Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council, the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

Councillor Jonathan Chowen, Leader of the Council, asked Councillors to join him in writing to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and the district’s MPs lobbying for all restrictions on Ukrainian refugees entering the UK to be lifted, in line with the EU, so that sanctuary can be offered in these desperate times.  This message would also be forwarded to the Ukrainian Embassy. The Chairman confirmed that he would be a signatory to the letter.  Councillors were supportive of this proposal.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance

Councillor Tony Hogben, Cabinet Member for Finance & Parking, introduced the report that set out the reason why the Council’s recently approved 2022-23 Council Tax Reduction Scheme required amending.

As a consequence of the £150 Energy Bill Rebate Scheme, the government had introduced amended regulations on 12 February requiring local Council Tax support schemes to disregard Energy Bills Rebate payments received by applicants.   

The Cabinet Member therefore sought approval of an amendment to the Scheme that Council had approved on 9 February.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Tim Lloyd. 

Councillor Tony Bevis, Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny, asked the Council to take every opportunity to highlight the potential for scams that may arise from rebates for people who do not pay their Council Tax by direct debit.

RESOLVED

To approve the amendment to the 2022-23 Council Tax Reduction Scheme so that from 1 April 2022, Energy Bills Rebate payments received by applicants are disregarded.

REASON

To comply with the Regulations.

To receive the report of the Chief Executive

Jane Eaton, acting Chief Executive, advised that it was necessary for Council to reaffirm the Council Tax precepts set by West Sussex County Council.

The Council Tax precepts approved by HDC on 9 February included those from the County Council.  Their rates had been formally approved at their Council meeting on 28 February, a meeting which had been postponed from earlier that month. 

The previous report, which had been considered on 9 February, included details of District-wide Council Tax for 2022/23 and all details within that report remained as published. 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the voting in respect of the motion was recorded and was as follows:

FOR THE MOTION:  Andrew Baldwin, Tony Bevis, John Blackall, Martin Boffey, Toni Bradnum, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, Jonathan Chowen, Paul Clarke, Billy Greening, Tony Hogben, Lynn Lambert, Richard Landeryou, Tim Lloyd, Christian Mitchell, Sam Raby, David Skipp, Ian Stannard, Diana van der Klugt, Claire Vickers, Tricia Youtan

AGAINST THE MOTION:  None

ABSTAINED:  Ruth Fletcher, Gordon Lindsay, John Milne, Louise Potter, Belinda Walters

ABSENT:  Matthew Allen, Alan Britten, Chris Brown, Philip Circus, Christin Costin, Mike Croker, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Nigel Jupp, Liz Kitchen, Colin Minto, Mike Morgan, Roger Noel, Jon Olson, Bob Platt, Josh Potts, Stuart Ritchie, Kate Rowbottom, Jack Saheid, James Wright

The Motion was therefore declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED

To reaffirm approval of the Council Tax resolution 2022/2023 as shown in report to Full Council of the 9 February 2022 now that the County’s Council precept has been formally approved and issued.

REASON

To meet the Council’s statutory requirement to set a Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.