Agenda item - General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2020/21

Extract from the proceedings of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on the 13 February 2020; together with a report of the Acting Chief Finance Officer.

77.1         The Mayor noted that the principal budget items listed as Items 77 and 79 on the agenda would be debated together, long with Item 78 Supplementary Financial Information, once the proposed budget and various amendments had been moved and seconded. She therefore invited Councillor Platts to propose the budget for 2020//21.

 

77.2         Councillor Platts thanked the Mayor and formally moved the budget proposals on behalf of the Administration, together with an amendment to the Winter Maintenance Reserve. She stated that she was proud to present this budget and believed it would improve the lives of the people who call this city home. She wished to thank all of the officers, councillors and partner organisations across the city for their input; creative ideas and hard work that contributed to the budget proposals brought forward today.

 

She was pleased to work in co-operation with the Green Party and hoped that by the end of the meeting, the Budget would also reflect the essence of the more progressive elements of some of the Conservative Party amendments.

 

In particular she wished to thank Councillor Yates, for his excellent leadership, care and attention to detail throughout the budget process. It was a budget that aimed to protect vital services and invest in key priority areas such as tackling rough sleeping and building more affordable housing including. In terms of the national picture, our city acutely feels the pinch, with wages lagging behind house prices and rent increases. As a local authority, we find ourselves combating crises as global as the climate emergency, as national as the homelessness scandal, and as local as housing prices, with one hand tied behind our backs. Over the past 10 years, local authorities have faced a reduction to core funding of nearly £16 billion. That means 60p out of every pound has been cut. These eye-watering cuts have happened at the same time as the demand for adult social care has grown.  It is difficult to protect all the services, because every service cut, is a cut to someone in need, and we have also brought forward an amendment that provides additional transitional funding for commissioning services addressing violence against women and girls.

 

A key priority for this administration is to truly make Brighton & Hove A City to Call Home.I have written before about a ‘lost generation’ of working-age people in the Greater Brighton area.  Many have been driven out of the area by rising house prices and rent levels. To address this in the long-term, we need more devolved powers from central government, so we can ensure more developments build a higher percentage of truly affordable housing. Meanwhile, we will continue to find every way possible to ensure everyone has a place to call home.

 

This budget provides funding for permanent housing welfare officers to support vulnerable residents in temporary and emergency accommodation. It puts £300k into meeting the increased cost and demand for Temporary Accommodation provision, another £300k into re-procuring around 100 properties for enhanced Short Term and Emergency accommodation services, and £150k for the increased cost and number of vulnerable tenants in supported accommodation where housing benefit is not fully funded by the Government. We are also introducing a £250k permanent investment to a year-round night shelter to complement our existing provision, as well investment in a weekend Winter Shelter. The budget seeks to address the homeless and rough sleeping crisis with increased investment, provision and housing.

 

We also want Brighton & Hove to be A Sustainable City. That is why this budget allocates £200k to a range of investments to reduce carbon emissions. It increases investment in our waste management to improve bin collections and recycling. It invests in trees and parks to contribute to carbon reduction; allows for a viability study into a Park and Ride scheme and includes £100k for the rewilding of Waterhall Golf Course. Our investment into our carbon neutral programme will allow for more electric vehicle charging points, a robust cycling and walking local plan, a sustainable local transport plan and resources to enact Climate Assembly-led initiatives. We take our ambitious target of carbon reduction very seriously, and this budget will help lay the groundwork for a sustainable future.

 

It’s crucial we make Brighton & Hove A City Working for All.It is our aim to become the lead UK city for community wealth building and ethical employment practises. To do this we will use the city’s spending power to procure local services for the benefit of our communities. We want to ensure that local people and organisations benefit from the prosperity in the city, rather than money being siphoned out of Brighton & Hove to offshore tax havens and multinational shareholders. By fostering a circular local economy and working with anchor organisations across the city to procure locally, we will reduce our carbon footprint and give local businesses, social enterprises and co-operatives a welcome boost. Shelter Hall, to be run by ethically-driven Sessions will favour local businesses who source their produce locally and is a prime example of this council’s commitment to listening to our community campaigns, regenerating our heritage and building community wealth. This budget allocates £20k of funding to support development of policy, practice and engagement with businesses and partners across the city to enhance the local economy, improve social value in procurement and establish the circular economy framework we want to see.

