Apologies were received from Cllr Faragher. 

The Mayor introduced the Council’s new Chief Executive, Graham Farrant.  Mr Farrant advised Members that Ms Ireland, Director of Strategy and Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer,  had brought forward her date of resignation to 4 March 2015.

At the request of Cllr Mrs McKinlay, the Mayor proposed and it was RESOLVED that Item 6 – Council Tax 2015/16 - be considered as the first item of business.

Report to follow.

Members were reminded that 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.

The precept requirements for 2015/16 were:-

A schedule of the Parish Precepts was attached to the report.

Cllr Lloyd MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the recommendations in the report and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.     The Council approve the formal Council Tax resolution contained in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.     It be noted that for the year 2015/16 Essex County Council, Essex Police and Crime Commissioner and Essex Fire Authority had stated the following in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (“the Act”) for each of the categories of dwellings (valuation band) shown below:

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 below as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2015/16 for each of the categories of dwellings shown:

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Council had a legal requirement to set the Council Tax for its area by 11 March 2015.

The Mayor proposed that item 2 – Medium Term Financial Plan (General fund) 2015/16 – 2017/18, item 4 – Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2015/16 and item 5 – Capital Programme 2015/16 – 2017/18 be considered en bloc.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay advised that a figure included in the Conservative Group’s proposed amendment to the Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund) 2015/16 – 2017/18 had been validated on several occasions by the Section 151 Officer (Ms Ireland) but had been subsequently identified as an error shortly before the deadline for submission of amendments.

The Section 151officer present (Mr Leslie) advised that figures included within the reports before Members were robust and fit for Members to make a decision.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED that items 2-5 be deferred to a future meeting to allow an independent assessment to take place of the figures in the reports before Members.

Following a discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and the MOTION was LOST.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay advised that the Conservative Group’s proposed amendment, which had been circulated to Members, would not be put forward.

Cllr Lloyd MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the recommendations in items 2, 4 and 5 en bloc and following a full discussion, in accordance with Rule 9.6 of the Council’s procedure rules, a recorded vote was taken since the decision related to the budget.

Cllr Cloke left the Chamber during voting.

For:  Cllrs Aspinell, Baker, Barrett, Carter, Chilvers, Clark, Mrs Cohen, Mrs Davies, Mrs Hubbard, Keeble, Kendall, Le-Surf, Lloyd, Morrissey, Mynott, Newberry, Quirk, Sapwell, and Mrs Squirrell (19)

Against:  Cllrs Mrs Coe, Mrs Henwood, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Mrs Murphy, Dr Naylor, Parker, Reed, Russell, Ms Sanders, Sleep and Tee (16)

Abstain:  0

The MOTION was CARRIED and it was RESOLVED as follows:

In relation to Item 2 - Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund) 2015/16 – 2017/18:  the report set out the key financial management principles and budget assumptions which were used as the framework for the detailed budget setting process.  This would ensure  that the Council’s resources were managed effectively to meet its statutory responsibilities and delivered the priorities of the Council over the medium term.

RESOLVED:

1.     To note the key assumptions that underpin the Medium Term   Financial Plan and the associated risks.

2.    To note the projected outturn of an estimated deficit of £17,000 for 2014/15.

3.    To approve the spending requirement for 2015/16 as shown in the table at para 4.38 which includes:

3.1         The sum of £163,850 for new developments

3.2         The sum of £545,000 for anticipated savings

3.3         The sum of £361,634 to be taken from the Working Balance

3.4         The sum of £350,000 to be earmarked for the WHW Development.

4.    To approve the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement on the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of the reserves.

5.    That regular reports are presented to Finance & Resources Committee on the progress on delivery of the savings.

REASON FOR  ...  view the full minutes text for item 479.

The report before Members considered the Medium Term Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

The report included results of the tenant consultation, the consideration of the Housing and Health Committee and the recommendation of the Finance and Resource Committee concerning the proposed level of rent increase for 2015/16.

Cllr Carter MOVED and Cllr Mrs Davies SECONDED the recommendations within the report and officers and Tenants Talkback were thanked for their assistance and support in preparation of the Medium Term HRA Budget.

Following a discussion, a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was RESOLVED:

1.            That the Council approves a level of rent increase for 2015/16 based on the Government formula of CPI + 1% per week, for all rents as detailed in the report.

2.            That the Council agrees to freeze the proposed Service Charges for 2015/16 for tenants, however any decrease to service charges, will be passed onto the tenant.

3.            That the Council agrees that Leaseholder Service Charges be calculated in line with the current reconciliation policy.

4.            That the Council agrees to applying the formula rent to all new tenancies from April 2015/16.

5.            To approve the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement on the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of the reserves.

REASON FOR DECISION

1.     Effective financial management underpinned all of the priorities for the Council.

2.    The Council was required to compile a budget which collated all the income and expenditure relating to the Council’s housing stock.  The Council was also required to agree the rent levels and notify tenants of any increases.

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 were no items of urgent business.