Decision details

To set the Council Tax for 2014/15 and to set the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2014/15. The Council is legally required to agree a budget for the forthcoming financial year (an indicative budget for 2014/15 was agreed at the Council meeting held on 28 February 2013). In addition, there is a legal requirement to set the Council Tax for the forthcoming year

Further to Minute No. 99 of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 February 2014, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which identified the required changes to the Medium Term Financial Plan, arising from the non-achievement of specific savings in 2013/14, amendments to resources and anticipated expenditure variations for 2014/15; and requested Members to consider how the short fall of £4.781m would be met from a Council Tax increase, one-off resources and/or new sustainable options.

 

The report indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) at its meeting held on 18 February 2014, had considered and noted a report on the budget position.

 

The report also provided details of the level of fees and charges for 2014/15 which had previously been considered by the appropriate Cabinet Member and approved by the Cabinet.

 

It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher:

 

“That the Council:

 

(1)       notes the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) and thanks them for their attention to this matter;

 

(2)       endorses the revised two year financial plan detailed at Annex A of the report, subject to resolution (3) below:

 

(3)       reduces the savings target from the Strategic Parking Review (referred to in page 97 of the report) from £300k to £100k. This reflects a reassessment of this proposal following the ongoing dialogue with businesses and residents. This shortfall would be met in 2014/15 by the use of the one off resources identified at paragraph 4.2 of the report;

 

(4)       approves a Council Tax increase of 1.99% for Sefton Council services which would generate additional income of £1.941m (paragraph 3.1 of the report refers);

 

(5)       approves a £2.84m contribution from general balances brought forward arising from the 2012/13 Revenue Account surplus (paragraph 4.1 of the report refers);

 

(6)       approves the 2014/15 budget detailed at Annex B of the report, amended to reflect resolutions (3) to (5) above;

 

(7)       notes that resolutions (3) and (5) above contain the use of one off resources and that the ongoing shortfall had already been assumed within the Medium Term Financial Plan; and

 

(8)       notes that the Medium Term Financial Plan is forecasting a further savings requirement of £55m over the period 2015-2017 and that reports on the options available would be presented throughout the year.”

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Hubbard that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following text at the end of resolution (6):

 

“and the reinstatement of the Formby, Crosby and Sefton East Parishes Area Committees (to replace the Central Area Committee) at a cost of £8,000 which would be financed by a reduction of the Special Responsibility Allowances for Cabinet Members and the Planning and Licensing Chairs by 5%, which would create a compensating saving of £8,000.”

 

In accordance with Minute No. 92 above, the voting on the amendment was recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:

 

FOR THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Ashton, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Dawson, Dodd, Lord Fearn, Hands, Hubbard, Keith, S. McGuire, Robertson, Shaw, Tonkiss and Weavers.

 

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Atkinson, Ball, Bennett, Brennan, Byrom, Carr, K.Cluskey, L. Cluskey, Crabtree, Cummins, Cuthbertson, Dorgan, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Dutton, Fairclough, Friel, Gatherer, Hardy, Hartill, Jones, J. Kelly, J. J. Kelly, Kermode, Kerrigan, Killen, Lappin, P.Maguire, Maher, Mahon, McGinnity, McIvor, McKinley, Moncur, Murphy, Page, Papworth, Roberts, Robinson, Roche, Thompson, Tweed, Veidman, Sir Ron Watson and Webster.

 

ABSTENTION

 

The Mayor (Councillor M. Fearn)

 

The Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 45 votes to 15 with 1 abstention.

 

A further amendment was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie - Browne that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following text at the end of resolution (6):

 

“and the provision of revenue funding support to the Aintree, Birkdale and Crosby Carnegie Community Libraries at a cost of £87,000 which would be financed by a reduction of the Special Responsibility Allowances for Cabinet Members and the Planning and Licensing Chairs by 20%, which would create a saving of £32,000 and by a reduction of £55,000 from the Public Relations Budget within the Communications Service.”

 

In accordance with Minute No. 92 above, the voting on the amendment was recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:

 

FOR THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Ashton, Ball, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Crabtree, Dawson, Dodd, Dorgan, Dutton, Lord Fearn, Hands, Hartill, Hubbard, Jones, Keith, S. McGuire, McIvor, Papworth, Robertson, Shaw, Tonkiss, Sir Ron Watson and Weavers.

 

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Atkinson, Bennett, Brennan, Byrom, Carr, K.Cluskey, L. Cluskey,  Cummins, Cuthbertson, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Gatherer, Hardy, J. Kelly, J. J. Kelly, Kermode, Kerrigan, Killen, Lappin, P.Maguire, Maher, Mahon, McGinnity, McKinley, Moncur, Murphy, Page, Roberts, Robinson, Roche, Thompson, Tweed, Veidman and Webster.

 

ABSTENTION

 

The Mayor (Councillor M. Fearn)

 

The Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 36 votes to 24 with 1 abstention.

 

A further amendment was moved by Councillor McGuire, seconded by Councillor Shaw that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following text at the end of resolution (6):

 

“and the provision of revenue funding support to the Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Community Libraries in Southport at a cost of £79,000 which would be financed by a reduction of the Special Responsibility Allowances for Cabinet Members and the Planning and Licensing Chairs by 15%, which would create a saving of £24,000 and by a reduction of £55,000 from the Public Relations Budget within the Communications Service”

 

In accordance with Minute No. 92 above, the voting on the amendment was recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:

 

FOR THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Ashton, Ball, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Crabtree, Dawson, Dodd, Dorgan, Dutton, Lord Fearn, Hands, Hubbard, Jones, Keith, S. McGuire, McIvor, Papworth, Robertson, Shaw, Tonkiss and Weavers.

 

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT:

 

Councillors Atkinson, Bennett, Brennan, Byrom, Carr, K.Cluskey, L. Cluskey,  Cummins, Cuthbertson, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Gatherer, Hardy, J. Kelly, J. J. Kelly, Kermode, Kerrigan, Killen, Lappin, P.Maguire, Maher, Mahon, McGinnity, McKinley, Moncur, Murphy, Page, Roberts, Robinson, Roche, Thompson, Tweed, Veidman and Webster.

 

ABSTENTIONS

 

The Mayor (Councillor M. Fearn) and Councillor Sir Ron Watson.

 

The Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 36 votes to 22 with 2 abstentions.

 

Following further debate, the voting on the Original Motion was recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION:

 

Councillors Atkinson, Bennett, Brennan, Byrom, Carr, K.Cluskey, L. Cluskey,  Cummins, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Gatherer, Hardy, J. Kelly, J. J. Kelly, Kermode, Kerrigan, Killen, Lappin, P.Maguire, Maher, Mahon, McGinnity, McKinley, Moncur, Murphy, Page, Roberts, Robinson, Roche, Thompson, Tweed, Veidman and Webster.

 

AGAINST THE MOTION:

 

Councillors Ashton, Ball, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Crabtree, Cuthbertson, Dawson, Dodd, Dorgan, Dutton, Lord Fearn, Hands, Hartill, Hubbard, Jones, Keith, S. McGuire, McIvor, Papworth, Robertson, Shaw, Tonkiss, Sir Ron Watson and Weavers.

 

ABSTENTION

 

The Mayor (Councillor M. Fearn)

 

The Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 35 votes to 25 with 1 abstention and it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Council:

 

(1)       notes the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) and thanks them for their attention to this matter;

 

(2)       endorses the revised two year financial plan detailed at Annex A of the report, subject to resolution (3) below:

 

(3)       reduces the savings target from the Strategic Parking Review (referred to in page 97 of the report) from £300k to £100k. This reflects a reassessment of this proposal following the ongoing dialogue with businesses and residents. This shortfall would be met in 2014/15 by the use of the one off resources identified at paragraph 4.2 of the report;

 

(4)       approves a Council Tax increase of 1.99% for Sefton Council services which would generate additional income of £1.941m (paragraph 3.1 of the report refers);

 

(5)       approves a £2.84m contribution from general balances brought forward arising from the 2012/13 Revenue Account surplus (paragraph 4.1 of the report refers);

 

(6)       approves the 2014/15 budget detailed at Annex B of the report, amended to reflect resolutions (3) to (5) above;

 

(7)       notes the resolutions (3) and (5) above contain the use of one off resources and that the ongoing shortfall had already been assumed within the Medium Term Financial Plan; and

 

(8)       notes that the Medium Term Financial Plan is forecasting a further savings requirement of £55m over the period 2015-2017 and that reports on the options available would be presented throughout the year.