 

We also want to develop our visitor economy and I’m proud that we are less than 500 days away from hosting some of the Women’s European Football Championships in 2021.  This will boost our reputation as a health and wellbeing city, generate more visitors and economic activity to the city, and for which this budget invests £57k. We are also investing £100k in the Royal Pavilion Estate and continuing to support our tourism industries and heritage sites. Our dynamic, ethical and unique economy is the envy of many cities, and this budget will bolster that reputation further and mean real benefits for local businesses and residents.

 

A Growing and Learning City represents our ambitions for education, skills and training to enrich the lives of our young people, upskill adults across the city and contribute to our local economy and productivity. In addition to existing spending to support our schools, educational institutions and children’s services, we are investing to ensure the council can continue to provide extensive services for children in care and provide for their safeguarding and well-being. We are also extending funding to protect and improve children’s services and tackle the attainment gap.

 

A Healthy & Caring City represents our aspiration for Brighton & Hove to be a well-being hub; a healthy city that cares for mental health and fitness and helps our residents live longer, happier lives. We are investing significantly in adult learning disability services, mental health services, adult social care and children’s social care, in order to meet rising demand and ensure a sustainable supply of key care services going forward. We know how popular our night-time economy is, for residents and visitors, and this helps our local economy to thrive – but I want us to grow our reputation as a health and wellbeing city too. From Yellow Wave to Sea Lanes, the many park runs across the city, the London to Brighton bike ride, the Brighton Marathon, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, our Bikeshare scheme, the Sussex Cricket Ground and our leading universities, this is a city that values its sport and outdoor activities. This budget will help us develop our vision of a healthy, active city, to provide vital adult social care and mental health services and make Brighton & Hove a focal point for well-being, for the future.

 

On Carbon Neutrality, as well as our Climate Assembly, we are installing 200 electric vehicle charging points, as well as high-speed chargers for taxis. We are developing our Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan, our sustainable Local Transport Plan and our extensive Tree Strategy. We are conducting a feasibility study into the impacts of a car free city centre. We have already ended the residual use of glyphosate for weed control on our streets. We are continuing to work on improving air quality across the city by introducing our ultra-low emissions zone and working with partners to attract more investment in zero emissions bus travel.

 

On combating rough sleeping and the housing crisis;we have identified a range of sites and are on course to meet our target of 800 additional council homes. Our SWEP threshold is one of the lowest in the country and is now open at the weekends throughout this winter. We have already opened a 365 night a year shelter at St Patrick’s and secured the procurement of a ‘No Second Night Out’ service grant.

 

On our City of Sanctuary status; we will take part in the Inclusive Cities Programme, which provides us with a framework to deliver a more strategic approach to welcoming new people to the city. We are participating in the National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. We continue to participate in the government’s refugee resettlement programme. We will be working with the local City of Sanctuary group to refresh our status redefining what this means for the city.

 

Our Council Plan is a bold vision for a fairer city and a sustainable future, and already we are making strides in delivering on our promises to residents. Passing this budget today gives us the opportunity to build on that progress and improve the lives of residents across Brighton & Hove.

 

77.3         Councillor Allcock formally seconded the budget proposals and stated Councillor Platts had outlined a balanced budget that would allow the council to protect key services, invest in our communities and deliver our ambitious Council Plan for a fairer city and a sustainable future. Whether it’s addressing the housing crisis, tackling the climate crisis, building community wealth or strengthening our City of Sanctuary status. Our Plan is achievable and represents our values as a city and the sort of priorities that underpin why I wanted to become a councillor, to make a real difference for our community. Our budget is creative, fully-costed, balanced – allowing us to deliver for our residents, even in the most challenging of financial times. If agreed, it will:

·           ensure investment in our carbon neutral programme.

·           fund a 365-day a year night shelter to help combat rough sleeping and support delivery of more council homes and affordable housing.

·           enable a joined-up approach to community wealth building with anchor organisations across the city.

 

However, there are real pressures, particularly the Adult Social Care funding crisis that consecutive governments have failed to address, despite promising again and again to deliver a plan.  The residents of our city desperately need well-resourced adult social care services and the Government should urgently abandon its ideological obsession with cuts to public sector budgets.

 

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the challenges we have had with the Home to School Transport service.

