Agenda item

To approve the Council’s Final General Fund and Capital Budgets for 2022/23, projected 2021/22 General Fund and Capital Budgets, and final proposals for the 2022/23 Council Tax and Council Tax Support Scheme.

 

[Note:  Approval of the Council Tax Resolution set out in Appendix F is subject to confirmation of the precept figures for Hertfordshire County Council, which won’t be available until after the County Council has met to determine this on 22 February 2022.]

The Leader presented the proposed 2022/2023 Budget, projected 2022/23 General Fund Budget and final proposals for the 2022/23 Council Tax and Council Tax Support Scheme.  The Leader moved the Motion, recommendations of the Executive and the formal Council Tax Resolution that had been circulated to Members.  This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd, Deputy Leader.

 

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 2021/22 amounting to £11,680,510 and the revenue estimates for 2022/23 amounting to £11,151,760;

 

b.           the contribution from balances totalling £1,458,912 in 2021/22;

 

c.            the contribution from balances totalling £1,055,629 in 2022/23.

 

2.            That it be noted that at its meeting on 19 January 2022 the Executive calculated the amount of 28,003.7 Band D equivalent properties as its council tax base for the year 2022/23 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 2022/23 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.	£82,635,061	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.	£76,318,266	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.	£6,316,795	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.	£225.57	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	£  150.38
	B	£  175.44
	C	£  200.51
	D	£  225.57
	E	£  275.70
	F	£  325.82
	G	£  375.95
	H	£  451.14

 

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 2022/23 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                        2022/23

             Of Council Tax          Care Charge                Council Tax

 

A                      £ 899.09                  £ 120.45                   £ 1,019.54

 

B                   £ 1,048.93                  £ 140.53                   £ 1,189.46

 

C                   £ 1,198.78                  £ 160.60                   £ 1,359.38

 

D                   £ 1,348.63                  £ 180.68                   £ 1,529.31

 

E                   £ 1,648.33                  £ 220.83                   £ 1,869.16

 

F                   £ 1,948.02                  £ 260.98                   £ 2,209.00

 

G                   £ 2,247.72                  £ 301.13                   £ 2,548.85

 

H                   £ 2,697.26                  £ 361.36                   £ 3,058.62

 

 

b.             That it be noted that for the year 2022/23 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                     £ 148.67

 

B                     £ 173.44

 

C                     £ 198.22

 

D                     £ 223.00

 

E                     £ 272.56

 

F                      £ 322.11

 

G                     £ 371.67

 

H                     £ 446.00

 

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 2022/23 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands

 

A                      £1,318.59

 

B                      £1,538.34

 

C                     £1,758.11

 

D                     £1,977.88

 

E                      £2,417.42

 

F                      £2,856.93

 

G                     £3,296.47

 

H                     £3,955.76

 

 

6.            To determine in accordance with Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992 that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2022/23 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.

7.            That Members note the inclusion of the 2022/23 Fees and Charges of £341,780 (Appendix B to the report) in the draft 2022/23 budget.

8.            That the updated position on the General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), summarised in section 4.13 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report be noted.

9.            That the minimum level of General Fund reserves of £3,471,038 in line with the 2022/23 risk assessment of balances, as shown at Appendix C to of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report be approved.

10.         That the contingency sum of £400,000 within which the Executive can approve supplementary estimates, be approved for 2022/23, (reflecting the level of balances available above the minimum amount).

11.         That the Making Your Money Count (MYMC) options as set out in section 4.2 and Appendix A, of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report totalling £780,945 and £39,370 for the General Fund and HRA respectively for 2022/23 be approved.

12.         That the Growth options included in section 4.3 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report are approved for inclusion in the 2022/23 General Fund (£120,078) and HRA (£63,360) budgets.

13.         That the General pressures set out in section 4.3 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report be approved.

14.         Members approve a further £300,000 to pump prime Transformation to be included in the Council’s 2022/23 budget setting processes to enable to significantly contribute to the savings targets as set out in section 4.11 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report.

