Issue - meetings

Councillor A S Fluker raised concerns regarding the budget before Members and the proposal to make investment in capital repairs and renewals, suggesting that in his view investment across the district appeared to be uneven. He further suggested that freezing Council Tax could mean that by the end of the Council’s life a total of £600,000 would have been returned indirectly to local tax payers. Councillor Fluker proposed, contrary to the proposals put forward, that the Council Tax for Maldon District Council be held at the same level as in 2025 / 26 and that to cover the shortfall in the proposed budget £189,000 be taken from the Council’s reserves. This proposal was duly seconded.

The Chairperson advised that this proposal would need to be taken as an amendment to the budget proposal.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor A S Fluker requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded.

The Chairperson then put the proposed amendment in the name of Councillor Fluker and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M F L Durham, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, U G C Siddall-Norman, W Stamp and J C Stilts,

Against the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, J R Burrell-Cook, S Dodsley, J Driver, A Fittock, J C Hughes, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, R Pratt, R H Siddall, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, E L Stephens, N Swindle and M E Thompson.

Abstention: None.

The Chairperson declared that the proposed amendment was therefore not agreed. He then put the recommendations as set out report and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, J R Burrell-Cook, S Dodsley, J Driver, M F L Durham, A Fittock, J C Hughes, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, R Pratt, R H Siddall, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, E L Stephens, N Swindle and M E Thompson.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors A S Fluker, L J Haywood, U G C Siddall-Norman, W Stamp and J C Stilts,

Abstention: None.

The Chairperson advised that this was duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             that Maldon District Council’s Council Tax Requirement for 2026 / 27 is set at £6,521,662;

(ii)        that the Maldon District Council’s Band D Council Tax (excluding Parish precepts) is set at £238.95, reflecting an increase of £6.94 (2.99%), all other bands being determined in accordance with the relevant Sections of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended;

(iii)       that the precept demands and level of Band D Council Tax of the Essex County Council, the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority for both Police and Fire, and the various Parish Councils within the District be determined as set out in the report, all other bands being determined in accordance with the relevant Sections of the Local Government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11