Issue - meetings

To approve the Council’s Final General Fund Budget 2024/25 and Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2028/29, and final proposals for the 2024/25 Council Tax and Council Tax Support Scheme.

[Note: Approval of the Council Tax Resolution set out in Appendix F to the General Fund report is subject to confirmation of the precept figures for Hertfordshire County Council, which will not be confirmed until after the County Council has met to determine this on 13 February 2024.]

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of the Council, introduced the proposed 2024/2025 General Fund Budget and Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29, together with final proposals for the 2024/25 Council Tax.

Prior to his introduction, Councillor Henry stated that this would be the final Council meeting attended by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Councillor Michael Downing and Councillor Graham Lawrence, all of whom he was aware would not be standing for election on 2 May 2024.  He thanked all three councillors for their contributions over the years, and paid tribute to Baroness Taylor’s tireless work and achievements as his predecessor as Leader of the Council for 16 years.  He then announced that Ian Gourlay (Senior Democratic Services Officer) was attending his last Council meeting prior to his retirement in May 2024.  He thanked Ian for the support he had given to all Members during his time with the Council.

Councillor Henry, in his introduction, referred to the following:

-      the royal visit of King Charles III to the Stevenage Coptic Church in December 2023;

-      the challenges and pressures facing the Council, both financial and in the cost of living;

-      the financial problems faced nationally by local authorities, some of whom had issued Section 114 (bankruptcy) notices;

-      the National Audit Office evidenced 64.5% reduction in the Council’s Core Spending Power since 2010/11;

-      the continuation of the Council’s plans to identify the means to improve its budgeted position by around £1Million of savings each year;

-      the scheme for a re-located Leisure Centre, incorporating wet and dry leisure facilities;

-      the continuation of the Council’s innovative Housing Development Programme;

-      support for the investment in the ever-growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) industries in the Borough, through the groundbreaking Mission 44 initiative, which aimed to support local young people to access career opportunities in these industries.  To help facilitate this ambition, the Stevenage Works Skills Framework had recently been approved by the Executive;

-      the Arts and Culture activities, including the completion of three murals in underpasses, working in conjunction with partners.  A further 22 underpasses were targeted for improvement with 4 lined up for the summer of 2024;

-      again working with partners and local residents and schools, anti-graffiti projects relating to art works on electrical cabinets throughout the town; and

-      a commitment to retaining a theatre in Stevenage.

Councillor Jeannette Thomas, Deputy Leader of the Council, then moved the motion, including the recommendations regarding the General Fund Budget 2024/25 and Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29 and the formal Council Tax Resolution, which had been circulated to Members.

Councillor Thomas highlighted the following points:

-      despite the £1.2Million deficit that was fixed for 2024/25, she was pleased to be able to present a balanced budget, without the need to use balances;

-      this had been achieved in part through the Transformation Programme, which had realised cost savings of £331,000 and also through the Co-operative Commercial & Insourcing Strategy, which had identified income options to secure the Council an additional  ...  view the full decision text for item 3

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of the Council, introduced the proposed 2024/2025 General Fund Budget and Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29, together with final proposals for the 2024/25 Council Tax.

Prior to his introduction, Councillor Henry stated that this would be the final Council meeting attended by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Councillor Michael Downing and Councillor Graham Lawrence, all of whom he was aware would not be standing for election on 2 May 2024.  He thanked all three councillors for their contributions over the years, and paid tribute to Baroness Taylor’s tireless work and achievements as his predecessor as Leader of the Council for 16 years.  He then announced that Ian Gourlay (Senior Democratic Services Officer) was attending his last Council meeting prior to his retirement in May 2024.  He thanked Ian for the support he had given to all Members during his time with the Council.

Councillor Henry, in his introduction, referred to the following:

-      the royal visit of King Charles III to the Stevenage Coptic Church in December 2023;

-      the challenges and pressures facing the Council, both financial and in the cost of living;

-      the financial problems faced nationally by local authorities, some of whom had issued Section 114 (bankruptcy) notices;

-      the National Audit Office evidenced 64.5% reduction in the Council’s Core Spending Power since 2010/11;

-      the continuation of the Council’s plans to identify the means to improve its budgeted position by around £1Million of savings each year;

-      the scheme for a re-located Leisure Centre, incorporating wet and dry leisure facilities;

-      the continuation of the Council’s innovative Housing Development Programme;

-      support for the investment in the ever-growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) industries in the Borough, through the groundbreaking Mission 44 initiative, which aimed to support local young people to access career opportunities in these industries.  To help facilitate this ambition, the Stevenage Works Skills Framework had recently been approved by the Executive;

-      the Arts and Culture activities, including the completion of three murals in underpasses, working in conjunction with partners.  A further 22 underpasses were targeted for improvement with 4 lined up for the summer of 2024;

-      again working with partners and local residents and schools, anti-graffiti projects relating to art works on electrical cabinets throughout the town; and

-      a commitment to retaining a theatre in Stevenage.

Councillor Jeannette Thomas, Deputy Leader of the Council, then moved the motion, including the recommendations regarding the General Fund Budget 2024/25 and Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29 and the formal Council Tax Resolution, which had been circulated to Members.

Councillor Thomas highlighted the following points:

-      despite the £1.2Million deficit that was fixed for 2024/25, she was pleased to be able to present a balanced budget, without the need to use balances;

-      this had been achieved in part through the Transformation Programme, which had realised cost savings of £331,000 and also through the Co-operative Commercial & Insourcing Strategy, which had identified income options to secure the Council an additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3