Agenda item

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Pursuant to Minute CAB117: Financial Plan2022/2027of the Cabinet Meeting held on 7 February 2023, the “Financial Plan 2022/2027 and Council Tax Resolution 2023/2024” the document attached as a supplementary to the agenda for consideration and decision included an updated summary of the Financial Plan 2022/2027, the County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner - Council Tax for 2023/2024 and details of Parish Precepts and Internal Drainage Boards levies for 2023/2024. 

 

Councillor Dickinson proposed the recommendations set out in the report and spoke in favour of the proposed Budget.  She highlighted the key elements of the budget which was fully funded for years 1-3.  The proposed council tax increase was 3.2% which included the levy increases made by the Internal Drainage Boards which was 43% of the Borough’s total council tax collected.  She gave a breakdown of the allocation of the overall Council Tax collected for the County Council, Police, Parishes and Borough.  She drew attention to the fact that the Council had one of the lowest Council tax levels in the country. And highlighted that the budget was orientated towards residents and businesses with no increase in fees and charges or any cuts to services.

 

Councillor Dark seconded the Motion and reserved his right to speak.

 

Councillor Parish as Leader of the Independent Group thanked officers for communicating the essence details and ramifications of the budget.  He commented on the use of the reserves to balance the budget for the next 3 years was a false promise as reviews from 2024 would be needed.  He hoped the IDB funding would be reviewed by the Government.  He commented that the new administration would not be as fortunate, but that the reserves held to date should have been spent when they were accrued for the benefit of the residents.  He felt the Government had underfunded local government.

 

Councillor Jones as Deputy Leader of the Labour Group addressed the Council on the budget commenting on the level of charges made, he felt that the budget didn’t help those in need.   He commented on the additional resources allocated to the planning department, high costs of charging of halls rented out, and that Labour would prosecute fly tippers.

 

Councillor Dark asked for confirmation as to any amendment which were planned to be moved.  The Labour Group confirmed they would have none.

 

Councillor Joyce spoke on the budget and referenced the forthcoming elections, spend, borrowing and earmarked reserves.  He commented on the fees and charges and Alive West Norfolk where residents not using it were paying for it.  He commented on the outsourcing of leisure facilities. 

 

Councillor Sandell considered the budget was prudent, taking into account the cost of living.  She gave examples of the services provided to residents taking into account support during the cost of living crisis.

 

Councillor Kemp did not support the budget as she considered there was not enough attention given to services. She considered there should be rapid turnaround in support services, recognised pressures on housing and its staff; commented on more work required on the Local Plan, west Lynn Ferry being missed from the Clean and Connectivity project and risks around future library provision.

 

Councillor Middleton drew attention to the fact the budget was funded and continuing to deliver services to residents.  He commented on electioneering and the comments from Labour made that the Parkway housing development would be cancelled post election. He commented on the Independent’s criticism about the levels of reserves held which were now being used for the rainy day but would otherwise have been spent, leading to having an unfunded budget with significant future increases to council tax and fees and charges or requiring service cuts.

 

Councillor Morley commented on the small print on things such as charges on waste from schools. He drew attention to the fact that the total bill was around £100 and suggested that the Council Tax Support Scheme of 100% be budgeted for in the following year.  He commented on the loyalty of the representatives on the IDBs to which Councillor Dark objected.  Councillor Morley also commented on his view of a sloppy approach towards projects.

 

Councillor Long declared a non pecuniary interest as a trustee of a modern village hall, which he commented was charged out at similar rates to those proposed.  He referred to the level of reserves accrued through prudent budgeting which had permitted a balanced budget.   With regard to the IDBs Councillor Long commented that the members were obliged to be prudent and to keep people’s feet dry.  The Councillors on those Boards were representing the people of the area.

 

Councillor Kunes drew attention to the fact that cancelling the Parkway project would affect the housing lists.  He drew attention to the green and environmental aspects of the work of the Council.

 

Councillor Hudson made reference to the final line and commented on a higher spend than income.  She commented on no money coming from the Government in the future and the need to cut coat according to the cloth.

 

Councillor Rust commented on the statements made by other councillors and stated she would not vote in favour of a budget proposed by the Conservative group.

 

Councillor Lawrence drew attention to the debate not hate email that all Councillors had received and asked for those contributors to the debate to take that into account.

 

Councillor Blunt, in supporting the budget and in response to the comments raised on the additional resources allocated to the planning department reminded members that it was a difficult department to run as it was greatly affected by the pandemic, labour shortages and price rises all of which had affected the workload and the ability to recruit. He also reminded Members that the Local Plan had been approved by the Council and worked upon by a cross party group, and Parkway had been approved by all at the meeting amending the proposals.

 

Councillor Humphrey drew attention to the fact that people not on line could access the services in person or on the telephone.  He also commented that he was expecting the amendment on the budget to cut services from the opposition.

 

Councillor Lawrence drew attention to the amount of work which had been put into preparing the budget and the fact that Parkway would help release some social housing as people moved into different homes.

 

Councillor de Whalley commented that the Council needed to be mindful of the reserves it held, as a review by the auditors would be carried out.

 

Councillor Dark stated that he was proud to produce this budget, having come out of the budget, dealing with the knock on effects of the war in Ukraine, pressure on finances, and the Council had delivered a long list of services at a time when many councils were reducing their services and had financial instability.  He referred to the 3 years financed budget, whilst continuing with the ambition and growth and not increasing fees and charges. He referred to the levels of council tax charged by the authority, which, once the IDB levy was removed was one of the lowest in the country.

 

In summing up Councillor Dickinson explained that there was not a big shortfall as expressed by Councillor Hudson, and every penny of the ear marked reserves were accounted for.  She reminded members that she had offered to speak to a number of opposition members to explain the reserves, but it had not been taken up.

 

In accordance with Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, any decision taken on the Council’s Budget or Council Tax setting must be taken with a recorded vote

 

For	Against	Abstain
Ayres	Beal
Bambridge	Bhondi
Blunt	Bone
Bower	Collop
Bubb	Holmes
Bullen	Hudson
Collingham	Jones
Crofts	Joyce
Dark	Kemp
Devereux	Lowe
Dickinson	Morley
Gidney	Rust
Howard	A Tyler
Howland	Ware
Humphrey	De Whalley
Kirk
Kunes
Lawrence
Long
Middleton
Nockolds
Parish
Patel
Ratcliff
Rose
Sampson
Sandell
Spikings
Storey
D Tyler
D Whitby
31	15	0

 

 

The vote was carried.

 

RESOLVED:1)       Approve the revision to the Budget for 2022/2023 (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report).

 

2)       Reaffirm the Policy on Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Working Balance and the maximum balances set for the reserves as detailed in Appendix 7 of “The Financial Plan 2022/2027” as reported to Cabinet on 7 February 2023

 

3)              Approve the budget of £22,287,700 for 2023/2024 and note the projections for 2024/2025, 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report).

 

4)              Approves that the pension lump sum payments are paid in advance for three years at a value of £5.430m.

 

5)              Approve the Fees and Charges for 2023/2024 as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

 

6)              Approve a minimum requirement of the General Fund balance for 2023/2024 of £1,114,390.

 

7)              Pursuant to Section 25 of the Local Government Act, have due regard to the statement of the Section 151 Officer at Section 9 of the Financial Plan 2022/2027 as reported to Cabinet on 7 February 2023

 

The Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 contain rules for the calculation of the Council Tax Base, which is an amount required by the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to be used in the calculation of the tax by the Council as the billing authority, and Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner as major precepting authorities, and in the calculation of the precept payable by the Council to the County Council and Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner.  Under Officer Delegated Decision the Council Tax Base was calculated as follows for the year 2023/2024:

 

Number of dwellings in each Council Tax band; taking into account the multipliers, discounts, exemptions, rate of collection and Council Tax Support.

 

(a)    52,984            being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as its Council Tax Base for the year.

 

The tax base for each Parish

 

(b)                          the amounts listed in Appendix 5 of the report, (Column headed - Taxbase) being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as the amount of its Council Taxbase for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

10)     Approve that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2023/2024 in accordance with Sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by S74 of the Localism Act 2011):

 

Total expenditure

 

(a)  £96,891,100     being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) (a) to (f) of the Act. (See Appendix 2 of the report).

         

Total income

 

(b)  £85,319,550    being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) (a) to (d) of the Act. (See Appendix 2 of the report).

 

The difference between expenditure and income

 

(c)  £11,571,550    being the amount by which the aggregate at 10(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 10(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its total budget for the year. (See Appendix 2 of the report).

 

Average Council Tax for Band D property (Borough and Parish)

 

(d)    £218.40            being the amount at 10(c) above divided by the amount at 9(a) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

 

The total of Parish Precepts and Special Expenses

 

(e)    £3,948,740       being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

 

The Borough Council’s Council Tax for a Band D property (excluding Parish Precepts and Special Expenses)

 

(f)(1)    £143.87         being the amount at 10(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 10(e) above by the amount at 9(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

 

The Borough Council’s Council Tax for each valuation band

 

(f)(2)

 

    

 

The Borough, Special Expenses and Parish Councils’ Council Tax for a Band D property in each Parish

 

(g)                          the amounts listed in Col (4), Appendix 5 Special Expenses and Appendix 6 Parish Precepts, when added to the amount at 10 (f)(1) above being the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned divided in each case by the taxbases in Appendix 4 calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, gives the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwelling in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

 

The Borough and Parish Councils’ Council Tax for each tax band in each Parish

 

(h)                         the amounts listed in Cols (1) to (8), Appendix 5 Special Expenses and Appendix 6 Parish Precepts, together with the amounts shown above in 10(f)(2) as valuation bands A to H - being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 10(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band, divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36 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.

 

 

11)  That it be note that for the year 2023/2024 Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

                   

 

 

The total Council Tax for each band in each parish (Appendix 7 of the report)

 

12)     Approve that, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 10(h) and 11 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets these as the amounts of Council           Tax for the year 2023/2024 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

 

13)     Approve that the Assistant Director Resources (S151 Officer), Revenues and Benefits Manager, Revenues Manager, Revenues Team Leaders, Committal Manager, Committal Officer, Non-Domestic Rates Officer, Generic Revenues and Benefits Officers, Revenues Officers and Revenues Assistants be authorised to demand and recover, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council Tax set by this resolution, the Non Domestic Rates payable by Ratepayers and the annual Business Improvement District Levy, and be authorised to appear on behalf of the Council in Magistrates’ Courts in respect of recovery proceedings.

 

14)     Approve that the Officers be authorised to give notice of the setting of the Council Tax in accordance with Section 96 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

 

 

 

At 17.42 Council adjourned and reconvened at 17.50.