Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs Davies and Mrs Middlehurst.

No declarations were made at this stage.

Members were reminded that the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) considered by Policy, Projects and Resources Committee on 29 November 2017 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 & HRA, included the phasing out of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), changes to the New Homes Bonus & the Business Rates Retention schemes.

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.

This report considered:

(i)            The General Fund budget proposals for 2018/19 to 2020/21.

(ii)          The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2018/19 onwards.

(iii)         The Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2020/21.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report (which reflected the resolution made at the 6.2.2018 Policy, Performance and Resources Committee meeting) and included the three AMENDMENTS  which had been submitted by the Conservative Group in accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure.

Following a full discussion recorded votes were taken in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.6.  The Mayor had proposed and it was agreed that a separate vote should be taken on recommendations relating to the Housing Revenue Account.

In relation to recommendations 2.1, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7, Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Barrell, Bridge, Cloke, Mrs Coe, Faragher, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Mrs Hubbard, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Mrs Murphy, Parker, Poppy, Mrs Pound, Reed, Mrs Rowlands, Ms Sanders, Mrs Slade, Trump, Tumbridge and Wiles (23)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Chilvers, Clarke, Mrs Fulcher, Keeble, Kendall, Morrissey, Mynott and Newberry (10)

ABSTAIN:  Cllr Russell (1)

The MOTION was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED

General Fund:

1.  To approve the General Fund - Revised MTFP for 2018/19 as shown in Table 9 which includes the proposed savings target, presenting a zero net Funding Gap for 2018/19.

2. To insert Table 11A and paragraph 8.34A (as detailed in Supplement 1 to the agenda) in the main body of the report and insert recommendation 2.1b as follows:

   To agree the detail of the proposed savings targets as outlined in   Table 11A.

3. Earmarked Reserves – To amend Appendix A referred to in Paragraph 8.47.

Capital programme

4. To approve the Existing and New Schemes of the proposed Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2020/21 as set out in Tables 16 and 17 of this report.

5. Amend Table 16 – to include the red highlighted areas in the Capital Programme (As detailed in Agenda Supplement 1)

Treasury Strategy

6. To approve the Treasury Management Strategy as set out in Section 12 of this report.

Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement

7. To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 301.

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 (ECC), Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex (PFCC), and Essex Police Fire & Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority (EPFCCFRA) and the Parish Councils.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report and following a discussion, in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.6 a recorded vote was taken.  Members voted as follows:

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

AGAINST:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Chilvers, Clarke, Mrs Fulcher, Keeble, Kendall, Morrissey, Mynott and Newberry (10)

ABSTAIN:  Cllrs Mrs Hubbard and Russell (2)

The MOTION was CARRIED and it was

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 2018/19 Essex County Council, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue 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 band) shown in Table 2.

Table 2 - Precept Schedule

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 2018/19 for each of the categories of dwellings shown:

Table 3 - 2018/19 Council Tax for Each Categories of Dwellings

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.

There was no urgent business.

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The meeting ended at 8.30pm