Issue - meetings

Councillor I C Bates, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 15th December 2005, 12th January, 2nd and 10th February 2006.

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In connection with Item Nos. 88 and 89 it was noted that the recommendations had previously been considered under Minute No. 60 ante.

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Upon being put to the vote, the recommendation contained in Item No. 90 was declared to be CARRIED.

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In connection with Item No. 91, the Council deferred consideration of the recommendations contained therein to the penultimate item of business at the meeting.

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In connection with Item No. 98 and in response to a question from Councillor R Powell regarding the loss of car parking spaces as a result of the proposed redevelopment of the Grand Cinema in Ramsey and the potential use of a site in Mews Close as an alternative, the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, Councillor N J Guyatt, replied that the future of the Grand Cinema site would be influenced by the outcome of consultation on the development brief but that given recent proliferation of car parking in Ramsey it might be necessary to consider the re-introduction of car parking charges and the enforcement of parking restrictions in the town as part of a proposed review of the car parking strategy.

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(Councillors M G Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, P L E Bucknell and J E Garner declared a personal interest in the following item by virtue of their appointment as District Council representatives on the Board of Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership).

In connection with Item No. 99 and in response to a question from Councillor J J Dutton, the Executive Councillor for Housing and Public Health, Councillor Mrs D C Reynolds confirmed that funds accrued from the sale of land at Oxmoor for development and via any associated Section 106 Agreement would continue to be targeted towards projects to regenerate the Oxmoor area.

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In connection with Item No. 102 and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes, the Executive Councillor for Finance, Councillor T V Rogers undertook to respond to the questioner, in writing, regarding the duties and responsibilities of the Member Champion for risk management.

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In connection with Item No. 103 and in response to a question from Councillor J J Dutton regarding the responsibilities of the District Council in monitoring the completion of development at Oxmoor by Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership, the Leader, Councillor I C Bates indicated that the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy.  Councillor N J Guyatt and the Director of Operational Services would be investigating the matter.

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In connection with Item No. 106 and in response to questions from Councillor D A Giles, regarding the relocation of the public conveniences at South Street, St. Neots, the Executive Councillor for Environment and Transport, Councillor Mrs P J Longford replied that an alternative site had yet to be secured and that she would respond, in writing, to the questioner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63

The Council is requested to consider the Cabinet's recommendations relating to the Financial Strategy, Medium Term Plan for 2007/11, the 2006/07 Budget, related Prudential Indicators and the Treasury Management Strategy (see also Item Nos. 88 and 89 of the Report of the meeting of the Cabinet).  Report by the Head of Financial Services enclosed.

In conjunction with a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) and Item Nos. 88 and 89 of the Report of the Cabinet, the Executive Councillor for Finance, Councillor T V Rogers addressed the Council on the Financial Strategy, Medium Term Plan for 2007 – 2011, the 2006/2007 budget and related prudential indicators contained in the Treasury Management strategy. 

Members were reminded of the decisions they had taken previously which had resulted in an increase in Council Tax of £12 for a Band D property in 2006/07 and which had led to the Government subsequently capping the Council’s budget.  By reference to Appendix A to the Report of the Cabinet, the Council were further advised of the adjustments required to the approved MTP to take account of inflation, interest rates and level of government financial support.  Councillor Rogers also welcomed the Government’s new initiative to forecast settlements over a three years period in view of the greater certainty that should arise in financial planning.

Having drawn attention to the significant variations to the MTP following its review, the target set for efficiency savings and the Government’s likely approach to capping, Councillor Rogers outlined two options for future Council Tax increases.  Turning specifically to the recommendations of the Cabinet, Councillor Rogers explained the reasons for the option preferred, which also had been supported by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and the business community.  This assumed a Council Tax increase of 5% each year and would necessitate a mixture of efficiency improvements, a review of existing services and developments already included in the MTP which would be subject to review annually in the light of Government guidance.  In commending the budget to the Council, Councillor Rogers advised of several late adjustments and these included proposals for improvements to public conveniences in the District and expenditure in connection with the Headquarters and Other Accommodation Project.  He also explained the reasons for the submission of a revised prudential code and Treasury Management Strategy. 

In response, Councillor P J Downes on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group moved and it was duly seconded, that -

in the second bullet point in paragraph 7 of the report of the Head of Financial Services the letter “s” be added to the word “approve" in the first line and in the second line, after the word “attached”, the words “but instructs the Executive Councillor for Finance to bring forward to full Council before the end of March, 2006 detailed proposals for the (presently) unspecified reduction in expenditure” be inserted.

In support of his motion, Councillor Downes suggested that the Council should not approve the budget without details of where savings could be made to achieve the shortfall predicted.

In ensuing discussion, the Leader, Councillor I C Bates reminded the Council that this issue had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) and that a report thereon would be submitted to their next meeting.  On  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on the draft budget and 2007-2011 Medium Term Plan and to determine final recommendations to the Council on the level of Council Tax in 2006/7.

Subject to appropriate adjustments to Annexes B and C to reflect the potential requirement for additional compensatory savings/budget reductions as may be determined by the Council at its meeting on 22^nd February 2006, Members be recommended to approve the spending proposals summarised in Annex C, the proposed budget and Medium Term Plan as annexed to the report, a Council Tax level of £104.69 for a Band D property for 2006/07, the indicative levels for 2007/08 onwards as detailed in paragraph 6.9 of the report and the prudential indicators at Annex E . 

Further to Minute No.05/106 by way of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with a number of variations to assumptions made previously for the purpose of preparing the draft financial strategy, Medium Term Plan (MTP), the budget and associated level of Council Tax for 2006/07.

Having been acquainted with the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels on this matter and the outcome of consultation with the business community on expenditure proposals, the Cabinet

RECOMMENDED

(a)  that the financial strategy summarised in Annex C to the report now submitted be approved;

(b)  that, subject to appropriate adjustments to Annexes B and C to reflect the potential requirement for additional compensatory savings/budget reductions as may be determined by Council at its meeting on 22^nd February 2006,  the proposed budget and Medium Term Plan as annexed to the report now submitted be approved;

(c)  that a Council Tax increase of 4.99%, representing a level of £104.69 for a Band D property be approved; and

(d)  that the prudential indicators at Annex E to the report now submitted be approved.