·           We apologised unreservedly for the upset and disruption caused.

·           We recognised the mistakes and took swift action to make improvements.

·           We continue to work with parents and carers and have set up an independent review to enable us to learn from this. In the meantime, I am very pleased to report the service has been much improved.  On every school day, we transport 469 pupils with special needs and disabilities, and now very few complaints are being raised.  I cannot rule out budget pressures in the coming year, but I am confident that the plans outlined today equip us to meet the challenges ahead.

 

No other service is subject to the level of scrutiny that children’s services experience, and this budget reflects the weight of responsibility on us all to continue to safeguard, nurture and support the children and families in our care across the city.  Not only are we are investing over £1 million in Children’s Safeguarding and Care, but also striking at the heart of educational disadvantage.

 

Whether a child is brought up in Whitehawk or Rottingdean, no child should be left behind, and we must do everything in our power to close the attainment gap that currently exists in our City.  We know that the best way to do that is to intervene in early years.  That’s why I’ve been writing to government ministers to lobby for more Early Years’ funding, and why I’m proud of this budget.

 

77.4         Councillor Gibson formally moved the Green Group’s amendments No’s. 1 – 4 and stated that he wished to thank the finance team for their support during the budget process. The amendments sought to improve the overall budget and provision for those services and residents in need of support. He noted the need to tackle issues of homelessness and carbon reduction and to invest in sustainable transport. There was also a need to support small businesses and to find ways to increase the housing provision in the city. He hoped the amendments would be seen as being positive and whilst he could see the benefit of the Conservative Group’s amendment No.2 he could not support the remaining amendments.

 

77.5         Councillor Mac Cafferty formally seconded the Green Group’s amendments and stated that too little had been done to tackle the issues being faced by residents. There was a need to take action and drive change forward and he hoped the four amendments would be supported as recognition of how matters could be improved, and the economic crisis tackled.

 

77.6         Councillor Miller formally moved the Conservative Group’s amendments No’s. 1 – 6 and stated he also wished to thank the finance officers who had supported him and the Group in developing their amendments. There was a need for council’s to be more creative and to maximise opportunities in order to tackle the issues highlighted. The amendments sought to enable that action and he hoped they would be considered in that light. He outlined the benefits that could be achieved if the amendments were accepted and stated that it would show a willingness to work collectively for the benefit of the city. He stated that the Conservative Group would support the Labour amendment and Green Group amendments No’s 1 – 3.

 

77.7         Councillor Bell formally seconded the amendments and stated that there was a need to restore the Madeira Terraces and to improve the city as a whole. There were clear issues that residents wanted to see action on such as graffiti, litter and dog fouling; as well as the primary concerns of housing, homelessness and the environment. He also felt that resources had been mis-managed, and projects failed that should have been implemented. He also felt that the Green amendments sought to hit car owners and could not be supported.

 

77.8         The Mayor then opened the matter up to a general debate and the following Members of the Council spoke on various amendments that had been put forward as well as the general prevailing budget proposals and position:

 

Councillors Fowler, Bagaeen, Clare, Pissaridou, Brown, Druitt, Williams, Mears, Ebel, O’Quinn, Nemeth, Heley, Atkinson, Wares and Hills.

 

77.9         The Mayor noted that the meeting had been in session for just over two hours and declared that she would adjourn for a refreshment break from 6.35pm to 7.05pm.

 

77.10      The Mayor reconvened the meeting at 7.05pm and continued with debate, during which the following Members spoke on various amendments that had been put forward as well as the general prevailing budget proposals and position:

 

Councillors Hugh-Jones, Childs, Powell, Evans, Osborne, Grimshaw, Littman, Hamilton, Rainey, Henry, Shanks, Hill, West, Knight, Moonan, Janio, Robins, Theobald, Appich and Peltzer Dunn.

 

77.11      The Mayor noted that all Members wising to speak during the debate had done so and called on Councillor Yates to respond to the debate and the amendments on behalf of the Administration.

 

77.12      Councillor Yates thanked the Mayor and stated that he wished to thank all the officers involved in bringing the budget proposals forward and noted that it had enabled a strong Corporate Plan to be developed. He then referred to the various amendments that had been put forward and confirmed that the Administration were willing to accept the Green Group’s amendments No’s. 1 – 4 and the Conservative Group’s amendment No. 2. However, in regard to the Conservative Group’s amendments No’s. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 whilst there were good elements in each, there were elements that had been rejected in the past and could not be supported. He believed there had been a very good debate overall and he believed there was an opportunity for further cross-party working and for proposals to be brought back. In the meantime, he wished to commend the budget as amended to the Council for approval.

 

77.13      The Mayor stated that in view of the fact that the amendments related to either the General Fund or the Housing revenue Account, she intended to put each one to the vote.  However, she would call on the Executive Director for Finance & Resources to confirm the budgetary position should any amendment be carried and have an impact on the overall budget as necessary.  She would then put the substantive recommendations to the vote as outlined in the procedural rules.

 

77.14      The Mayor then asked for the electronic voting system to be activated and put the Labour Group amendment to the vote. The Mayor noted that there was a technical problem with the system and it was not possible to use it confidently. She therefore stated that she would ask the Head of Democratic Services to undertake a recorded vote for each amendment.

 

77.15      The Head of Democratic Services then put the Labour Group amendment to the vote as detailed below:

 

Labour Group Amendment

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry	?
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson	?
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill	?			50	Wares	?
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio	?			53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	53	0	0

 

77.16      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried unanimously.

 

77.17      The Head of Democratic Services then put the Green Group amendment No.’s1 to 4 to the vote as detailed below:

 

Green Group Amendment No.1

 

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

1

Allcock

?

28

Lewry

X

2

Appich

?

29

Littman

?

3

Atkinson

?

30

Lloyd

?

4

Bagaeen

X

31

Mac Cafferty

?

5

Barnett

X

32

McNair

X

6

Bell

X

33

Mears

?

7

Brennan

Not present

34

Miller

X

8

Brown

X

35

Moonan

?

9

Childs

?

36

Nemeth

X

10

Clare

?

37

Nield

?

11

Davis

?

38

O’Quinn

?

12

Deane

?

39

Osborne

?

13

Druitt

?

40

Peltzer Dunn

X

14

Ebel

?

41

Phillips

?

15

Evans

?

42

Pissaridou

?

16

Fishleigh

?

43

Platts

?

17

Fowler

?

44

Powell

?

18

Gibson

?

45

Rainey

?

19

Grimshaw

?

46

Robins

?

20

Hamilton

?

47

Shanks

?

21

Heley

?

48

Simson

X

22

Henry

?

49

Theobald C

X

23

Hill

?

50

Wares

X

24

Hills

?

51

Wilkinson

?

25

Hugh-Jones

?

52

Williams

?

26

Janio

X

53

West

?

27

Knight

?

54

Yates

?

Total

39

14

0

 

77.18      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 39 votes to 14 with no abstentions.

 

Green Group Amendment No.2

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry		X
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen		X		31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett		X		32	McNair		X
6	Bell		X		33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller		X
8	Brown		X		35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth		X
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn		X
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson		X
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C		X
23	Hill	?			50	Wares		X
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio		X		53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	39	14	0

 

77.19      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 39 votes to 14 with no abstentions.

 

Green Group Amendment No.3

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry	?
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson	?
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill	?			50	Wares
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio		X		53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	52	1	0

 

77.20      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 52 votes to 1 with no abstentions.

 

Green Group Amendment No.4

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry		X
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen		X		31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett		X		32	McNair		X
6	Bell		X		33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller		X
8	Brown		X		35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth		X
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn		X
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh		X		43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson		X
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C		X
23	Hill	?			50	Wares		X
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio		X		53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	38	15	0

 

77.21      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 38 votes to 15 with no abstentions.

 

77.22      The Head of Democratic Services then put the Conservative Group’s  amendments No.1 to 6 to the vote as detailed below:

 

 

Conservative Amendment No.1

 

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

1

Allcock

X

Lewry

?

2

Appich

X

29

Littman

X

3

Atkinson

X

30

Lloyd

X

4

Bagaeen

?

31

Mac Cafferty

X

5

Barnett

?

32

McNair

?

6

Bell

?

33

Mears

?

7

Brennan

Not present

34

Miller

?

8

Brown

?

35

Moonan

X

9

Childs

X

36

Nemeth

?

