Agenda item

The Council are requested to consider the report and its appendix as set out on pages 77-151 of the Cabinet agenda for 1 March 2022.

 

At the time of going to print the recommendations to Cabinet to recommend to Council were as follows:

 

a)    That a net budget requirement of £15,015,600 for 2022-23 be approved.

b)    That Council Tax be increased by £5.00 from £170.81 to £175.81 for a Band D equivalent in 2022-23.

c)    That a contribution from the General Fund Reserve of £576,100 be approved to help fund the 2022-23 budget.

d)    The capital programme, including the asset renewal programme (appendix 1c and 1d of the agenda report) be approved.

e)    That a local Council Tax Hardship Reliefs Scheme for 2022-23 giving an additional £150 deduction on council tax bills for relevant taxpayers in receipt of CTR as set out in paragraph 6.7 of this report, using the £159,916 grant received in 2021-22.

 

Amendment Budget Motions were received from Cllr Brown and Cllr Moss in line with the Motions Procedure as set out in the Constitution. If duly seconded they will be debated at the meeting. The amendments are attached to this agenda pack.

Cllr Wilding introduced the item.

 

Cllr Lintill was then invited to speak as Leader of the Council.

 

Cllr Moss was then invited to speak as Leader of the Opposition.

 

Mr Ward referred to the supplement pack, page 6 referring to the second line of Planning Services. He confirmed that there has been no cut in the budget for Planning Services. The figure related to the processing of CIL.

 

Cllr Brown then outlined his amendment seconded by Cllr Bangert which incorporated suggested changes by Cllr Dignum as follows:

 

To employ a full time Growth & Sustainability Officer to promote economic growth in the District by supporting local businesses and the creation of local apprenticeships and jobs - all in the context of supporting the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

 

1. Full Time, Two Year role (reviewed in year 2 to determine whether or not to incorporate into the base budget)

 

2. Working in the Economic Development Team (working closely with the Environment Team)

Funding for this temporary position to be drawn from reserves:

 

• Up to a maximum of £60,000 per year for two years

That the job specification for the position is presented to the Economic Development Panel meeting scheduled for July 2022 (to be rescheduled to May 2022) for approval to support the targets within the agreed corporate plan and to provide support to businesses in the sectors of renewable, retrofitting and the circular economy.

 

Cllr Dignum confirmed he would support the amendment motion subject to the inclusions of his suggestions above.

 

Cllr Purnell explained that she felt that this amendment motion and the next amendment motion should have come from officers not members. Cllr Page wished to note his support of Cllr Purnell’s comments.

 

Cllr Sharp spoke of transformation and changing practices. She supported the role.

 

Cllr Oakley explained that the Budget proposal showed the council was able to still support a number of discretionary services.

 

Cllr Donna Johnson spoke in support of the role for both addressing the Climate Emergency and economy. Cllr Plowman spoke in agreement.

 

Cllr Briscoe spoke in favour of the role.

 

Cllr Sutton asked for clarification of inflation on the Budget. Mr Ward explained that the Budget allowed for 5% increase in gas, 8% increase in electric and 10% in diesel. He explained that diesel prices were currently exceeding the rate. This would be monitored.

 

A recorded vote was held:

 

Cllr Apel – For

Cllr Bangert – For

Cllr Barrett – For

Cllr Barrie – For

Cllr Bell – For

Cllr Bowden – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – For

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Dignum – For

Cllr Duncton - For

Cllr Elliott – Absent

Cllr Evans - For

Cllr Fowler – Absent

Cllr Graves – For

Cllr Hamilton – For

Cllr Hobbs - For

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Tim Johnson – For

Cllr Lintill – For

Cllr Lishman – Absent

Cllr McAra – Against

Cllr Moss – For

Cllr Oakley – Abstain

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Page – Abstain

Cllr Palmer – For

Cllr Plant – For

Cllr Plowman - For

Cllr Potter – For

Cllr Purnell – Abstain

Cllr Rodgers – For

Cllr Sharp – For

Cllr Sutton – For

Cllr Taylor – For

Cllr Wilding – For

 

For = 29

Against = 1

Abstain = 3

Absent = 3

 

RESOLVED

To employ a full time Growth & Sustainability Officer to promote economic growth in the District by supporting local businesses and the creation of local apprenticeships and jobs - all in the context of supporting the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

 

3. Full Time, Two Year role (reviewed in year 2 to determine whether or not to incorporate into the base budget)

 

4. Working in the Economic Development Team (working closely with the Environment Team)

Funding for this temporary position to be drawn from reserves:

 

• Up to a maximum of £60,000 per year for two years

That the job specification for the position is presented to the Economic Development Panel meeting scheduled for July 2022 (to be rescheduled to May 2022) for approval to support the targets within the agreed corporate plan and to provide support to businesses in the sectors of renewable, retrofitting and the circular economy.

 

Cllr Moss then outlined his amendment seconded by Cllr Brown which incorporated suggested changes by Cllr Taylor as follows:

 

To employ a full time Landscape Officer to provide specialist landscape design advice on development management matters and to monitor and manage the discharge of conditions on development sites.

 

1.    Full Time Two Year role (reviewed in year 2 to determine whether or not to incorporate into the base budget)

 

2.    Working in the Planning Team

 

Funding for this temporary position to be drawn from reserves:

 

·         “Up to a maximum of £56,000.00 per year for two years. (total £112,000)”

·         “That the job specification for this position is delegated to the Director for Planning and the Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services”

 

Cllr Taylor confirmed she would support the amendment motion subject to the inclusions of her suggestions above.

 

Cllr Potter asked how much power the officer would have or would they need to refer to the enforcement team. Cllr Taylor explained that the role would aim to assist the enforcement team.

 

Cllr Duncton spoke in support of the amendment.

 

Cllr Brown spoke in favour of the amendment and highlighted the work the council had already done for wildlife corridors.

 

Cllr Purnell explained that she felt that this amendment motion should have come from officers not members. She added that she felt the role was more than one officer could do.

 

Cllr Bangert spoke in favour in the amendment.

 

Cllr Oakley asked how the role would be permanently funded and whether this would help encourage more candidates.

 

Cllr Page wished to note his agreement of Cllr Purnell and Cllr Oakley’s comments.

 

Cllr Brisbane addressed the question of funding and whether the role could be permanent. He suggested some of the cost could be recouped from planning fees and Section 106 monies.

 

Cllr Sutton gave his support for the role but explained that he understood the views of Cllr Purnell, Cllr Oakley and Cllr Page.

 

Cllr O’Kelly agreed with Cllr Brisbane that there could be ways to address the funding of the role permanently.

 

Cllr Bell asked whether the title of the role could be reconsidered before taking it out to advert in order to best describe the role. Cllr Lintill responded by explaining that the key information will be in the job description.

 

Cllr Barrett, Cllr Apel, Cllr Sharp, Cllr Plowman and Cllr Graves spoke in favour of the role.

 

A recorded vote was held:

 

Cllr Apel – For

Cllr Bangert – For

Cllr Barrett – For

Cllr Barrie – For

Cllr Bell – For

Cllr Bowden – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – For

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Dignum – For

Cllr Duncton - For

Cllr Elliott – Absent

Cllr Evans - For

Cllr Fowler – Absent

Cllr Graves – For

Cllr Hamilton – For

Cllr Hobbs - For

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Tim Johnson – For

Cllr Lintill – For

Cllr Lishman – Absent

Cllr McAra – For

Cllr Moss – For

Cllr Oakley – Abstain

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Page – For

Cllr Palmer – For

Cllr Plant – For

Cllr Plowman - For

Cllr Potter – For

Cllr Purnell – Abstain

Cllr Rodgers – For

Cllr Sharp – For

Cllr Sutton – For

Cllr Taylor – For

Cllr Wilding – For

 

For = 31

Against = 0

Abstain = 2

Absent = 3

 

RESOLVED

 

To employ a full time Landscape Officer to provide specialist landscape design advice on development management matters and to monitor and manage the discharge of conditions on development sites.

 

1.    Full Time Two Year role (reviewed in year 2 to determine whether or not to incorporate into the base budget)

 

2.    Working in the Planning Team

 

Funding for this temporary position to be drawn from reserves:

 

·         “Up to a maximum of £56,000.00 per year for two years. (total £112,000)”

·         “That the job specification for this position is delegated to the Director for Planning and the Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services”

 

Mr Ward explained that following the agreement of the above amendments the substantive recommendations would read as follows:

 

a)         That a net budget requirement of £15,015,600 for 2022-23 be approved.

b)         That Council Tax be increased by £5.00 from £170.81 to £175.81 for a Band D equivalent in 2022-23.

c)         That a contribution from the General Fund Reserve of £808,100 be approved to help fund the 2022-23 budget.

d)         The capital programme, including the asset renewal programme (appendix 1c and 1d of the agenda report) be approved.

e)         That a local Council Tax Hardship Reliefs Scheme for 2022-23 giving an additional £150 deduction on council tax bills for relevant taxpayers in receipt of CTR as set out in paragraph 6.7 of this report, using the £159,916 grant received in 2021-22.

 

The revised recommendations were moved by Cllr Wilding and seconded by Cllr Lintill.

 

Cllr Bowden questioned whether there had been a reduction in the planning budget. This was clarified by Cllr Lintill, Mr Ward and Cllr Taylor to explain why that was not the case.

 

Cllr O’Kelly and Cllr Sharp provided comments.

 

A recorded vote was held:

 

Cllr Apel – For

Cllr Bangert – For

Cllr Barrett – For

Cllr Barrie – For

Cllr Bell – For

Cllr Bowden – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – For

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Dignum – For

Cllr Duncton - For

Cllr Elliott – Absent

Cllr Evans - For

Cllr Fowler – Absent

Cllr Graves – For

Cllr Hamilton – For

Cllr Hobbs - For

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Tim Johnson – For

Cllr Lintill – For

Cllr Lishman – Absent

Cllr McAra – For

Cllr Moss – For

Cllr Oakley – For

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Page – For

Cllr Palmer – For

Cllr Plant – For

Cllr Plowman - For

Cllr Potter – For

Cllr Purnell – For

Cllr Rodgers – For

Cllr Sharp – Absent

Cllr Sutton – For

Cllr Taylor – For

Cllr Wilding – For

 

For = 32

Against = 0

Abstain = 0

Absent = 4

 

RESOLVED

 

a)    That a net budget requirement of £15,015,600 for 2022-23 be approved.

b)    That Council Tax be increased by £5.00 from £170.81 to £175.81 for a Band D equivalent in 2022-23.

c)    That a contribution from the General Fund Reserve of £808,100 be approved to help fund the 2022-23 budget.

d)    The capital programme, including the asset renewal programme (appendix 1c and 1d of the agenda report) be approved.

e)    That a local Council Tax Hardship Reliefs Scheme for 2022-23 giving an additional £150 deduction on council tax bills for relevant taxpayers in receipt of CTR as set out in paragraph 6.7 of this report, using the £159,916 grant received in 2021-22.