Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Date:
27 Feb 2013
Time:
7pm
Venue:
Council Chamber
Contact:
Jackie Cansick
Tel:
01438 242216
Email:
committees@stevenage.gov.uk
Members:
All 39 Councillors

Agenda

Printer-friendly Agenda

Summary of Decisions

PART I

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

2. MINUTES - 5 DECEMBER 2012
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Wednesday, 5 December 2012.
Minutes attached

3. MINUTES - 10 DECEMBER 2012
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on Monday, 10 December 2012.
Minutes attached

4. MINUTES - 23 JANUARY 2013
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on Wednesday, 23 January 2013.
Minutes attached

5. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS
To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before Council.

6. MAIN DEBATE - 2013/2014 COUNCIL TAX AND GENERAL FUND AND CAPITAL BUDGETS
The Main Debate concerns the setting of the 2013/2014 Council Tax and the General Fund and Capital Budgets.

The Executive, at its meeting on 12 February 2013 considered two reports - General Fund Budget 2013/2014 and 2013/2014 Five Year Capital Strategy Update. These reports are attached as items 6A and 6B respectively. The recommendations to Council from the Executive are set out below -

General Fund Budget 2013/3014 - Report 6A

  1. That the Budget summarised at Appendix A to the report, be the Council's General Fund Budget for 2012/13 and 2013/14. A further update on the 2012/13 budgets will be given at the March Executive as part of the quarterly monitoring process.
  2. That approval be given to a General Fund Net Budget Requirement for 2013/14 of £10,155,822 a contribution to balances of £8,230* and a Band D Council Tax of £188.52 (assuming a council tax freeze), as reflected in the draft Council Tax Resolution at Appendix B to the report.
  3. That approval be given to a General Fund Revenue Account Contingency Sum in the Budget and Policy Framework for 2013/14 of £400,000.
  4. That the advice of the Strategic Director (Resources) on the robustness of the draft budget and the adequacy of reserves
    (Appendix C) be noted.
  5. That the Fees and Charges increases (Appendix F) be noted.
  6. That the contribution from the Collection Fund for 2013/14 of £27,393 be noted.
  7. That it be noted that the General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy remains largely unchanged from that reported to the meeting of the Executive held on 15 January 2013 and continues to meet the financial objectives set by the Chief Finance Officer.

*NOTE: The final Government Settlement for the Rate Support Grant and retained Business Rates has reduced by £272.00, therefore the contribution to Balances, originally reported to Executive has been reduced from £8,502 to £8,230.

2013/2014 Five Year Capital Strategy Update - Report 6B

  1. That the revised 2012/13 and the final 2013/14 General Fund capital programme as detailed in Appendix A* of the report be approved.
  2. That the draft 2013/14 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme as detailed in Appendix A* of the report be approved
  3. That Council be recommended to approve the updated forecast of resources as summarised in Appendix A* of the report.
  4. That the ongoing work of the Corporate Capital Review Group  (CCRG), Leader's  Services Priority Group and Challenge Board, on the 5 year Capital Strategy be noted.

*NOTE: The Appendix A circulated for Council is revised from that considered by the Executive in order to align with final HRA Budget & business plan.
 
Report attached (Item 6A)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Appendix I
Appendix J

Report attached (Item 6B)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C

7. PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS
None received.

8. QUESTIONS FROM THE YOUTH COUNCIL
None received.

9. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
The following question was received from Mr Mark Pickersgill -

'Increases in rent for council tenants and the cutting of council tax benefits for some people are about to be implemented by this Council, how are those people effected by these measures going to be able to afford the higher costs ?'
 
NOTE: As this question relates to the Main Debate Chief Executive has indicated that it should be considered in conjunction with item 6 above.

10. LEADER OF THE COUNCIL'S UPDATE
In accordance with Standing Order 14, the Leader of the Opposition shall be given the opportunity to raise one matter relevant to the Borough that has arisen since the last meeting of the Council.
 
The Leader of the Council shall then have the opportunity to advise the Council of matters relevant to the Borough that have arisen since the last meeting.

11. NOTICE OF MOTIONS
None received.

12. QUESTIONS TO COMMITTEE CHAIRS/EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
None received.

13. MATTER REFERRED FROM EXECUTIVE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE - PRUDENTIAL CODE INDICATORS AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2013/2014

The report attached as item 13 was considered by both the Audit Committee and the Executive at their respective meetings on 4 and 12 February 2013. Both bodies agreed the following recommendations to Council -

  1. That the 2013/14 Treasury Management Strategy as detailed in Appendix A to the report be adopted.
  2. That the Prudential Code Indicators as detailed in Appendix A, attachment six, be adopted
  3. That the modification to the use of money market funds, as detailed in paragraph 4.2.3 and Appendix A, attachment three for specified investments be approved.
  4. That the modification to the limit on investments of greater than 364 days, as detailed in paragraph 4.2.3, and Appendix A attachment six, and attachment three, be approved.
  5. That the modification to the variable investment limit, as detailed in paragraph 4.2.3 and Appendix A, attachment six, be approved.

Report attached
Appendix A
Appendix A Attachment 1
Appendix A Attachment 2
Appendix A Attachment 3
Appendix A Attachment 4
Appendix A Attachment 5
Appendix A Attachment 6

14. OFFICER REPORT - MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME 2013-2014
To consider the attached report recommending approval of a Members' Allowances Scheme for 2013/2014.
Report attached
Appendix A

15. PAY POLICY STATEMENT
To consider the attached report concerning the Council's pay policy statement for the financial year 2013/14 in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.
Report & Appendix attached

16. MINUTES - AUDIT COMMITTEE - 4 DECEMBER 2012 AND 4 FEBRUARY 2013
To note the Minutes of the Audit Committee meetings held on 4 December 2012 and 4 February 2013.
Minutes attached - 4 December 2012
Minutes attached - 4 February 2013

Published:
19 February 2013