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 26 February 2020.

The Council considered the recommendation of Cabinet on the detailed Revenue Budget for 2020-21 and the proposed Council Tax for 2020-21. The Mayor referred councillors to the Budget Book (green cover) reflecting the decisions and recommendations made by Cabinet on 26 February 2020, including the precepts being levied by Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police.

It was moved, seconded and 

Resolved to agree that in accordance with Standing Order 20.4, 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 made a statement on the Budget and the Council Tax and moved the recommendations on the detailed Budget for 2020-21 as set out in the report circulated in the Budget Book.  The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, Councillor S. Dunn then made a statement.

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

During the debate on this item, it was moved, seconded and

Resolved to suspend Standing Order 5, Duration of Meeting, to allow the meeting to continue until the completion of this item of business.

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.

Councillor J. Boughtflower left the meeting before the vote was called.

The voting was as follows:

The motion was carried.

Resolved to:

1. Continue the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme with the current rules and regulations;
2. Continue the complete disregard of war pension / armed forces pension income from benefit calculations;
3. Agree the growth and savings items as set out in the report’s appendices;
4. Note the Chief Finance Officer’s commentary in section 4 of the report on the robustness of budget estimates and levels of reserves under sections 25 and 26 of the Local Government Act 2003;
5. Agree the Council Tax Base for the whole council area for 2020/21. [Item T in the formula in Section 31b(3) of the local government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 40,085.00 band D equivalent dwellings and calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2020/21 is £205.05 Per Band D equivalent dwelling;
6. Approve a 1.29% increase on Band D in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax for 2020/21. Moreover:

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

b)    No Money, as set out in this report is appropriated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60

Councillor A.C. Harman

To consider the detailed Revenue Budget for 2020/21 and make recommendations to Council.

Cabinet considered the Revenue Budget for 2020/21.

The revenue budget for 2020/21 a very positive picture: a balanced budget had been proposed without the use of reserves, with investment being made in retaining staff, addressing resourcing issues. The Council’s operational service assets were maintained and revenue contributions made to Capital. The proposed budget was underpinned by an increase in Council Tax of just below inflation as measured by CPI with an increase proposed of 1.29% [January CPI 1.3%].

Resolved to recommend Council to agree to:

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. Note the Chief Finance Officer’s commentary in section 4 of the report on the robustness of budget estimates and levels of reserves under sections 25 and 26 of the Local Government Act 2003;
5. The Council Tax Base for the whole council area for 2020/21. [Item T in the formula in Section 31b(3) of the local government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 40,085.00 band D equivalent dwellings and calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2020/21 is £205.05 Per Band D equivalent dwelling;
6. To approve a 1.29% increase on Band D in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax for 2020/21. 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 2020/21.

c)    To agree that the Council Tax base for the year 2020/21 is 40,085.00 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.