Decision - MAIN DEBATE - 2020/21 COUNCIL TAX AND GENERAL FUND AND CAPITAL BUDGETS

Decision details

MAIN DEBATE - 2020/21 COUNCIL TAX AND GENERAL FUND AND CAPITAL BUDGETS

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

The Main Debate related to item 4 on the agenda.

 

The Leader then presented the 2020/2021 Budget, projected 2019/20 General Fund Budget and final proposals for the 2020/21 Council Tax and Council Tax Support Scheme.  The Leader moved the Motion, recommendations of the Executive and the formal Council Tax Resolution that was circulated around the Chamber.

 

Council agreed to an additional recommendation that officers report back on the feasibility and implications of allowing members to roll forward, within limits, their Local Community Budgets at the financial year end.

 

After a full debate, a recorded vote* was taken and it was RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the following be approved:

 

a.         the revised working revenue estimates for the year 2019/20 amounting to £9,678,680 and the revenue estimates for 2020/21 amounting to £9,069,830;

 

b.         the contribution from balances totalling £924,606 in 2019/20;

 

c.         the contribution from balances totalling £349,030 in 2020/21.

 

2.         That it be noted that at its meeting on 22 January 2020 the Executive calculated the amount of 27,780.7 Band D equivalent properties as its council tax base for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by Section 74 of the Localism Act 2011.

 

3.         That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as  amended by Section 74 of the Localism Act 2011:

 

a.         £82,599,746  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, less the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d)

 

b.         £76,611,145  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.

 

c.         £5,988,601    Being the amount by which the aggregate at 3a above exceeds the aggregate at 3b above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

 

d.         £215.57          Being the amount at 3c divided by the amount at 2 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

 

e.         Valuation Bands     

 

            A         £  143.71

            B         £  167.67

            C         £  191.62

            D         £  215.57

            E         £  263.47

            F          £  311.38

            G         £  359.28

            H         £  431.14

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 3d. 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 D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) 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.

 

4.   a.   That it be noted that for the year 2020/21 Hertfordshire County Council 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 the dwellings shown below:

 

            Valuation Bands

 

            Basic Amount           Adult Social  2020/21

            Of Council Tax         Care Charge Council Tax

 

A         £ 860.82         £ 81.98           £ 942.80

 

B         £ 1,004.26     £ 95.67           £ 1,099.93

 

C         £ 1,147.75     £ 109.32         £ 1,257.07

 

D         £ 1,291.21     £ 122.99         £ 1,414.20

 

E         £ 1,578.16     £ 150.31         £ 1,728.47

 

F          £ 1,865.07     £ 177.66         £ 2,042.73

 

G         £ 2,152.03     £ 204.97         £ 2,357.00

 

H         £ 2,582.42     £ 245.98         £ 2,828.40

 

?b.     That it be noted that for the year 2020/21 Hertfordshire Police Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and amended by Section 27 of the Police and Magistrates’ Court Act 1994, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands

 

            A                     £ 132.00

 

B                     £ 154.00

 

C                     £ 176.00

 

D                     £ 198.00

 

E                     £ 242.00

 

F                      £ 286.00

 

G                     £ 330.00

 

H                     £ 396.00

 

5.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 3e. and 4a. and b. above, the Council in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts for council tax for the year 2020/21 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands

 

A                     £1,218.51

 

B                     £1,421.60

 

C                     £1,624.69

 

D                     £1,827.77

 

E                     £2,233.94

 

F                      £2,640.11

 

G                     £3,046.28

 

H                     £3,655.54

 

6.         That in accordance with Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992 it be determined that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2020/21 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved by the Secretary of State under Section 52ZC having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 3e above.

 

7.         That the updated position on the General Fund and the Risk Assessment of General Fund balances, be approved.

 

8.         That a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £2,920,935, in line with the 2020/21 risk assessment of balances be approved. 

 

9.         That the contingency sum of £400,000 within which the Executive can approve supplementary estimates, be approved for 2020/21, (unchanged from 2019/20).

 

10.       That the 2020/21 proposed Financial Security Options of £846,964 and including fees and charges of £117,490 be included in the final budget.

 

11.       That the 2020/21 proposed Growth bids and pressures of £653,220 be approved 

 

12.       That 2020/21 business rate gains totalling £1.14Million above the baseline need be allocated as set out in paragraph 4.6.7 of report 4A.

 

13.       That the 2020/21 Council Tax Support scheme is approved as set out in section 4.8 of report 4A.

 

14.       That New Homes Bonus of £30,380 be transferred to the reserve to fund future potential shortfalls in funding.

 

15.       That the advice of the Assistant Director (Finance and Estates) on the robustness of the draft budget and the adequacy of reserves as set out in Appendix D of report 4A, be noted.

 

16.       That the comments from Overview and Scrutiny be noted.

 

17.       That the final 2020/21 General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix C of report 4B be approved.

 

18.       That the final 2020/21 HRA Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix D of report 4B be approved.

 

19.       That the updated forecast of resources as detailed in Appendix C (General Fund) and Appendix D (HRA) to report 4B be approved.

 

20.       That the Council’s investment strategy for non-treasury assets as shown at section 3.2 of report 4B be approved.

 

21.       That the approach to resourcing the General Fund capital programme as outlined in report 4B be approved.

 

22.       That the actions required to ensure the General Fund programme is funded as outlined in paragraphs 4.9.3-4.9.8 of report 4B be noted.

 

23.       That the approach and progress on Local Asset Reviews be noted together with the target to realise receipts for 2020/21.

 

24.       That the growth bids now included in the Capital Strategy (Appendix A to report 4B) be approved.

 

25.       That the return of Right to Buy one for one receipts as outlined in section 4.14 of report 4B be noted.

 

26.       That the 2020/21 de-minimis expenditure limit as set out in section 4.15 of report 4B be approved.

 

27.       That the 2020/21 contingency allowances as set out in section 4.16 of report 4B be approved.

 

28.       That the work undertaken by LFSG on behalf of the Executive in reviewing and challenging the General Fund Capital Strategy be noted.

 

29.       That officers report back on the feasibility and implications of allowing members to roll forward, within limits, their Local Community Budgets at the financial year end.

 

*Details of the recorded vote will be published in the Minutes of the meeting.

Publication date: 26/02/2020

Date of decision: 26/02/2020

Decided at meeting: 26/02/2020 - Council

Accompanying Documents: