the pandemic.

Councillor M Heaslip commented that this was the last opportunity to set a baseline for improving services before the new Cumberland Council came into existence in April 2023, and because there had been a significant amount of discussion around fly tipping, he proposed an amendment to the recommendations, reducing budget line 1041 – contingencies - by £30,000 and increasing budget line 5006 – community safety and resilience – by £30,000 to allow additional resource for Streetscene and enforcement.

Councillor C McCarron-Holmes seconded the amendment to the motion.

Following debate, a recorded vote was held on the amendment to the motion –

In Favour – Councillors Annison, Armstrong, Bell, Campbell-Savours, Cook, Crouch, Daniels, Farebrother, Fitzgerald, Gaston, Gorrill, Grainger, Greaney, Grisdale, Heaslip, Hodgson, Horsley, Johnson, Kemp, Kendall, Lansbury, Lister, Lynch, Markley, Martin, McCarron-Holmes, McGuckin, Pegram, Pitcher, Sandwith, Sansom, Scott, Semple, Sharpe, Thurlow, Tyson  and Wilkinson.

Against – None

Abstentions – None

37 in Favour, 0 Against and 0 Abstentions. The motion was carried and became the substantive motion.

A recorded vote was held on the substantive motion -

In Favour – Councillors Annison, Armstrong, Bell, Campbell-Savours, Cook, Crouch, Daniels, Farebrother, Fitzgerald, Gaston, Gorrill, Grainger, Greaney, Grisdale, Heaslip, Hodgson, Horsley, Johnson, Kemp, Kendall, Lansbury, Lister, Lynch, Markley, Martin, McCarron-Holmes, McGuckin, Pegram, Pitcher, Sandwith, Sansom, Scott, Semple, Sharpe, Thurlow, Tyson and Wilkinson.

Against – None

Abstentions – None

37 in Favour, 0 Against and 0 Abstentions. The motion was carried unanimously.

Resolved

That -

(i)  The total planned revenue expenditure be £15,894,980 including parish precepts of £2,702,794

(ii)  £15,728,915 be approved as the Council’s net budget requirement for 2022-23

(iii)  Allerdale’s share of council tax be frozen at the current (2021-22) level (£179.72 on band D Properties)

(iv)  No changes be made to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction discount scheme and that the current scheme remained in place for 2022-23

(v)  The revenue estimates, as approved, be used in the calculation of the basic amount of tax under Section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

(vi)  The minimum level of non-earmarked general fund balances be set at £2.7m and that no maximum level be set

(vii)  The three-year capital budget (2022-23 to 2024-25) of £41,738,197 (comprising £19,760,372 in 2022-23, £15,400,055 in 2023-24 and £6,577,770 in 2024-25) be approved

(viii)  The proposed three-year capital budget for 2022-23 to 2024-25 be financed as follows:

a.  grants and contributions ……………………..£35,885,865

b.  borrowing and credit arrangements (leases)...£5,216,480

c.  capital receipts ……………………………………£635,852

The subject of the decision

The Chief Officer Assets submitted a report which sought to present to Members the draft revenue and capital budget and the formal advice of the chief financial officer on the robustness of the estimates included in the budget and the adequacy of the reserves which supported the Council’s budgetary plans.

Councillor C Sharpe presented the report and acknowledged the key points raised by the Scrutiny Budget Task and Finish Group. He thanked the Scrutiny members for their work and contribution to the budget setting process and confirmed that the Executive had certainly and sincerely reflected on what impacts there would be going forward and beyond the transition period of forming the new Cumberland Authority.

Councillor Sharpe moved the recommendations contained within the report.

The Executive expressed thanks to all those involved in setting the balanced budget.

The motion was seconded by Councillor A Pitcher.

A vote was taken, the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

None

The reason for the decision

The Council’s statutory requirement to approve a balanced budget.

The decision

Recommended

That Council be requested to agree that –

(i)  The total planned revenue expenditure be £15,894,980 including parish precepts of £2,702,794;

(ii)  £15,728,915 be approved as the Council’s net budget requirement for 2022-23;

(iii)  Allerdale’s share of council tax be frozen at the current (2021-22) level (£179.72 on band D Properties);

(iv)  No changes be made to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction discount scheme and that the current scheme remained in place for 2022-23;

(v)  The revenue estimates, as approved, be used in the calculation of the basic amount of tax under Section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

(vi)  The minimum level of non-earmarked general fund balances be set at £2.7m and that no maximum level be set;

(vii)  The three-year capital budget (2022-23 to 2024-25) of £41,738,197 (comprising £19,760,372 in 2022-23, £15,400,055 in 2023-24 and £6,577,770 in 2024-25) be approved;

(viii)  The proposed three-year capital budget for 2022-23 to 2024-25 be financed as follows:

a.  grants and contributions ……………………..£35,885,865

b.  borrowing and credit arrangements (leases)...£5,216,480

c.  capital receipts ……………………………………£635,852