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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall

Contact: Jean Sharp (01277 312655) 

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Items
No. Item

291.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Barrell, Ms Rowlands and Mrs Squirrell.

292.

General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) considered by Policy, Finance and Resources Committee on 29 November 2016 gave Members an update on the various significant changes that would impact on the Council’s financial position.  Particular issues highlighted, relevant to the General Fund and HRA,  included the phasing out of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), changes to the New Homes Bonus and the Business Rates Retention Scheme.   

 

The fundamental principles of the Council’s MTFP were to:

 

(i)            Maintain a sustainable financial position against a background of unprecedented financial uncertainty and reduced government funding, including the delivery of efficiency targets. 

(ii)          Support the vision of our Borough through appropriate identification of resources required to deliver the key priorities outlined in the “Vision for Brentwood”. 

(iii)         Maximise opportunities and mitigate risks associated with the fundamental change to the way in which local government is financed. 

The report considered:

 

(i)            The General Fund budget proposals for 2017/18 to 2019/20.

(ii)          The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2017/18 onwards.

(iii)         The Capital Programme 2017/18 to 2019/20.

(iv)         The Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2017/18. 

 

The Leader of the Council and Chair of Policy, Finance and Resources Committee, Cllr Mrs McKinlay, introduced the proposed budget for 2016/17 and MOVED the recommendations in the report which Cllr Kerslake SECONDED. 

 

Cllr Aspinell, as leader of the major opposition group, responded to the Leader’s statement.

Six amendments had been submitted in accordance with Rule 3.15 of the Council’s Procedure Rules. 

 

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the AMENDMENT received from the Conservative Group which proposed two additional recommendations, 2.1b and 2.8, each referring to Table 8.1 which was included in the published amendment, and Cllr Mrs McKinlay ACCEPTED the amendment.

 

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the first proposed AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group, as follows: 

 

For the financial year 2017/18 onwards Brentwood Borough Council removes its Second Home Discount (10%) from Council Tax and reduces the Empty Home Council Tax Discount (100%) from three months to two weeks.

 

This can be immediately implemented, as confirmed by advice from officers.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay did not accept the AMENDMENT  however she expressed her interest in taking the proposal forward at a later date and invited Cllr Barrett to be involved in future related discussions.

 

Following a debate a vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

 

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the Labour Group’ssecond AMENDMENT, as follows:

 

Creating a revenue stream through early payment of invoices - the London Boroughs of Bexley and Croydon produce rebate income from early payment of invoices to achieve a return on procurement costs of around 0.1%. The income will be related to spending – and as such larger in years with greater capital spending.

 

There is a delay in implementation to find an appropriate partner to implement this scheme.

 

Mrs McKinlay did not accept the AMENDMENT.

 

Following a debate during which a Member requested the Council’s full confidence in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 292.

293.

Council Tax 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Report to follow.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council was the billing authority for the Borough of Brentwood and was required to set a Council Tax that would not only cover its own requirements, but also those of Essex County council, Police and Crime Commissioner, Fire authority and the Parish Councils.

 

Cllr Mrs McKinlay  MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report and following a debate  and in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.6 of the Constitution, a recorded vote was taken. 

 

Members voted as follows:

 

For: Cllrs Bridge, Cloke, Mrs Coe, Faragher, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Mrs Middlehurst, Mrs Murphy, Parker, Poppy, Mrs Pound, Reed, Russell, Ms Sanders, Mrs Slade, Trump Tumbridge and Wiles (22)

 

Against:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Chilvers, Clarke, Mrs Davies, Mrs Hubbard, Keeble, Kendall, Morrissey, Mynott and Newberry (11)

 

Abstain: Cllr Mrs Fulcher (1)

 

Members RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the Council approve the formal Council Tax resolution for Brentwood Borough Council and Parishes as contained in Appendix A. 

 

2.    That it be noted that for the year 2017/18 Essex County Council, Essex police and Crime Commissioner and Essex Fore Authority have issued the following precept requirements to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) (“the Act”) for each of the categories of dwellings (valuation and) shown in Table 2.

 

3.    That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands and the amounts in 2.2 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, hereby sets the amounts in Table 3 as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2017/18 for each of the categories of dwellings shown in Table 3 within the report.  

 

Reason for recommendations

The Council had a legal requirement to set out the Council Tax for its area by 11 March 2017. 

 

294.

Revenues & Benefits Shared Service Agreement pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Report to follow

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The matter was considered by the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee on 15th February 2017 where it was resolved to recommend to Ordinary Council the approval of the Revenues & Benefits Shared Service Agreement subject to the appropriate delegated authority.

 

The detail of the proposed agreement was set out in the report to the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee on the 15th February 2017 attached as appendix A and B (exempt) to the report.   

 

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED  the recommendations in the report, following a discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was

 

RESOLVED

 

1.         To approve that the Council enters a new sharing agreement for provision of the Revenues and Benefits Service with Basildon Borough Council on the basis set out in Appendix A of the report.  

 

2.         That delegated authority be given to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council as appropriate, to agree and formally enter the agreement once negotiations have been completed. 

(Cllr Bridge declared a non-pecuniary interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct by virtue of being employed by an IT provider but advised that the company had no contract with the Council).

 

Reason for recommendations

To enable the Council to deliver effective and efficient Revenues and Benefits Services for the benefit of the Council and its customers. 

 

295.

Urgent Business

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business but Cllr Kendall requested confirmation of whether or not the Ordinary Council meeting for 24 April 2017 would take place.

 

The Chief Executive advised that Members would be advised as soon as a decision had been made regarding this meeting.

 

 

 

_________________________

 

 

 

The meeting ended at 10.15pm