Cabinet Member for Finance
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.
At its meeting on 7 February 2022, Cabinet considered Paper MCa/21/34, the General Fund Budget for 2022/23 and four-year outlook. Paper MC/21/26 now includes all the relevant updated information plus the tax base, precepts and council tax band information at parish level, together with the necessary recommendations.
Minutes:
71.1 Councillor Whitehead introduced report MC/21/26 and provided members with an overview of the budget and the four-year outlook, including the freeze on council tax charges.
71.2 Councillor Whitehead moved the recommendations in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Morley.
71.3 Councillor Field introduced the proposed amendment from the Green and Liberal Democrat Group relating to community transport, as detailed in the tabled papers.
71.4 Councillor Field proposed the amendment. This was seconded by Councillor Eburne.
71.5 Councillor Whitehead and Councillor Morley accepted the amendment.
71.6 Councillor Passmore raised the issues of possible future inflationary pressures as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Councillor Whitehead provided reassurance that the budget included adequate provision.
71.7 In response to questions from Councillor Otton, Councillor Whitehead commented that he was confident that the budget would not need to be reconsidered following the recent events in Ukraine and explained the reasons for the increase in garden waste charges.
71.8 Councillor Matthissen commented on the delivery of services including planning enforcement, tree preservation orders, and the Joint Local Plan, and suggested that more resources be put into these public priorities.
71.9 Members debated the report on issues including: the high surplus figure and why this money had not been spent, the lack of a Council Tax break, the importance of delivering services, and staff vacancies.
71.10 Following a question from Councillor Richardson, the Chief Executive confirmed that the £5.1million surplus was planned to be spent by March 2023.
71.11 Members debated the report further on issues including: the importance of being in a strong financial position, the benefits of the freeze in council tax, and the proposed rural transport scheme.
71.12 Councillor Eburne commented that at the meeting of Mid Suffolk District Council held on 18 February 2021 it was agreed that the additional £4m of funding would be spent in the financial year ending 2022.
71.13 Members continued to debate the issues including: the delivery of services and the spending of allocated funds, and the difficulties in spending funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
71.14 Following a question from Councillor Amorowson, the Chief Executive provided clarification of the mechanisms in place for ensuring that allocated funding is spent.
71.15 Councillor Morley spoke in support of the budget.
71.16 Councillor Whitehead in his summing up, paid tribute to Katherine Steel the Section 151 Officer for her work and dedication to the job and wished her a happy retirement. This was endorsed by all members of the Council.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Oliver Amorowson |
|
|
Gerard Brewster |
|
|
David Burn |
|
|
Terence Carter |
|
|
James Caston |
|
|
Austin Davies |
|
|
Rachel Eburne |
|
|
Paul Ekpenyong |
|
|
John Field |
|
|
Julie Flatman |
|
|
Jessica Fleming |
|
|
Helen Geake |
|
|
Kathie Guthrie |
|
|
Lavinia Hadingham |
|
|
Matthew Hicks |
|
|
Barry Humphreys |
|
|
Sarah Mansel |
|
|
John Matthissen |
|
|
Andrew Mellen |
|
|
Richard Meyer |
|
|
Suzie Morley |
|
|
David Muller |
|
|
Mike Norris |
|
|
Penny Otton |
|
|
Tim Passmore |
|
|
Daniel Pratt |
|
|
Harry Richardson |
|
|
Keith Scarff |
|
|
Andrew Stringer |
|
|
Rowland Warboys |
|
|
Keith Welham |
|
|
John Whitehead |
|
|
Total 32 |
Total |
Total |
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2022/23 and four-year outlook set out in report MC/21/26 be approved.
1.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2022/23 is based on no increase to the Band D Council Tax.
1.3 For scheduled rural community transport utilising zero carbon electric buses, set aside a budget of up to £560,000 capital and £130,000 revenue per year for a two-year period – equating to total £560,000 capital and £260,000 revenue from the Growth and Efficiency Fund.
The meeting adjourned for fifteen minutes at 7.05pm
Supporting documents: