Agenda item

Budget 2015/16

To pass the following resolution

 

RESOLVED:-

 

(1)        That the following, as submitted in the Estimates Book, be approved:-

 

            (a)        the Revenue estimates for 2015-2016;

 

            (b)        the Capital programme for 2015-2016;

 

(2)        that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 27 January 2015, the Council calculated the figure of 34,750, as its council tax base for the year 2015-2016 in accordance with the Local Authorities  (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

(3)        that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2015-2016 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

 

(a)        £107,445,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2)(a) to (f) of the Act;

 

(b)        £102,752,012 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d) of the Act;

                       

(c)        £4,692,988 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (3)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in  accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year;

 

(d)        £135.05 being the amount at (3)(c) above divided by the amount at 2 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year;

 

            (e)        Valuation Bands

 

                                                                       

                       

A

B

C

D

£90.03

£105.04

£120.04

£135.05

 

 

 

 

E

F

G

H

£165.06

£195.07

£225.08

£270.10

 

 

Being the amount given by multiplying the amount at (3)(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 listed in different valuation bands.

 

(4)        That it will be noted that, for the year 2015-2016, Devon County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts on precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2003, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:-

 

            Devon County Council

            Valuation Bands

 

A

B

C

D

£774.18

£903.21

£1,032.24

£1,161.27

 

 

 

 

E

F

G

H

£1,419.33

£1,677.39

£1,935.45

£2,322.54

 

 

            Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

 

A         

B

C

D

£112.98

£131.81

£150.64          

£169.47

E

F

G

H

£207.13

£244.79

£282.45

£338.94

           

 

            Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

            Valuation Bands

 

A         

B

C

D

£52.28

£60.99

£69.71

£78.42

E

F

G

H

£95.85

£113.27

£130.70

£156.84

           

                       

(5)        That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (3)(e) and (4) above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government  Finance Act 1992, hereby set the following amounts as the amounts of council tax for the year 2015-2016 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

 

            Valuation Bands

 

A

B

C

D

£1,029.47

£1,201.05

£1,372.63

£1,544.21

E

F

G

H

£1,887.37

£2,230.52

£2,573.68

£3,088.42

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Minute 11 (2015/16 Council Tax Base and NNDR1)) of the meeting of Executive held on 27 January 2015 was taken as read and adopted. 

 

Councillor Edwards, the Leader of the Council, moved and Councillor Sutton seconded the resolution as set out in the agenda and circulated papers in respect of the Council Tax for 2015/16.

 

The Leader stated that the city had enjoyed the country’s highest level of growth productivity and that as the engine of the local economy direct investment in the city centre was essential. The Council was committed to delivering a swimming pool and leisure complex on the bus and coach site and would continue to work with Crown Estates to achieve this redevelopment.  He advised that the funding cuts from central government were amongst the most severe the Council had faced and the Council had to contend with a 15.6% reduction in Government Formula Grant in setting the budget for 2015/16. 

 

The Leader outlined the Council’s achievements to date which included 3,468 new homes earning the Council £10.2 million in New Homes Bonus; 58 affordable homes since April 2014; increase in visitor numbers and spend in the city; redevelopment of the Guildhall shopping centre; investment made by the University in the city; decision of the Met Office to invest in a super computer at the Science Park; commitment of the Council to small business and traders and the construction sector; the sporting achievements within the city and the forthcoming Rugby World Cup; the partnership working of the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board; the energy saving measures implemented; and working with Teignbridge and East Devon District Councils for the development of the Greater Exeter Area. For next year’s budget, the Council had made another £1.4 million of savings to revenue costs by a combination of restructuring and efficiency savings. This had been achieved without a reduction in front line services although this would become more challenging over the next four years.

 

The Leader continued that the budget proposed aimed to deliver the necessary savings to protect and maintain as far as possible the services which the citizens of Exeter needed the most. The recommendation set out in the papers would result in the setting of a City Council tax of £135.05 for a Band D property, an increase of 1.99% over the previous year, equivalent to an additional £2.63 per year or 5p per week. This would still mean that Exeter City Council had the lowest District Council Tax in Devon.  

 

During discussion the following points were raised:-

 

·         the council would still need to look to work in a more efficient way to protect front line services during the difficult financial times ahead

·         the continuing housing development in the city was welcomed as was the investment by the University and Met Office

·         support for keeping Council Tax under the 2% Government Cap

·         New Homes Bonus monies had been used to deliver local infrastructure projects and to support community groups.

 

A Member commented that the Council had not actually had a cut in Central Government Grant with the income that it had received in Business Rates and New Homes Bonus monies; there had been a reduction in front lines services; and that he could not support the impact that the interest on borrowing would have on the revenue budget.

 

RESOLVED:-

To pass the following resolution

 

(1)        That the following, as submitted in the Estimates Book, be approved:-

 

            (a)        the Revenue estimates for 2015-2016;

 

            (b)        the Capital programme for 2015-2016;

 

(2)        that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 27 January 2015, the Council calculated the figure of 34,750, as its council tax base for the year 2015-2016 in accordance with the Local Authorities  (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

(3)        that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2015-2016 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

 

(a)        £107,445,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2)(a) to (f) of the Act;

 

(b)        £102,752,012 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d) of the Act;

                       

(c)        £4,692,988 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (3)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in  accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year;

 

(d)        £135.05 being the amount at (3)(c) above divided by the amount at 2 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year;

 

            (e)        Valuation Bands

 

                                                                       

                       

A

B

C

D

£90.03

£105.04

£120.04

£135.05

 

 

 

 

E

F

G

H

£165.06

£195.07

£225.08

£270.10

 

 

Being the amount given by multiplying the amount at (3)(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 listed in different valuation bands.

 

(4)        That it will be noted that, for the year 2015-2016, Devon County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts on precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2003, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:-

 

            Devon County Council

            Valuation Bands

 

A

B

C

D

£774.18

£903.21

£1,032.24

£1,161.27

 

 

 

 

E

F

G

H

£1,419.33

£1,677.39

£1,935.45

£2,322.54

 

 

            Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

 

A         

B

C

D

£112.98

£131.81

£150.64          

£169.47

E

F

G

H

£207.13

£244.79

£282.45

£338.94

           

 

            Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

            Valuation Bands

 

A         

B

C

D

£52.28

£60.99

£69.71

£78.42

E

F

G

H

£95.85

£113.27

£130.70

£156.84

           

                       

(5)        That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (3)(e) and (4) above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government  Finance Act 1992, hereby set the following amounts as the amounts of council tax for the year 2015-2016 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

 

            Valuation Bands

 

A

B

C

D

£1,029.47

£1,201.05

£1,372.63

£1,544.21

E

F

G

H

£1,887.37

£2,230.52

£2,573.68

£3,088.42

 

 

In accordance with Standing Order 30 a named vote on the Resolution was recorded, as follows:

 

Voting for:

 

Councillors Baldwin, Bialyk, Branston, Brimble, Choules, Clark, Dawson, Denham, Edwards, Foggin, George, Hannaford, Henson, Holland, Laws, Leadbetter Lyons, Morris, Mottram, The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillors Owen, Pearson, Raybould, Robson, Sheldon, Spackman, Sutton, Tippins, Wardle and Williams.

 

(30 Members)

 

Voting against:

 

Councillors Brock, Fullam and Mitchell,

 

(3 Members)

 

Abstain:

 

The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor 

 

(1 Members)

 

Absent:

 

Councillors Bowkett, Bull, Donovan Crew, Shiel and Winterbottom.

 

(6 Members)

 

The Resolution was carried.

 

 

Supporting documents: