Decision details

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the detailed Revenue Budget for 2017-18 and the proposed Council Tax for 2017-18. The Mayor referred councillors to the Budget Book (green cover) and the updated report circulated in the supplementary Council agenda, reflecting the decisions and recommendations made by the Cabinet on 22 February 2017, including the precepts being levied by Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police.

The Mayor asked the Council to agree, in accordance with Standing Order 20.4, that the respective Budget speeches of the Group Leaders may each exceed 10 minutes in length if necessary.

Resolved toagree that the respective Budget speeches of the Group Leaders may each exceed 10 minutes in length if necessary.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor I.T.E. Harvey and the portfolio holder for Finance, Councillor H. R. Williams, made a joint statement on the Budget and the Council Tax and moved and seconded the recommendations on the detailed Budget for 2017-18 as set out in the report circulated in the supplementary Council agenda. The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor I.J. Beardsmore, then made a statement.

Although the formation of the UKIP party had not been formally notified to the Chief Executive prior to the meeting, the Mayor used his discretion to allow the Leader of UKIP, Councillor D. Saliagopoulos to make a statement on the Budget.

In response to a query from Councillor K. Flurry about the amount of write-offs agreed in 2016-2017, Councillor H. Williams agreed to provide a written response.

Copies of Councillor Harvey’s and Councillor Beardsmore’s speeches are attached to these minutes as Appendices A and B.

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 10pm to allow councillors and officers a five minute comfort break.

Upon reconvening, and as the Council was close to having sat for three hours, it was moved, seconded and agreed to suspend Standing Orders and continue with the remaining items of business on the agenda.

At the conclusion of the debate on the Revenue Budget, the Mayor explained that it was a legal requirement to record in the minutes of the proceedings the names of the persons who cast a vote for the decision or who abstained from voting.

The voting was as follows:

Resolved that:

1. the growth and savings items as set out in the report’s appendices be approved;
2. the Council tax base for the whole council area for 2017-18.[Item T in the formula in Section 31b(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 38.908.60 band D equivalent dwellings and the Council tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2017-2018 is £192.44 Per Band D equivalent dwelling;
3. a 2.7 % or (£5) increase in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council tax for 2017-18 be approved. Moreover:

a)    the revenue estimates as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

b)    no money, as set out in the report, is appropriated from General Reserves in support of Spelthorne’s local Council tax for 2017/18.

c)    the council tax base for the year 2017/18 is 38,908.60  band D equivalent dwellings calculated in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council tax base) Regulations 1992, as amended, made under Section 35(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, be agreed;

4. that the following sums be now calculated by the Council for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Section 31 to 36 of the Local Government Act 1992.

5. that the following amounts be calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011. 

A            B            C           D            E            F           G          H

£             £             £           £            £            £            £           £

128.29  149.68  171.06   192.44   235.20   277.97   320.73   384.88

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (e) above by the number which in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the sum which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band ‘D’, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different band.

6. that the Council agrees to continue the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme with the same rules and regulations as was agreed for the 2014/15 scheme;
7. that the Council agrees to continue the complete disregard of war pension /armed forces pension income from benefit calculations; and
8. that it be noted that for the year 2017/18 Surrey County Council and Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to Spelthorne Borough Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

Precepts issued to the Council

9. that, having calculated the aggregate in each case above the Council in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011, hereby sets the amounts as the amounts of Council tax for the year 2017/18.

The Council has determined that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for

2017/18 is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under

Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.

As the billing authority, the council has not been notified by a major precepting

authority that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2017/18 is excessive and that the billing authority is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK Local Government Finance Act 1992.