Skip to main content

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AY

Contact: Jean Sharp (01277 312655) 

Items
No. Item

389.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Chilvers, Clarke, Kerslake, Lewis and Morrissey.

390.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at this stage.

391.

Budget 2020-2021 pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report before Members set out all the relevant information needed by the Council to set the budget for the Borough.

 

The budget was considered by the Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee on 12th February 2020 and had been recommended to Ordinary Council for consideration and approval.

 

The fundamental principles of the Council’s MTFS 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 Corporate Strategy.

 

(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 2020/21 to 2022/23.

 

(ii)                    The Council Tax Requirement for 2020/21

 

(iii)         The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2020/21 onwards.

 

(iv)         The Capital and Investment Strategy for 2020/21 including the Council’s capital Programme 2020/21 to 2022/23

 

(v)                   Fees & Charges

 

(vi)                  Pay Policy Statement

 

(vii)                 Section 151 Officers Assurance Statement.

 

(viii)                Council Tax Resolution 2020-21

 

The figures presented summarised the detailed service budgets, together with known adjustments including the impact of the central government grant funding.

 

The key elements of the proposed budget were:

 

General Fund

 

1)        A balanced budget to be set for 2020/21

2)        An increase of Council Tax for 2020/21 in order to deliver a balanced budget and deliver on the required investment outlined within the budget.

3)        The continuation of reduction in funding made available by Central Government

 

Housing Revenue Account

 

1)        For 2020/21 a budget that delivered a small surplus of £87k.

2)        Increase in rents of CPI plus 1% per annum

3)        Continued investment in the delivery of Decent Homes and Development of Housing within the Borough.

 

Capital

 

1)        Total additional capital investment of £10.564m  in 2020/21

2)        With an additional investment of £14.724m from 2021 to 2023.

 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Mrs Hones SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

Cllr Gareth Barrett had submitted and MOVED and Cllr Tim Barrett SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Given the restoration of Town Hall services, and potential commercial/residential lettings, invite local businesses to bring in a coffee van style operation or similar for a set period of the day.

 

Cllr Hossack ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT.

 

Cllr Gareth Barrett had submitted and MOVED and Cllr Tim Barrett SECONDED a second AMENDMENT:

 

 Recommend the Independent renumeration panel review that the job role of the Leader and Deputy Leader both Chair a committee and that special responsibility allowance is reviewed accordingly.

 

Cllr Hossack did NOT ACCEPT this AMENDMENT and it was debated.

 

Members voted on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

 

Cllr Gareth Barrett had submitted and MOVED and Cllr Tim Barrett SECONDED a third  AMENDMENT:

 

For the financial year 2021/22 onwards Brentwood Borough Council removes its Second Home Discount (10%) from Council Tax and reviews the Empty Home Council Tax Discount (100%),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 391.

392.

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.

 

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

 

 

__________________________________

 

 

 The meeting ended at 8.30pm