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Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Claire Mayhew (01277 312741) 

Items
No. Item

Live broadcast

693.

To appoint a Member to preside at the meeting if the Mayor nor the Deputy Mayor are present and able to preside

Minutes:

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4, 16.2, the Deputy Mayor -  Cllr Miss Sanders - MOVED, Cllr Hossack SECONDED and it was RESOLVED that Cllr Reed should act as Vice-chair for the duration of the meeting.

 

694.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Tumbridge. 

695.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at this stage.

696.

Budget 2021/22 and Council Tax 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 269 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This report sets 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 3rd February 2021 and has been recommended to Ordinary Council for consideration and approval.

 

The fundamental principles of the Council’s MTFS are 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 considers:

 

(i)         The General Fund budget proposals for 2021/22 to 2023/24.

 

(ii)       The Council Tax Requirement for 2021/22

 

(iii)      The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2021/22 onwards.

 

(iv)      The Capital and Investment Strategy for 2021/22 including the Councils capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24

 

(v)       Fees & Charges

 

(vi)      Pay Policy Statement

 

(vii)     Section 151 Officers Assurance Statement.

 

(viii)    Council Tax Resolution 2021-22

 

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

 

The key elements of the proposed budget are:

 

General Fund

 

1)    To reduce the previously forecasted General Fund budget gap of £1m to 2022/23 and increase working balances to sustainable levels above the minimum level of reserves.

2)    0% increase in Council Tax for 2021/22 for Brentwood Council services.

3)    Increasing Earmarked Reserves to set aside appropriate balances to mitigate future financial risk.

4)    Future uncertainty of Local Government Financing.

Housing Revenue Account

 

1)    For 2021/22 a budget that delivers a small surplus of £434k.

2)    Increase in rents of CPI plus 1% per annum; equating to 1.5%.

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

4)    Significant investment in the Strategic Housing Delivery Program ensuring the 30 year business plan is sustainable.

 

Capital

 

1)    Total capital investment of £8.5 million in 2021/22

2)    Subsequent investment of £2.4 million pa from 2022 to 2024.

 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

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

 

Research into the options for parking solutions within all in-Borough strategic property acquisitions that are designed to remove the negative impacts on resident parking and improve the delivery of said acquisitions, with funding from In-Borough Regeneration Reserve and/or Asset Development Capital Project depending if works are Capital or Revenue Expenditure.

 

Cllr Hossack ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT.

 

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

 

An investment into Pepperell House, a long term Council owned asset that is effectively a gateway to our town centre image alongside the St Thomas a Becket ruins. Forexternal refurbishment, redecoration and re-instatement. To be funded from Asset Management Capital Project and/or Asset  ...  view the full minutes text for item 696.

697.

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 9.22pm