Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence as reported at the meeting.

There were no apologies.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no disclosable pecuniary or other significant interests declared at the meeting.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.4, and which item(s) they wish to speak on.

There were no Visiting Members who had registered as wishing to speak.

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.3, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the Council.

To receive any questions from members of the public, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.5, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Members considered the plan. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan as at 06 November 2018 be noted.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices, except the charges for garden waste recycling which have already been approved by Cabinet on 30 August 2018 (CAB59/18), be agreed; and

2.    That the timings for the price increases to be implemented as indicated in the report be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISION:

Securing revenue in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

Councillor Reilly and Jane Fineman, Head of Finance and Procurement, introduced the report which included the following comments:

·         The finance team had worked with teams across the council and consolidated all income sources – except parking, property rents and licensing income – into one report.

·         Total budgeted income £6.1m

·         The report also reviewed forecast sales volumes and usages which when multiplied by the proposed prices formed the basis of the service income budgets for 2019/20

·         The total income achieved the three per cent increase target in the Medium Term Financial Strategy with a surplus of £290,925 excluding income for the new opt-in garden waste service.

·         Increased income was required to replace the loss of Revenue Support Grant and cover inflation.

·         There were various implementation dates set out within the report.

·         New Planning Performance Agreements enabled the Council to recharge the costs of supporting major developments. This charge had been levied by other councils since 2011 and had no negative impact on large developers. Income was budgeted at £100k.

·         Plans to centralise Land Charges had not yet been enacted therefore the income was included in the forthcoming budget.

·         The Council continued its progress towards greater self-service and digital delivery of services.

The discussion included consideration of the following additional matters:

·         The Finance and Governance Cabinet Advisory Board discussed and supported the recommendations.

·         Planning fees were set by government but did not cover the cost of providing the service. Tax payers were effectively subsidising developers by approximately £1m. The Council would write again to the Secretary of State seeking redress of the issue.

·         The charge for full-sized football pitches was equivalent to £2.80 per player per game.

·         Revenue Support Grant had reduced to zero.

·         Electronic payment systems were less expensive and more efficient.

·         75 per cent of residents now paid their Council Tax by direct debit.

·         Parking charges were not being increased.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices, except the charges for garden waste recycling which have already been approved by Cabinet on 30 August 2018 (CAB59/18), be agreed; and

2.    That the timings for the price increases to be implemented as indicated in the report be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISION:

Securing revenue in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Thursday 06 December 2018 at 10.30am.

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 06 December 2018 commencing at 10.30am in Committee Room A at the Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells.