Agenda item

To receive the recommendations from the meeting of Cabinet held on 27 January and, if approved, to adopt the recommendations therein:

 

(a)     The 2022/23 Budget and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy to 2025/26 (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance is available at:  Agenda item 6

 

(b)     2022/23 Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance is available at:  Agenda item 7

 

(c)     2022/23 Discretionary Rate Relief Scheme (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance is available at:  Agenda item 8

 

(d)     Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement (report of the Cabinet Member for Community Matters is available at: Agenda item 12

6 (a)  The 2022/23 Budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2025/26

 

Councillor Tony Hogben, Cabinet Member for Finance & Parking, introduced the annual Budget and outlined details of the report as presented to Cabinet (Minute No. EX/59 (27.01.22) refers). He set out the key points of the budget including: the budget requirement for 2022/23; the proposed Council Tax increase of 2.9% (9p a week for Band D properties); the £10m capital programme; and £1m towards the Council’s green agenda; and the Council’s financial position 2023/24 and beyond.

 

Councillor Hogben stated that the three additional recommendations, set out in the published addendum to the report, proposed that working age residents claiming Council Tax Reduction support would continue to benefit from this relief in 2022/23.  A budget of £120,000 to enable this would be required.  It was noted that this would reduce the budgeted surplus. 

 

These additional recommendations became recommendations (xi) to (xiii) of the substantive motion (as allowed by 4a.28g of the Constitution).

 

Councillor Louise Potter, Leader of the Opposition, broadly welcomed the budget.  She considered it to include good initiatives, but needed to go further and faster both on tackling environmental issues and on helping those in need of financial support or living in temporary accommodation. 

 

Councillor Potter moved that the recommendations regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (recommendation (xi) to (xii) of the substantive motion) be amended so that: 

 

(xi):  The discretionary discount of ‘up to £150.00’ be amended to ‘up to £210.00’ and the phrase ‘within the confines of the overall budget of the scheme.’ be added.

 

(xii) and (xiii):  the sum of £120,000 be amended to £300,000.

 

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Martin Boffey. 

 

Following debate, the amendment was put.

 

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:  Matthew Allen, Tony Bevis, Martin Boffey, Mike Croker, Ruth Fletcher, John Milne, Colin Minto, Jon Olson, Bob Platt, Louise Potter, Sam Raby, Belinda Walters

 

AGAINST THE MOTION:  Andrew Baldwin, John Blackall, Toni Bradnum, Chris Brown, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, Paul Clarke, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Billy Greening, Tony Hogben, Nigel Jupp, Liz Kitchen, Lynn Lambert, Richard Landeryou, Gordon Lindsay, Christian Mitchell, Mike Morgan, Roger Noel, Josh Potts, Stuart Ritchie, Kate Rowbottom, Jack Saheid, Ian Stannard, Diana van der Klugt, Claire Vickers, James Wright, Tricia Youtan

 

ABSTAINED:  Billy Greening, David Skipp,

 

ABSENT:  Alan Britten, Jonathan Chowen, Philip Circus, Christin Costin,

Tim Lloyd

 

The Motion was therefore declared LOST. 

 

Councillor Hogben proposed that the Leader, Chief Executive or himself as Cabinet Member should write to WSCC to ask them to review their Council Tax Reduction Scheme with a view to extending it to help clear all residual Council Tax amounts for band C and band D Council Tax payers on Council Tax Support. He considered that HDC were in a position to pay their share should this be successful. 

 

He stated that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023/24 would be reviewed as part of the annual review in June.  

 

He also proposed that an additional recommendation (xiv) be added to the recommendations: 

 

‘To delegate to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Parking the ability to expand the scheme beyond £150.00 to working age claimants should there be headroom in the £120,000 budget with the aim of helping to reduce the residual Council Tax for as many working age claimants as possible.’

 

Councillor Bevis thanked Councillor Hogben for the proposed additional recommendation and seconded the proposal.  There was unanimous agreement that this additional clause be added to the substantive motion. 

 

The amended substantive motion was seconded by Councillor Richard Landeryou. 

 

Following further debate, the substantive motion was put.

 

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, John Blackall, Toni Bradnum, Chris Brown, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, Paul Clarke, Mike Croker, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Billy Greening, Tony Hogben, Nigel Jupp, Liz Kitchen, Lynn Lambert, Richard Landeryou, Gordon Lindsay, Christian Mitchell, Mike Morgan, Roger Noel, Bob Platt, Josh Potts, Stuart Ritchie, Kate Rowbottom, Jack Saheid, Ian Stannard, Diana van der Klugt, Claire Vickers, James Wright, Tricia Youtan

 

AGAINST THE MOTION:  Matthew Allen, Tony Bevis, Martin Boffey, Ruth Fletcher, John Milne, Colin Minto, Jon Olson, Louise Potter, Sam Raby, Belinda Walters

 

ABSTAINED:  David Skipp,

 

ABSENT:  Alan Britten, Jonathan Chowen, Philip Circus, Christin Costin, Tim Lloyd

 

The Motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

 

RESOLVED

 

i)        That the level of Council Tax for 2022/23 increases from £157.52 by £4.57 (2.9%) to £162.09 at Band D.

 

(ii)      That the net revenue budget set out in Appendix A for 2022/23 of £12.188mis approved.

 

(iii)     That Special Expenses of £323,330 set out in Appendix C and a Band D charge of £26.83 are agreed in respect of the unparished area for 2022/23. 

 

(iv)    That the capital programme for 2022/23 set out in Appendix D be approved and that the indicative capital budgets in the programme for future years be noted.

 

(v)     That the projected future budgets on the revenue account in 2023/24 to 2025/26 are noted and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy continues to be reviewed and refined to ensure that decisions are taken to set balanced budgets in these three years.

 

(vi)    That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendix E is approved.

 

(vii)    That the Capital Strategy, Treasury Strategy, Investment Strategy and prudential indicators and limits for 2021/22 to 2024/25 set out in Appendix F are approved.

 

(viii)   To note the statement on the robustness of the level of reserves in Appendix H.

 

(ix)    That the increases to fees and charges set out in Appendix I and I(i) and I(ii) are approved.

 

 (x)    Delegate to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the relevant Cabinet lead temporary changes to fees and charges in the form of offers and incentives during the year, as well as the setting of charges for sports development activities as all offerings are being revised and will take account of variable costs such as facility hire and coaching rates.

 

(xi)    Approve an additional Council tax support discretionary discount of up to £150.00 per household for working age claimants in 2022/23.

 

(xii)     To set up a budget for 2022/23 comprising the County Council’s share of payments and up to £120,000 from the Council, reducing the budgeted surplus.

 

xiii)    Delegate to the Director of Corporate Resources, the finalisation of the exact sums involved during 2022/23 provided they do not exceed the amount of £120,000.

 

xiv)    To delegate to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance & Parking the ability to expand the scheme beyond £150.00 to working age claimants, should there be headroom in the £120,000 budget, with the aim of helping to reduce the residual Council Tax for as many working age claimants as possible.

 

6 (b)  2022/23 Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme

 

The Council’s current CTR scheme provided financial support for those on low incomes to help them afford their Council Tax payments. The scheme was means tested and helped the more vulnerable in society.  There were no proposed changes to the scheme. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Landeryou.

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

To agree to no changes in the Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2022/23.

 

REASON

 

Council Tax Reduction schemes are annual schemes and therefore require an annual review and approval, even when no changes to the scheme are being proposed.  Review work on the scheme showed the scheme remains affordable for Horsham District Council and provides a good level of support to our less well-off residents.

 

6 (c)  2022/23 Discretionary Rate Relief Scheme

 

Horsham District Council provided discretionary rate relief to charities and not-for-profit organisations by reducing their non-domestic rate liability. Councillor Hogben proposed that the current scheme, which was reviewed each year, be amended by extending the charitable rate relief to up to 100% for eligible organisations.  This would bring transparency and clarity to the award process and enable relief recipients to receive additional financial support.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Landeryou.

 

RESOLVED

 

To approve the Discretional Rate Relief scheme for 2022/23 as detailed in the appendix to the Cabinet report.

 

REASON

 

i)        Discretionary rate relief is an annual scheme and therefore require an annual review and approval.

 

ii)       The increase in the level of rate relief to 100% will provide additional support for charitable and not for profit organisations.

 

 

6 (d)  Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

 

Councillor Liz Kitchen, Cabinet Member for Community Matters, stated that to adopt this Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement would reflect how seriously the Council takes this issue and its commitment to tackling modern day slavery in the community and in its supply chain.  The principles set out in the statement were included in the Council’s procurement process. 

 

The publication of such a statement by local authorities was considered best practice and was likely to become a statutory requirement in the future. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Billy Greening.

 

RESOLVED

 

i)        Approve the publication of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Transparency Statement as attached at Appendix A to the Cabinet report.

 

ii)       Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services to approve minor amendments and subsequent annual statements for publication.

 

REASON

 

i)              The adoption and publication of a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement is considered best practice and is likely to become a statutory requirement within the next 12 months.

 

ii)       The approval of the statement shows the commitment of Horsham District Council to tackle modern day slavery in the community and its supply chains, it also supports the principles set out in the Sustainable Procurement Charter which is used within our procurement processes.