10

Clare

X

37

Nield

X

11

Davis

X

38

O’Quinn

X

12

Deane

X

39

Osborne

X

13

Druitt

X

40

Peltzer Dunn

?

14

Ebel

X

41

Phillips

X

15

Evans

X

42

Pissaridou

X

16

Fishleigh

Ab

43

Platts

X

17

Fowler

X

44

Powell

X

18

Gibson

X

45

Rainey

X

19

Grimshaw

X

46

Robins

X

20

Hamilton

X

47

Shanks

X

21

Heley

X

48

Simson

?

22

Henry

X

49

Theobald C

?

23

Hill

X

50

Wares

?

24

Hills

X

51

Wilkinson

X

25

Hugh-Jones

X

52

Williams

X

26

Janio

?

53

West

X

27

Knight

X

54

Yates

X

Total

14

38

1

 

77.23      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost by 14 votes to 38 with 1 abstention.

 

Conservative Amendment No.2

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry	?
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson	?
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill	?			50	Wares	?
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio	?			53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	53	0	0

 

77.24      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried unanimously.

 

Conservative Amendment No.3

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock		X			Lewry	?
2	Appich		X		29	Littman		X
3	Atkinson		X		30	Lloyd		X
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty		X
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan		X
9	Childs		X		36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare		X		37	Nield		X
11	Davis		X		38	O’Quinn		X
12	Deane		X		39	Osborne		X
13	Druitt		X		40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel		X		41	Phillips		X
15	Evans		X		42	Pissaridou		X
16	Fishleigh		X		43	Platts		X
17	Fowler		X		44	Powell		X
18	Gibson		X		45	Rainey		X
19	Grimshaw		X		46	Robins		X
20	Hamilton		X		47	Shanks		X
21	Heley		X		48	Simson	?
22	Henry		X		49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill		X		50	Wares	?
24	Hills		X		51	Wilkinson		X
25	Hugh-Jones		X		52	Williams		X
26	Janio	?			53	West		X
27	Knight		X		54	Yates		X
						Total	14	39

 

77.25      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost by 14 votes to 39 with no abstentions.

 

Conservative Amendment No.4

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock		X			Lewry	?
2	Appich		X		29	Littman		X
3	Atkinson		X		30	Lloyd		X
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty		X
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan		X
9	Childs		X		36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare		X		37	Nield		X
11	Davis		X		38	O’Quinn		X
12	Deane		X		39	Osborne		X
13	Druitt		X		40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel		X		41	Phillips		X
15	Evans		X		42	Pissaridou		X
16	Fishleigh		X		43	Platts		X
17	Fowler		X		44	Powell		X
18	Gibson		X		45	Rainey		X
19	Grimshaw		X		46	Robins		X
20	Hamilton		X		47	Shanks		X
21	Heley		X		48	Simson	?
22	Henry		X		49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill		X		50	Wares	?
24	Hills		X		51	Wilkinson		X
25	Hugh-Jones		X		52	Williams		X
26	Janio			Ab	53	West		X
27	Knight		X		54	Yates		X
						Total	13	39	1

 

77.26      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost by 13 votes to 39 with 1 abstention.

 

Conservative Amendment No.5

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock		X			Lewry	?
2	Appich		X		29	Littman		X
3	Atkinson		X		30	Lloyd		X
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty		X
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan		X
9	Childs		X		36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare		X		37	Nield		X
11	Davis		X		38	O’Quinn		X
12	Deane		X		39	Osborne		X
13	Druitt		X		40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel		X		41	Phillips		X
15	Evans		X		42	Pissaridou		X
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts		X
17	Fowler		X		44	Powell		X
18	Gibson		X		45	Rainey		X
19	Grimshaw		X		46	Robins		X
20	Hamilton		X		47	Shanks		X
21	Heley		X		48	Simson	?
22	Henry		X		49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill		X		50	Wares	?
24	Hills		X		51	Wilkinson		X
25	Hugh-Jones		X		52	Williams		X
26	Janio			Ab	53	West		X
27	Knight		X		54	Yates		X
						Total	14	38	1

 

77.27      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost by 14 votes to 38 with 1 abstention.

 

Conservative Amendment No.6

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock		X			Lewry	?
2	Appich		X		29	Littman		X
3	Atkinson		X		30	Lloyd		X
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty		X
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan		X
9	Childs		X		36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare		X		37	Nield		X
11	Davis		X		38	O’Quinn		X
12	Deane		X		39	Osborne		X
13	Druitt		X		40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel		X		41	Phillips		X
15	Evans		X		42	Pissaridou		X
16	Fishleigh		X		43	Platts		X
17	Fowler		X		44	Powell		X
18	Gibson		X		45	Rainey		X
19	Grimshaw		X		46	Robins		X
20	Hamilton		X		47	Shanks		X
21	Heley		X		48	Simson	?
22	Henry		X		49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill		X		50	Wares	?
24	Hills		X		51	Wilkinson		X
25	Hugh-Jones		X		52	Williams		X
26	Janio	?			53	West		X
27	Knight		X		54	Yates		X
						Total	14	39

 

77.28      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost by 14 votes to 39 with no abstentions.

 

77.29      Councillor Bell stated that he had noted the comments during the debate and the indications that elements of the Conservative Group’s amendments would have been accepted. He therefore wished to consider the repackaging of these amendments and moved the further suspension of Standing Orders under paragraph 1.7 of the procedural rules to enable discussions on a composite cross-party amendment reflecting areas of agreement to be tabled for consideration. He therefore asked for a twenty-minute adjournment to enable Group Leaders and Finance Leads to discuss the possible cross-party adjournment.

 

77.30      Councillor Platts formally seconded the motion.

 

77.31      The Mayor then put the motion to suspend Standing Orders and to have an adjournment to the vote which was carried.

 

77.32      The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8.40pm in order to enable Group Leaders and Finance Leads to meet and discuss the possibility of a composite amendment and for officers to undertake the necessary work to reflect such an amendment and its impact on the overall budget resolution.

 

77.33      The Mayor reconvened the meeting at 9.25pm.

 

77.34      The Mayor noted that a further amendment had been circulated and invited Councillor Platts to move the amendment.

 

77.35      Councillor Platts formally moved the joint amendment and stated that she welcomed the opportunity to put forward a collectively agreed amendment which showed how things could be achieved for the better of the city by working together across parties. She welcomed the option to support Madeira Terraces and wanted to put on record her thanks to the Save Madeira Terraces Action Group for their hard work and all those who donated to the crowd funding campaign.

 

77.36      Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that he was happy to jointly propose the amendment and noted that it was only a few weeks ago that he said the council could not let Madeira Terraces go the way of the West Pier. There was a need to work together and he was happy to do so by bringing the composite amendment forward to provide the funding for the project.

 

77.37      Councillor Bell stated that it was a great pleasure to be able to come together and reach a consensus for the benefit of the city and the Madeira Terraces. He wished to thank the Group Leaders and Finance Officers for the opportunity to review the elements of the Conservative amendments and to then bring forward the composite amendment and he hoped that there could be further joint working.

 

77.38      Councillors Yates, Gibson and Miller formally seconded the amendment on behalf of the Labour, Green and Conservative Groups respectfully.

 

77.39      Councillor Fishleigh queried whether it was possible for her to move an amendment to the one that had been moved.

 

77.40      The Mayor confirmed that it was not possible to amend and amendment and asked the Head of Democratic Services to undertake a recorded vote on the amendment that had been moved as detailed below:

 

Joint Labour, Green and Conservative Amendment

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry	?
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson	?
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill	?			50	Wares	?
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio			Ab	53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	52	0	1

 

77.41      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 52 votes to 0 with 1 abstention. She then invited the Acting Chief Finance Officer to address the meeting.

 

77.42      The Acting Chief Finance Officer confirmed that the composite amendment was effectively a repackaging of the Conservative amendments formally proposed. He confirmed that the amendments agreed did not have an impact on the overall budget as they were all self-financing but there was a technical impact on the council tax and therefore a new version of the final resolution would need to be given to all Members prior to the vote being taken.