15.            Members approve the identification of a further £500,000 of MYMC options for the June 2022 MTFS report as set out in paragraph 4.11.4 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report.

 

16.            Members approve the use of the business rate gains only once realised  and ring fence the use for firstly the financial resilience of the Council and if required to be transferred to the Income Equalisation Reserve and thereafter, they are used for Regeneration or Co-operative Neighbourhood one off spend.

17.         That the 2022/23 Council Tax Support scheme is approved as set out in section 4.6 to the of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report.

18.         That the comments from Overview and Scrutiny as set out in section 4.19 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report be noted.

19.         That Members note the Equalities Impact Assessments appended to the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report in Appendices D and E.

20.            That the work of the Leader’s Financial Security Group (LFSG) in reviewing the efficiency, commercial and fees and charges as outlined in section 4.17 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report  be noted.

 

21.            That key partners and other stakeholders be consulted and their views considered as part of the 2022/23 General Fund budget setting process.

 

22.            That in accordance with the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, the Council be recommended to continue with the current Co-operative Corporate Plan, subject to further review in Autumn 2023, (paragraph 4.18.5-4.18.7 refers in the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report).

23.         That final General Fund Capital Growth Bids for 2022/23 as detailed in Appendix A (and incorporated into Appendix C) to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 be approved.

24.         That the revisions to the 2021/22 General Fund budget as incorporated into Appendix C to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report be approved.

25.         That the Final 2022/23 General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix C to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 be approved, together with the recommended resourcing.

26.         That the CFO brings a report forward during the 2022/23 financial year setting out the Council’s key capital regeneration and community asset ambitions and key land and asset disposals, not currently in the capital strategy to determine a funding strategy to meet these Corporate priorities.

27.         That the Final HRA budget requests for 2022/23 as detailed in Appendix B (and incorporated into Appendix D) to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report as approved at the 26 January Council be noted.

28.         That the Final 2022/23 HRA Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix D to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report be approved.

29.         That the updated forecast of resources 2022/23 as detailed inAppendix C (General Fund) and Appendix D (HRA) to the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report be approved.

30.         That the Council’s investment strategy for non-treasury assets as detailed in Appendix E in the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 be approved for consideration by the Executive.

31.         That the funding increase requested for the Bus Interchange scheme as set out in paragraph 4.1.2 of the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 be approved.

32.         That the Executive be given delegated authority to approve all of the On Hold schemes, so that they can go ahead depending on the outcome of the work identified as set out in paragraph 4.3.1 of the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26.

33.         That the 2022/23 de-minimis expenditure limit, as set out in section 4.11 of the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report, be approved.

34.         That the 2022/23 contingency allowances respectively in paragraphs 4.12.1 and 4.12.2 of the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report be approved.

35.         That the Executive delegation set out in paragraph 4.12.3 of the Draft Capital Strategy 2021/22-2025/26 report, allowing Executive to approve increases to the capital programme for grant funded projects, be approved.

*Recorded Vote

 

For – Councillors Myla Arceno, Julie Ashley-Wren, Sandra Barr, Stephen Booth, Lloyd Briscoe, Rob Broom, Adrian Brown, Matt Creasey, Michael Downing, John Gardner, Liz Harrington, Richard Henry, Jackie Hollywell, Mrs Joan Lloyd, Lin Martin-Haugh, Andy McGuinness, Sarah Mead, Robin Parker, Claire Parris, Loraine Rossati, Graham Snell, Simon Speller, Sharon Taylor, Jeanette Thomas and Tom Wren - 25

 

Against – Councillors Phil Bibby, John Duncan, Alex Farquharson, Jody Hanafin, Chris Howells, Graham Lawrence, Nick Leech, Adam Mitchell and Margaret Notley - 9

 

Abstentions – 0

 

Not present – Councillors Doug Bainbridge, Teresa Callaghan, Lizzy Kelly, Wendy Kerby and Maureen McKay.