Issue - meetings

The Budget Book (green cover) will be issued in a supplementary agenda and will reflect the recommendations considered at the meeting of the Cabinet on 20 February 2019.

The Council considered the recommendation of Cabinet on the detailed Revenue Budget for 2019-20 and the proposed Council Tax for 2019-20. The Mayor referred councillors to the Budget Book (green cover) reflecting the decisions and recommendations made by Cabinet on 20 February 2019, 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 to agree 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 2019-20 as set out in the report circulated in the Budget Book.  The Leader of the Ashford and Staines Residents’ Group, Councillor D. Saliagopoulos then made a statement. Councillor I.J. Beardsmore, Leader of the Liberal Democrats declined the opportunity to make a speech.

A copy of Councillors Harvey and Saliagopoulos speeches are attached to these minutes as Appendices A and B respectively.

At the conclusion of the debate on the Revenue Budget, the Mayor explained 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:

1. To continue the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme with the current rules and regulations;
2. To continue the complete disregard of war pension / armed forces pension income from benefit calculations;
3. The growth and savings items as set out in the report’s appendices;
4. The Council Tax Base for the whole council area for 2019/20. [Item T in the formula in Section 31b(3) of the local government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 39,688.00 band D equivalent dwellings and calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2019/20 is £202.44 Per Band D equivalent dwelling;
5. To approve a £5 or 2.53% increase on Band D in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax for 2019/20. Moreover:

a)    The revenue estimates as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

b)    No Money, as set out in this report is appropriated from General Reserves in support of Spelthorne’s local Council tax for 2019/20.

c)    To agree that the Council Tax base for the year 2019/20 is 39,688.00  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49

Councillor Williams

To consider the detailed Revenue Budget for 2019/2020 and make recommendations to Council.

Cabinet considered the Revenue Budget for 2019/20.

The revenue budget for 2019/20 presented a positive picture; a balanced budget has been proposed without the use of reserves, investment made to retain staff and resourcing issues addressed.  The Council’s operational service assets were maintained and revenue contributions made to Capital.

Resolved to recommend that Council approves:

1.            Continuing the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme with the current rules and regulations.

2.            Continuing the complete disregard of war pension / armed forces pension income from benefit calculations.

3.            The growth and savings items as set out in the report’s appendices.

4.            The Council Tax Base for the whole council area for 2019/20. [Item T in the formula in Section 31b(3) of the local government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 39,688.00 band D equivalent dwellings and calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2019/20 is £202.44 Per Band D equivalent dwelling.

5.            To approve a £5 or 2.53% increase on Band D in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax for 2019/20. Moreover:

a)    The revenue estimates as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

b)    No Money, as set out in this report is appropriated from General Reserves in support of Spelthorne’s local Council tax for 2019/20.

c)    To agree that the Council Tax base for the year 2019/20 is 39,688.00 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.

That the following sums be now calculated by the Council for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Section 31 to 36 of the Local Government Act 1992.