The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive, which provided an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2010/11 to 2012/13. The report highlighted the emerging spending pressures, the base assumptions used to determine the budget gap for the above period and the current approved capital schemes, which had yet to be contractually committed.
The report had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held earlier that day and a copy of the Cabinet resolution (No. 235) on this issue was circulated prior to the commencement of the Council meeting.
It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:
“That
(1) the amended Budget Gaps for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 be noted;
(2) the assumption for the level of pay award provision be amended to 0.5% in 2010/11 and 1% in the following two years;
(3) the “Other Services Growth” set out in Appendix B of the report be deleted from the Medium Term Financial Plan at this stage;
(4) the provision for unavoidable demand be increased to £6.685m in 2010/11, £4.608m in 2011/12 and £3.851m in 2012/13, as detailed in paragraph 4.1.2 of the report;
(5) the following uncommitted schemes set out in Appendix C of the report be deleted from the Capital Programme:
1. Pine Grove Depot
2. Hawthorne Road Carriageway Maintenance
3. Disaster Recovery Business Continuity
4. Roof Repairs to Libraries
5. Demolition Fund
6. Development Fund
(6) the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services submit a report to the Cabinet on the current position relating to the Southport Commerce Park - Phase 3 scheme referred to in Appendix C of the report. The report to provide details of the outcome of the bid for external funding and the marketing proposals;
(7) the remaining schemes in Appendix C of the report be retained in the Capital Programme;and
(8) the current assumption of a 3% Council Tax increase for 2010/11 be noted and it be considered further in the new year.”
An amendment was then moved by Councillor Hands, seconded by Councillor Shaw that the Motion be amended by:
“the addition of the following uncommitted schemes in resolution (5):
7. Netherton Activity Centre
8. Southport Market Refurbishment”
The requisite number of Members having signified their wish that the voting on the amendment should be recorded in accordance with Rule 18.4 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the voting was duly recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:-
FOR THE MOTION:
Councillors Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Colbert, Connell, Dodd, Lord Fearn, Fenton, Gibson, Hands, Hill, Hough, Larkin, McGuire, C. Mainey, S. Mainey, Preston, D. Rimmer, Robertson, Shaw, Sumner, Tattersall, Tonkiss, and Weavers.
AGAINST THE MOTION:
Councillors Barber, Bradshaw, Brady, Byrom, Cluskey, Cummins, Cutherbertson, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Glover, Griffiths, Gustafson, Ibbs, D. Jones, T. Jones, Kerrigan, Maher, Mahon, Moncur, Parry, Pearson, Roberts, Storey, Tweed, Viedman, Sir Ron Watson and Webster.
ABSTENTION:
Councillor Doran.
The amendment was lost by 29 votes to 24 with one abstention.
A further amendment was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Gustafson that the Motion be amended by:
“The deletion of the Hawthorne Road Carriageway Maintenance Scheme from resolution (5) and its reinstatement into the Capital Programme.”
The requisite number of Members having signified their wish that the voting on the amendment should be recorded in accordance with Rule 18.4 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the voting was duly recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:-
FOR THE MOTION:
Councillors Bradshaw, Brady, Byrom, Cluskey, Cummins, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Gustafson, Kerrigan, Maher, Mahon, Moncur, Tweed, Veidman and Webster.
AGAINST THE MOTION:
Councillors Barber, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Colbert, Connell, Cutherbertson, Dodd, Lord Fearn, Fenton, Gibson, Glover, Griffiths, Hands, Hill, Hough, Ibbs, D. Jones, T. Jones, Larkin, McGuire, C. Mainey, S. Mainey, Parry, Pearson, Preston, D. Rimmer, Roberts, Robertson, Shaw, Storey, Sumner, Tattersall, Tonkiss, Sir Ron Watson and Weavers.
ABSTENTION:
Councillor Doran.
The amendment was lost by 36 votes to 17 with one abstention.
Following further debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Substantive Motion was carried and it was
RESOLVED That:
(1) the amended Budget Gaps for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 be noted;
(2) the assumption for the level of pay award provision be amended to 0.5% in 2010/11 and 1% in the following two years;
(3) the “Other Services Growth” set out in Appendix B of the report be deleted from the Medium Term Financial Plan at this stage;
(4) the provision for unavoidable demand be increased to £6.685m in 2010/11, £4.608m in 2011/12 and £3.851m in 2012/13, as detailed in paragraph 4.1.2 of the report;
(5) the following uncommitted schemes set out in Appendix C of the report be deleted from the Capital Programme:
1. Pine Grove Depot
2. Hawthorne Road Carriageway Maintenance
3. Disaster Recovery Business Continuity
4. Roof Repairs to Libraries
5. Demolition Fund
6. Development Fund;
(6) the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services submit a report to the Cabinet on the current position relating to the Southport Commerce Park - Phase 3 scheme referred to in Appendix C of the report. The report to provide details of the outcome of the bid for external funding and the marketing proposals;
(7) the remaining schemes in Appendix C of the report be retained in the Capital Programme; and
(8) the current assumption of a 3% Council Tax increase for 2010/11 be noted and it be considered further in the new year.
The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2010/11 to 2012/13. The report highlighted the emerging spending pressures, the base assumptions used to determine the budget gap for the above period and the current approved capital schemes which had yet to be contractually committed.
RESOLVED: That
(1) the amended Budget Gaps for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 be noted;
(2) the assumption for the level of pay award provision be amended to 0.5% in 2010/11 and 1% in the following two years;
(3) the "Other Services Growth" set out in Appendix B of the report be deleted from the Medium Term Financial Plan at this stage;
(4) the provision for unavoidable demand be increased to £6.685m in 2010/11, £4.608m in 2011/12 and £3.851m in 2012/13, as detailed in paragraph 4.1.2 of the report;
(5) the following uncommitted schemes set out in Appendix C of the report be deleted from the Capital Programme:
1. Pine Grove Depot
2. Hawthorne Road Carriageway Maintenance
3. Disaster Recovery Business Continuity
4. Roof Repairs to Libraries
5. Demolition Fund
6. Development Fund
(6) the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services submit a report to the Cabinet on the current position relating to the Southport Commerce Park – Phase 3 scheme referred to in Appendix C of the report. The report to provide details of the outcome of the bid for external funding and the marketing proposals.
(7) the remaining schemes in Appendix C of the report be retained in the Capital Programme
(8) the current assumption of a 3% Council Tax increase for 2010/11 be noted and it be considered further in the new year; and
(9) the Council be requested to approve the above mentioned amendments to the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2010/11 to 2012/13.
(In accordance with Rule 18.5 of the Council and Committee Procedure
Rules, the following Councillors requested that their votes against the
following resolutions, referred to above be recorded, namely:
Resolution 5 (2) Deletion of Hawthorne Road Carriageway Maintenance Scheme:
Councillors P Dowd, Fairclough and Maher
Resolution 7 – Retention of the Netherton Activity Centre Scheme:
Councillors Brodie-Browne, Lord Fearn, Robertson and Tattersall
Resolution 7 – Retention of the Southport Market Refurbishment Scheme:
Councillors Brodie-Browne, Lord Fearn, Robertson and Tattersall
Resolution 7 – Retention of the Botanic Gardens Museum – Roof and Lift Scheme:
Councillors P Dowd, Fairclough, Griffiths, Maher and Parry
Resolution 7 – Retention of the IT Strategy – Health and Social Care Scheme:
Councillors Brodie-Browne, Lord Fearn, Robertson and Tattersall
Resolution 7 – Retention of the Energy Efficiency Scheme:
Councillors Griffiths, Parry and Porter)