Agenda item

This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Corporate Resources, Councillor Ross Henley.

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with information required for Full Council to approve the proposed revenue budget estimates and capital programme for 2020/21, and to approve its proposed Council Tax rate for 2020/21.

An amendment will be proposed by Councillor Dave Mansell and seconded by Councillor Gwil Wren.

Note - A recorded vote on these recommendations and amendments will be required as per the legislation.

During the discussion on the amendment, the following points were made:-

·         Councillor D Mansell presented his budget amendment which had been distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting.

·         The Portfolio Holder for Climate felt that amendment was not needed as there were already several projects underway and had been included within the budget.  He also highlighted that the Council already had officers in post that were involved in the Climate Strategy Group and looking at many options for climate work.

·         Councillors discussed renewable energy options and some highlighted that a specialist officer was required to carry out the work needed on climate change.

·         Councillors suggested that if the Council was serious about climate change, then they would need to support the amendment.

·         Councillors believed that the sentiment was audible and could see that the amendment was a good idea, however, to employ someone as experienced as stated in the amendment, on the salary quoted, would be a challenge.

·         Concern was raised on the figures included in the amendment for communications and studies.

·         Councillors requested clarification on what happened if the amendment was carried.

·         Councillors highlighted that the critical part of the work required was community engagement.

·         Councillors gave clarification on the post’s requirements and that it would generate income for the Council.

·         Councillors that supported the amendment believed that the post would be the driver on climate change and that it would support work that had already been achieved.

·         Councillor D Mansell closed the debate and highlighted that the Council had passed the climate change emergency over a year ago and that he wanted to push forward work to achieve their ambitions on climate change.

In accordance with Standing Order 18(2)(i), the Chair called for a recorded vote to be taken on the amendment and recorded in the Minutes.

Councillor D Mansell moved the amendment, which was duly seconded by Councillor G Wren that:

Full Council resolved to make the budget amendments shown in Table 1 for implementation of climate protection and energy projects as outlined in the report.

The recommendation, which is detailed above, was put and FAILED with seventeen for, twenty-seven against and 3 abstaining:

Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors I Aldridge, M Barr, M Blaker, R Habgood, J Hunt, L Lisgo, J Lloyd, D Mansell, A Milne, C Palmer, A Pritchard, N Thwaites, A Trollope-Bellew, T Venner, B Weston, L Whetlor and G Wren.

Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors B Allen, C Booth, S Buller, S Coles, D Darch, H Farbahi, E Firmin, J Hassall, R Henley, Mrs M Hill, M Kravis, R Lees, S Lees, M Lithgow, S Nicholls, D Perry, M Peters, P Pilkington, H Prior-Sankey, M Rigby, F Smith-Roberts, P Stone, A Sully, S Wakefield, A Wedderkopp, D Wedderkopp and K Wheatley.

Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors H Davies, D Durdan and V Stock-Williams.

During the discussion on the budget, the following points were made:-

·         The Section 151 Officer gave information on the final settlement and thanked his team for their hard work on the budget.

·         Councillors were disappointed that Central Government had not made a decision on the local settlement.

·         Councillors were disappointed that the Somerset Rivers Authority were still included in the precept and that they had not yet set up their own precepting powers.

·         Councillors requested that the Constitution be amended so that the Council’s fees and charges were included in the report.

·         Councillors were impressed with the projects listed in the climate change budget information.

·         Councillors highlighted the money given to the Brewhouse and how the Regal Theatre had not benefited from any money from the Council.

·         Councillors were sad to see a reduction of 66% in funding from Central Government over the last 10 years and that services had suffered because of that.

In accordance with Standing Order 18(2)(i), the Chair called for a recorded vote to be taken and recorded in the Minutes.

The recommendations, which are detailed below, was put and CARRIED with forty-one for and five against.

Resolved that Full Council:-

1)    Approved the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2020/21;

2)    Noted the forecast Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and Reserves position and noted the S151 Officers Statement on the robustness of the budget and adequacy of reserves as set out in section 21;

3)    Approved the setting of a basic band D council tax of £164.63, comprising £162.88 for services and £1.75 on behalf of the Somerset Rivers Authority;

4)    Approved the Special Expenses Precept of £1.91 for a basic band D council tax in respect of the unparished area of Taunton;

5)    Approved the additions to the General Fund Capital Programme Budget of £12.015m for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix A and Table 10; and

6)    Approved the reallocation of £3.5m from the BRR Smoothing Reserve to the Investment Risk Reserve.

Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors I Aldridge, B Allen, M Barr, M Blaker, C Booth, S Buller, S Coles, D Darch, H Davies, D Durden, H Farbahi, E Firmin, J Hassall, R Henley, Mrs M Hill, J Hunt, M Kravis, R Lees, S Lees, L Lisgo, J Lloyd, D Mansell, S Nicholls, C Palmer, D Perry, M Peters, P Pilkington, H Prior-Sankey, A Pritchard, M Rigby, F Smith-Roberts, P Stone, A Sully, T Venner, S Wakefield, A Wedderkopp, D Wedderkopp, B Weston, K Wheatley, L Whetlor and G Wren.

Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors R Habgood, A Milne, V Stock-Williams, N Thwaites and A Trollope-Bellew.