Agenda item

To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer.  

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer.

 The Council is required to set a "Balanced Budget" and to maintain adequate levels of Reserves.  The primary purpose of this report is to set the Council's overall Budget for the forthcoming year 2021/22 (both Revenue & Capital) and the associated level of Council Tax necessary to help fund the Budget.

Voting was thereupon taken and the names of the Members voting for and against the Recommendation and those abstaining were read to the Council:

FOR THE RECOMMENDATION:  Councillors Bateman, Beavis, Rev Blackman, Burgess, Carter, Casey, Mrs Cully, Hook, Mrs Hook, Farr, Mrs Furlong, Jessop, Mrs Jones, Mrs Morgan, Murphy, Philpott, Raffaelli, Scard, The Mayor (19)

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Ballard, Chegwyn, Earle, Hammond, Herridge, Hutchison, Hylands, Johnston, Miss Kelly, Mitchell, Pepper, Mrs Prickett, Mrs Westerby (13)

COUNCIL RESOLVED: That the recommendations be approved.

RESOLVED:

It is recommended that the following be approved:

2.1         A Revised General Fund Budget for 2020/21 of £11,946,970 as set out in Appendix A;

2.2         A General Fund Budget for 2021/22 of £10,503,100 as set out in Appendix A and broken down in Appendix D;

2.3         Any variation arising from the final Local Government Finance Settlement be accommodated by a transfer to / from the Revenue Financing Reserve;

2.4         That the level of Council Tax be increased by £5 per annum for a Band D property for 2021/22;

2.5         It be noted that the Borough Treasurer Officer has determined that the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2021/22 will be 26,722.80 [item T in the formula in Section 31 B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)];

2.6         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2021/22 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(e)       Valuation Bands (Gosport Borough Council)

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 2.6 (d) 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 number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings in different valuation bands.

2.7      That it be noted that for the financial year 2021/22 we estimate that Hampshire County Council will propose the following amounts for the precept to be issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of categories of the dwellings shown below:

    Valuation Bands (Hampshire County Council)

2.8         That it be noted that for the financial year 2021/22 the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner will propose the following amounts for the precept to be issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

            Valuation Bands (Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner)       

2.9         That it be noted that for the financial year 2021/22, we estimate that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority will propose the following amounts for the precept issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority)

2.10      That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 2.6(e), 2.7, 2.8 and2.9 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the financial year 2021/22 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands (Total Council Tax)

2.11      The Borough Treasurer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority precepts.

2.12      The Council determines in accordance with Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2021/22, which represents a £5 increase, is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved by the Secretary of State under Section 52ZC of the Act.

2.13      As the billing authority, the Council has not been notified by a major precepting authority (Hampshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire or the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority) that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2021/22 is excessive and that the billing authority is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

2.14      Members have had regard for the Statement of the Section 151 Officer in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003 as set out in the report.

2.15      The Capital Programme 2020/21 to 2023/24 as set out in Appendix E is approved.

2.16      That the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix F are approved

2.17      That the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 as set out in Appendix G is approved

Members should note that:

2.18      The Section 151 Officer has a duty to report to Members on the Robustness of the Estimates and the Adequacy of Reserves (as described in Section 7).  Accordingly, any amendments put before the Council for consideration must also include a written Statement by the Section 151 Officer.

2.19      In accordance with statue, the Budget Report is required to incorporate a number of specific recommendations.  Amendments may require those recommendations to be altered and therefore need to be precisely written in order to have legal effect and be capable of adoption by the Council.

2.20      Due to the requirements set out above, it is necessary for any amendment to be discussed in sufficient time to be drafted by the Section 151 Officer so that it includes the Section 151 Officers Statement alongside precisely worded recommendations that the Council can properly consider.