Agenda and minutes

To be selected from Panel Chairs that are present at the meeting.

RESOLVED: Councillor Mrs A Dickinson be appointed Chair for the meeting.

To be selected from Panel Vice Chairs which are present at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  Councillor T Parish be appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Collingham, Mrs S Collop, M de Whalley, C Hudson, H Humphrey, C Manning and M Wilkinson.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

Those declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

If any.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

All Members have been invited to the meeting for this item of business.

Members will receive a presentation on the Budget and Capital Programme and are requested to make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

Members are requested to read the Agenda for the Cabinet meeting on 4^th February 2020, once published which will include the Cabinet Reports and Budget Papers.

Members received a presentation on the Budget 2019-2024 (copy attached) from the Interim Head of Finance (Section 151 Officer).

Following the presentation, the Leader, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, Chief Executive and Interim Head of Finance responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·        Borough Council’s reserves.

·        Renewable energy would bring additional business rates.  The Borough Council currently 100% of business growth relating to renewable energy, but going forward it was not certain the Council would retain 100%.  Examples were given of a local renewable energy sources.

·        Level of General Fund Balances.

·        The Council’s planned approach to achieving early costs savings.

·        Local government financial settlement 2020/2021.

·        Internal Drainage Board Levy.  It was noted that both Borough Councillors/ Parish Councillors were appointed to Internal Drainage Boards within the Borough and it was suggested that a briefing be held for those Members appointment to an Internal Drainage Board.  The Interim Head of Finance to clarify levy for 2020/21.

·        Delay until 2021/2022 in implementing reforms to Business Rates Retention Scheme.

·        Outcomes of the Fair Funding Review.

·        Proposed council tax increase of £4.50 on Band D Property in 2020/2021.

·        Proposed £4.50 increase in council tax for the following years of the Financial Plan.

·        Council tax collection rate.

·        Car park charges increased in April 2018.  It was highlighted that there would be no increases across the board.  The proposal is to reinstate the 2 hour and 3 hour pricing structure from April 2020. 

·        Process adopted for the calculation of business rates.

·        Leisure Service charges.  The Chief Executive explained that Alive West Norfolk followed that same as the Borough Council in relation to the base budget for fees and charges.  The proposed fees and charges for 2020/21 would be presented to the next Alive West Norfolk Board meeting.

·        Fees and charges for the services provided by the Borough Council.

·        An overview of the information sent out with council tax bills.

·        Capital Programme 2019 – 2024:  how projects could be funded, projects which would generate income, items purchased by the Borough Council, an example was given – vehicles.

·        Entries in the Corporate Risk Register – included the budget position and business rates retention.

·        Brexit – there is an uncertainty as to what the impact of the Council’s budget will be.  Updates on any impact will be reported as part of the budget monitoring process.

·        New Homes Bonus.

·        Special expenses.

·        King’s Lynn Innovation Centre net revenue income.

·        How the council approached the £7.2m budget gap over the period of the Financial Plan.

·        Future High Streets Fund – the Council had submitted an initial bid.

·        Towns Fund.

·        Information Technology/risks.

RESOLVED: 1) That the budget and capital programme 2019 – 2024 be noted.

2) A briefing/training session be scheduled for those Councillors appointed to an Internal Drainage Board.