Issue - meetings

Councillor B Mickelburgh, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources to present in relation to parking charges.

(In the event Cabinet decide to implement the budget proposal for the charge increase, this item will be withdrawn as there will be no decision to take from Council).

Prior to the introduction of the report, the Council’s Section 151 Officer who clarified the reasons for the inclusion of the report for consideration by Council. Following a question from Councillor Davenport-Ray, the Council were advised that through management of the Council’s budget and finances, delegations were available to the Section 151 Officer to maintain a balanced budget through the management and performance of all services, it would not be prudent to advise to use reserves funding to cover a deficit which doesn’t exist, furthermore the Officer assured the Chamber that the decision on the matter taken by Cabinet wouldn’t put financial pressures on the operation of the Council or its Services.

In response to a question from Councillor Martin, the Section 151 Officer advised that through prudent financial management she would not be supporting the decision, however she also noted that the use of reserves was not required at the present time. It was further noted that a budget surplus reserve had been built up over time and set aside to support eventualities which arose in year and it would be normal practice to use this to meet any deficit that may arise.

It was clarified to the Chamber by the Section 151 Officer, in response to a question from Councillor Hodgson-Jones, that there was sufficient in year funds could accommodate the deficit and that there was no requirement to use reserves or a transfer of reserves for this matter.

Following a question from Councillor J A Gray, the Section 151 Officer advised that the Medium Term Financial Strategy would be updated and presented to the Council again in February 2026 alongside the new budget for 2026/27.

Following which, the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, Councillor B A Mickelburgh presented the Parking Charges – Implementation of Increase (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to the Chamber.

Upon opening the debate to the floor, and following an observation from Councillor A Jennings in relation to the recommendations, the Council were advised that the first recommendation was to note. Following which Councillor Jennings moved the amended proposed by the Conservative Group and published within the agenda. In supporting the proposed amendment, Councillor Jennings addressed the Chamber and advised he felt that this was about accountability and the management of public funds. He observed that following an earlier issue with planning charges, it had been agreed that further variations would be considered by a wider group of Councillors to include shadow portfolio holders to ensure transparency and cross party confidence. He noted that this process had not be applied in this case. He expressed further concern that that report  was a significant budget variation which had not been properly debated nor did he feel that a sufficient agreement for how to address the resulting budget gap had been reached. He advised that the proposed amendment  asked for a full and transparent cost analysis of the decision, including how the shortfall would be funded and be brought through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55