Issue - meetings

To receive a Budget Statement from the Leader of the Council, to consider the following reports of the Director of Resources (copies enclosed) and to determine the level of Council Tax. 

Local Government Finance Act 1992

Members’ attention is drawn to Procedure Rule 13(5) and the requirement for any vote taken at a budget decision meeting to be recorded in the Minutes.

The Council considered the reports of the Director of Resources on the recommendations of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2018 relating to the revenue budget and the proposed level of Council Tax for 2018 / 19.

The Leader of the Council made a Budget speech (attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes).

Councillor D M Sismey, Chairman of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee in seconding the Leaders’ proposition and budget proposals referred to this being another prudent budget with a sub-inflationary increase in council tax and no rise to car parking charges.  He referred to how the Council had provided prudent budgets over several years and attributed this to sensible policies along with the hard work of officers.  Councillor Sismey commented that the 2018 / 19 budget would require hard work and careful management and then commended the budget to the Council.

In response to the Budget Speech, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor B S Beale, thanked the Leader of the Council for providing him with a copy of his speech in advance.  He commented on the future faced by local government and how changes in government shift regarding finances would impact Councils like Maldon and its already dwindling reserves.  Councillor Beale concluded by referring to the need for prudent budgeting which would mean restrictive budgets and the Council had to accept that this budget was not going to be easy.

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that the news headlines today had highlighted how 93% of Local Authorities had to increase Council Tax.  He referred to the huge pressure on local government finances and the increasing demand at all levels on services being provided.  The Leader advised that the Chief Executive and Corporate Leadership Team had been instructed to produce budgets for the next two financial years which would not draw down on reserves.  To facilitate this, the Council would be embarking on a major analysis of how it operates from the ground up in order to achieve savings and where possible maintain services to the public.

At this point Councillor R G Boyce gave notice that he wished to speak on the Capital Programme for 2018 / 19.

To receive a Budget Statement from the Leader of the Council, to consider the following reports of the Director of Resources (copies enclosed) and to determine the level of Council Tax. 

The Council considered the reports of the Interim Director of Resources on the recommendations of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee at its meeting on 31 January 2017 relating to the revenue budget and the proposed level of Council Tax for 2017 / 18.

The Leader of the Council made a Budget speech (attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes).

Councillor D M Sismey, Chairman of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee referred to the need for Central Government to reduce its costs and how the Council had made significant reductions to the back office whilst maintaining front office services.  He commented on the Councils prudent financial management and the hard work of Officers.  Councillor Sismey then commended the budget to the Council.

In response to the Budget Speech, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor B S Beale, thanked the Leader of the Council for providing him with a copy of her speech in advance.  He referred to a number of areas including:

·                 Budget – He commented on the need for more from less, the importance of concentrating on those matters which the Council could influence and the reduction in Government support. 

·                 Promoting businesses – Councillor Beale referred to the importance of promoting businesses into the District and how Members should assist Officers with this.

·                 Referring specifically to contracts and their implications he advised that better control was required along with better understanding.

·                 He felt that the current paperless arrangements for meetings needed to be reconsidered, particularly for meetings of the Council.

·                 Councillor Beale asked the Leader of the Council what protection the Council had against cyber-attack and if she felt that waste service operatives were doing a good job, making particular reference to damage to waste containers and the image this portrayed of the Council.

Councillor Beale concluded by referring to the Council’s staff and their importance to the work of the Council.

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that she did feel waste service operatives were doing a good job and referred to the changes brought in by the new contract and how she had not received any complaints regarding it, nor any reports of poor service.

The Interim Director of Resources advised Members that the Budget for 2017 / 18 included figures put out by Government as the provisional finance settlement for 2017 / 18 stage.  The Council was waiting for finalisation of these figures which was expected to be received around 20 February.  The Director explained it was expected that any change would be marginal as the Council was tied into a four year finance settlement by the Government.  On that basis, the impact of any change would be seen in the Council’s reserves and would not affect the bottom line of the budget.  Members were advised that the final settlement amount would be reported to the next meeting of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

In response to the Leaders’ speech some Members offered further comment on the budget proposals to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 992