 

77.43      The Mayor then asked the Head of Democratic Services to undertake a recorded vote on the General Fund Budget Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy and Council Tax of 3.9% for 2020/21 together with the Supplementary Financial information and revised council tax resolution as detailed below:

 

		For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
1	Allcock	?			28	Lewry	?
2	Appich	?			29	Littman	?
3	Atkinson	?			30	Lloyd	?
4	Bagaeen	?			31	Mac Cafferty	?
5	Barnett	?			32	McNair	?
6	Bell	?			33	Mears	?
7	Brennan	Not present			34	Miller	?
8	Brown	?			35	Moonan	?
9	Childs	?			36	Nemeth	?
10	Clare	?			37	Nield	?
11	Davis	?			38	O’Quinn	?
12	Deane	?			39	Osborne	?
13	Druitt	?			40	Peltzer Dunn	?
14	Ebel	?			41	Phillips	?
15	Evans	?			42	Pissaridou	?
16	Fishleigh	?			43	Platts	?
17	Fowler	?			44	Powell	?
18	Gibson	?			45	Rainey	?
19	Grimshaw	?			46	Robins	?
20	Hamilton	?			47	Shanks	?
21	Heley	?			48	Simson	?
22	Henry	?			49	Theobald C	?
23	Hill	?			50	Wares	?
24	Hills	?			51	Wilkinson	?
25	Hugh-Jones	?			52	Williams	?
26	Janio		X		53	West	?
27	Knight	?			54	Yates	?
						Total	52	1	0

 

77.44      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried by 52 votes with 1 against and no abstentions.

 

77.45      RESOLVED:

 

Formal Council Tax Resolution

 

1.      It be noted that on 23 January 2020 the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2020/21:

 

(a)      for the whole Council area as 90,722.8 (Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)); and

 

(b)      for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate: -

Rottingdean Parish – 1,574.1

Hanover Crescent Enclosure – 39.4

Marine Square Enclosure – 75.8

Royal Crescent Enclosure – 31.0    

 

2.      Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is£150,547,000.

 

3.      That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)    £715,350,263 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils;

 

(b)     £564,753,266 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act;

 

(c)      £150,596,997   being  the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act);

 

(d)      £1,659.97 being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a)  above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts);

 

(e)      £78,239 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;

 

(f)        £1,659.11 being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special items relates;

(g)      £1,690.87         Rottingdean Parish

£1,865.38         Hanover Crescent

£1,817.88         Marine Square

£1,919.76         Royal Crescent

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the relevant amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for the dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Parts of the Council's area	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Rottingdean Parish	939.37	1,127.25	1,315.12	1,503.00	1,690.87	2,066.62	2,442.37	2,818.12	3,381.74
Hanover Crescent	1,036.32	1,243.59	1,450.85	1,658.12	1,865.38	2,279.91	2,694.44	3,108.97	3,730.76
Marine Square	1,009.93	1,211.92	1,413.91	1,615.89	1,817.88	2,221.85	2,625.83	3,029.80	3,635.76
Royal Crescent	1,066.53	1,279.84	1,493.15	1,706.45	1,919.76	2,346.37	2,772.99	3,199.60	3,839.52
All other parts of the council’s area	921.73	1,106.07	1,290.42	1,474.76	1,659.11	2,027.80	2,396.49	2,765.18	3,318.22

* Entitled to disabled relief

                                                                              

4.      To note that the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Fire Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below.

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner	111.06	133.27	155.49	177.70	199.91	244.33	288.76	333.18	399.82

* Entitled to disabled relief

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
East Sussex Fire Authority	53.07	63.69	74.30	84.92	95.53	116.76	137.99	159.22	191.06

* Entitled to disabled relief

 

5.      That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

Valuation Band:	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Parts of the Council's area	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Rottingdean Parish	1,103.50	1,324.21	1,544.91	1,765.62	1,986.31	2,427.71	2,869.12	3,310.52	3,972.62
Hanover Crescent	1,200.45	1,440.55	1,680.64	1,920.74	2,160.82	2,641.00	3,121.19	3,601.37	4,321.64
Marine Square	1,174.06	1,408.88	1,643.70	1,878.51	2,113.32	2,582.94	3,052.58	3,522.20	4,226.64
Royal Crescent	1,230.66	1,476.80	1,722.94	1,969.07	2,215.20	2,707.46	3,199.74	3,692.00	4,430.40
All other parts of the councils area	1,085.86	1,303.03	1,520.21	1,737.38	1,954.55	2,388.89	2,823.24	3,257.58	3,909.10

* Entitled to disabled relief

 

6.       In accordance with Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Council determines its relevant basic amount of council tax for the financial year 2020/21 is not excessive.