Agenda item

To pass the following resolution:-

 

RESOLVED:-

 

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

 

            (a)        the Revenue estimates for 2022-2023;

 

            (b)        the Capital programme for 2022-2023;

 

            (c)        the Treasury Management Strategy for 2022-2023

 

(d)        the Prudential indicators for 2022-2023 (incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement

 

            (e)        the Capital Strategy for 2022-2023

 

(2)        that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 11 January 2022, the Council calculated the figure of 37,666, as its council tax base for the year 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

 

(a)        £111,826,010 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)        £105,420,892 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)        £6,405,118 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)        £170.05 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
£113.37	£132.26	£151.16	£170.05
E	F	G	H
£207.84	£245.63	£283.42	£340.10

 

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 2022-2023, 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

             

 

A	B	C	D
£xxx.xx	£xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx
E	F	G	H
£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx

 

            Devon County Council - Adult Social Care

 

A	B	C	D
£xxx.xx	£xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx
E	F	G	H
£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx

 

 

            Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

 

A	B	C	D
£164.37	£191.77	£219.16	£246.56
E	F	G	H
£301.35	£356.14	£410.93	£493.12

           

 

            Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

            Valuation Bands

 

A	B	C	D
£xx.xx	£xx.xx	£xx.xx	£xx.xx
E	F	G	H
£xx.xx	£xxx.xx	£xxx.xx	£xxx.xx

                       

(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 2022-2023 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

 

 

 

            Valuation Bands

 

A	B	C	D
£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx
E	F	G	H
£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx	£x,xxx.xx

 

  Standing Order 30

 

Members are asked to note that a recorded vote is required to approve the budget and to set the Council Tax in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014. Standing Order 30 refers.

 

Minutes 4 (General Fund/HRA Estimates and Capital Programme 2022/23), 5 (Capital Strategy 2022/23), 6 (The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (Incorporating the Annual Statement of Minimum Revenue Provision) and 7 (Treasury Management Strategy Report 2022/23) of the meeting of the Combined Strategic Scrutiny and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committees held on 10 February 2022 were taken as read and noted.

 

Minute 8 (Council Tax Base and NNDR 1 2022/23) of the meeting of Executive held on 11 January 2022 was taken as read and adopted. 

 

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded, the resolution as set out in the agenda and circulated papers in respect of the Council Tax for Exeter for 2022/23.

 

The following alternatives had been submitted by the Progressive Group and the Conservative Group respectively:-

 

Alternatives to the proposed budget by the Progressive Group – received Monday 14 February 2022

 

Proposal 1

 

Proposed by Cllr K. Mitchell

Seconded by Cllr M. Mitchell

 

That the Council employ a full time Planning Enforcement Officer Grade G in 2022/23.

 

The total cost of this post including the market surcharge and on costs is £41,196.00.

 

The cost of this additional post be found by the Council introducing a charging regime for its Pre Application Advice Service to developers.

 

Using a system similar to Plymouth City Council in regard to a major development deemed to be 10 properties or more, the scale of charges is £2,028-£3,728. There is a higher negotiated scale of charges for developments involving more than 150 properties.

 

Last year, the Council was involved in pre application advice regarding 26 “major developments”. Therefore, using the Plymouth scale, the income that Exeter could have raised last year would have been a minimum of £52,728.

 

Councillor K. Mitchell, as a co-leader of an opposition group and in moving the first alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         a planning enforcement officer would contribute to developers taking planning conditions more seriously;

·         there was currently a back log of approximately 160 planning enforcement cases and an increasing number of residents were concerned about the flouting of Planning Committee conditions;

·         public confidence in the planning system was vital and a key element was knowing that the City Council would quickly investigate and enforce planning breaches;

·         a need for a Planning Enforcement Officer has been longstanding as recognised by the employment of a temporary Agency Officer for a six month period costing the Council £43,000. The proposal for a permanent post would cost £41,196 per annum to be funded by charging for major pre-application advice;

·         major applications are defined as more than 10 dwellings or more than 1,000 square metres of floor space. For larger developments of 150 plus dwellings or larger than 4 hectares, a higher fee can be negotiated; and

·         a charging scheme should more than cover the cost of a permanent planning officer.

Councillor M. Mitchell, in seconding the first alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         an effective and efficient enforcement policy is vital for planning decisions to be robustly enforced;

·         many other local planning authorities employ planning enforcement officers;

·         planning officers, who already work within tight timeframes, should not be expected to enforce planning conditions;

·         the employment of the temporary agency enforcement officer to deal with the backlog is an admission that there is a problem and the Council should therefore employ its own full time enforcement officer, paying less for a full time employee for 12 months than the cost of an agency employee for 6 months;

·         a charging regime should be introduced for pre-application advice that is currently available to developers free of charge. It should be based on Plymouth City Council’s scale of charges. The income raised would be in excess of that required to fund this post;

·         manydevelopers are involved in multi-million pound schemes and already pay Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and other charges related to their development. An additional charge would not therefore be a deterrent; and

·         a free pre-application service will continue to be provided for those involved in smaller scale applications.

 

Councillor Bialyk, speaking as Leader, stated that the Budget had been developed in the preceding months and that it was difficult to take on board suggested changes at this stage. He advised that responses to the suggestion would be made by the relevant Portfolio Holder as part of the Budget speech. He stated that his Group would not be supporting the alternative.

 

The first alternative of the Progressive Group was put to the vote and LOST.

 

Proposal 2

 

Proposed by Cllr D. Moore

Seconded by Cllr A. Sparling

 

That the Council employ a full time Scrutiny Programme Officer Grade H post in 2022/23. The total cost of this post including on-costs is £42,828.

 

The purpose is to support the Scrutiny Programme Board, the Scrutiny Committees, officers and Councillors to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council’s scrutiny function and contribute towards the Council’s objective of being a well-run Council.

 

The cost of the post for 2022/23 to be met from Housing Revenue Account unallocated funds of £4,282.80 and from the General Fund Final Settlement of £38,545.20. Total funding £42,828.

 

Councillor D. Moore, as a co-leader of an opposition group and in moving the second alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         a well-run Council is only as good as its scrutiny process and a key role is to hold the Executive to account;

·         support is required to progress a work plan as the Council no longer has a Scrutiny Programme Officer to progress important issues such as food waste collection, the cost of St. Sidwell’s Point, the net zero activity, air quality and issues suggested by the Council Housing and Development Advisory Board. A Scrutiny Programme Officer would also be able to help and support members of the public wanting to come forward to ask questions;

·         funding for one year is proposed from the slightly higher than expected final settlement from Government and a small percentage allocated from the HRA unallocated budget; and

·         on-going funding could be identified from reviewing the Senior Management Board as part of the One Exeter process as well as a review of Council non-scrutiny boards and committees, possibly by introducing a scrutiny role for them, including representation by external members to strengthen partnership working.

Councillor Sparling, in seconding the second alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         welcome the progress made over the past year on setting the scrutiny agenda, but the level of scrutiny activity has not followed this progress;

·         with the introduction of a combined committee, work by the individual scrutiny committees has been delayed, such as work on those at risk of homelessness and/or victims of domestic abuse which a Scrutiny Programme Officer could have progressed; and

·         a Scrutiny Programme Officer would drive reviews, especially those delayed, and improve opportunities for feedback and follow up from meetings.

 

Councillor Bialyk, speaking as Leader, stated that the Budget had been developed in the last few months and that it was difficult to take on board suggested changes at this stage. He advised that responses to the suggestion would be made by the relevant Portfolio Holders as part of the Budget speech. He stated that his Group would not be supporting the alternative.

 

The second alternative of the Progressive Group was put to the vote and LOST.

 

Alternatives to the proposed budget by the Conservative Group – received Wednesday 16 February 2022

 

Proposed by Cllr A. Leadbetter

Seconded by Cllr A. Jobson

 

Alternative to the Budget

 

In Exeter there are over 5,600 exempt dwellings in respect of occupation mostly by students if those properties were subject to Council Tax at Band B, this would provide the Council with an additional £725,000 of annual income. It is time the legislation was changed to permit this because it is clear from tonight’s resolution that tough decisions have to be made.

 

However, the Conservative Group does not support the budget as set by the Labour administration.

 

The Conservative Group proposes the following amendment:

 

(a)        provision should be made for the roll out of re-cycling of food waste across the City as a matter of urgency and without further delay. There should be support given to a programme to better educate residents as to what can be re-cycled;

 

(b)        from the 15% Community element of CIL there should be a programme to refit and update the City’s play parks - such work to be completed within two years. The Connect and Well-being budgets to be reduced accordingly;

 

(c)        the feasibility study for the Wonford Community Centre should be reduced to £250,000 and the refurbishment of the Wonford Centre should be budgeted for the year 2022/23 with no further delays;

 

(d)        the funding from the saving in the above feasibility budget should be used for corridors and smaller green spaces for wildflower planting; and

 

(e)        provision should be made for the Exeter City Council Car Parks to offer free parking on the 1^st Sunday in each month.

 

Councillor Leadbetter, as leader of an opposition group, in moving the alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         accept that the Government has made year on year cuts in support to Local Government, however Exeter benefits from significant income streams as evidenced from flagship projects such as the new bus station and St. Sidwell’s Point, although these have led to increased debt repayments;

·         the amendment seeks contributions to other areas of the city such as parks and open spaces not just the city centre;

·         the roll-out of the new food waste collection service should be brought forward; and 

·         a re-allocation of part of the budget to support every day services would be of greater benefit to Exeter’s citizens.

 

Councillor Jobson, in seconding the alternative, made the following points:-

 

·         a change in legislation is required to remove Council Tax exemptions for students, both in houses in multiple occupation and Purpose Built Student Accommodation. If these properties were charged at Band D, an extra £725,000 per year could be raised which would contribute towards improved services for the wider Exeter population;

·         Exeter’s re-cycling rate of 28% compares unfavourably to East Devon’s 60%. A full roll out of the food waste collection service should be timetabled before the end of this financial year with the kerbside glass collection rolled out by the end of the 2023/24 financial year;

·         a greater percentage of CIL monies should be earmarked for the refurbishment of play parks and the provision of up to date equipment and this should be timetabled over the next two years. Greater use of play areas, by parents and children alike, would contribute to improved health and well-being;

·         clear objectives for the Wonford Centre should be established quickly through reducing the scope and cost of the feasibility study. Savings would be achieved in the current financial year which would go towards the development of the scheme;

·         health and wellbeing of citizens can be further improved by wild flower planting across the city and additional street cleaning; and

·         footfall in the city centre fell during the Pandemic and offering free Sunday car parking would further support its growth back to pre-Pandemic level.

 

Councillor Leadbetter commended the alternative to Council.

 

Councillor Bialyk, speaking as Leader, advised that his Group would be opposing the suggestions and stated that responses to them would be made by the relevant Portfolio Holders as part of the Budget speech.

 

The alternative of the Conservative Group was put to the vote and LOST.

 

The Leader, in presenting his Budget speech, detailed the following:-

 

·         a balanced budget for the next financial year was proposed, the Medium Term Financial Plan identifying a need to reduce the budget and increase income generation to address a £7.65 million budget shortfall by the end of March 2025, to be delivered through the One Exeter work programme. This work would focus on key priorities - delivering a Net Zero Carbon City and building great neighbourhoods, a healthy and inclusive city, a place where people want to live, to work and to visit and a city of community and great quality of life;

·         Exeter is the city with the second highest growth in population in the UK, the second lowest claimant count rate in the UK and with average salaries above those of the South West;

·         the Our Exeter Works hub opened in the city centre in April 2021 to support individuals affected by the Pandemic, with over 200 people helped. The Devon Youth Hub offers targeted employment and training advice to people aged 16-24;

·         the City Council is a Kickstart Gateway Organisation supporting 90 young people into a kickstart placement, some within the Council, and the skills agenda for Exeter supports careers in the construction industry through the Building Greater Exeter Partnership;

·         the Exeter Grants Programme aims to support community groups and organisations to reduce disadvantage and inequality, improve health and wellbeing and increase individual and community resilience;

·         the Grants team has distributed 8,486 grants to businesses totaling nearly £50 million. Test and Trace Support Payments have been distributed to 709 households in receipt of benefit - a total of £354,500. A further 468 low income workers received £234,000 to support them while self-isolating, including 184 parents who received £92,000 to allow them to stay at home;

·         smaller ward grants help fund projects, including support for different cultures in Exeter;

·         the Household Support Fund, administered since November, helped more than 550 low income families with the cost of essentials. More than £180,000 was awarded towards food, fuel and other essentials with £150,000 paid out in Discretionary Housing Payments;

·         consultation on the strategic options for the new Local Plan have commenced, highlighting important issues around place-making in the city, Net Zero, biodiversity, connectivity and active travel. Communities, neighbourhoods and businesses will all be able to engage in the consultation process;

·         Ian Collinson, the new Director of Planning and Development, joins in April from his current role at Homes England, giving renewed impetus to the Liveable Exeter programme, which is focused on delivering a series of new sustainable neighbourhoods and communities within Exeter and building on the Garden City principles to deliver up to 12,000 new homes over the next 20 years;

·         £1.6 million Government funding was secured to progress the Council housing retrofit programme and 370 properties will be completed by April 2022 with another 250 properties targeted for completion during 2022/23;

·         the Council’s Extra Care housing scheme, Edwards Court, named in honour of former Leader Peter Edwards, provides 53 one and two bedroom flats;

·         the Council’s development company, Exeter City Living, continues to set new standards for housing in Exeter, lifting residents out of fuel poverty;

·         a new Tenants and Leaseholders Group, known as Tenants’ Voice, has been introduced, a new Residents’ Involvement Strategy created and a Council Housing and Development Advisory Board is operational. A review of the Tenancy Policy and Strategy will occur and a new Neighbourhood Strategy will be introduced;

·         a Council-owned residential property company will be formed to assist people who do not qualify for Council housing;

·         the frontline homeless service provides assessment and emergency accommodation. The Council has purchased 16 new units of accommodation under the Rough Sleeper Accommodation programme, and has been awarded an additional £2.5 million for a further 32 units. The Council has worked with a new housing provider, Exeter City Community Trust, to obtain over £500,000 Government funding for supporting homeless people into housing;

·         a pilot housing and support project has been established with Colab for vulnerable women fleeing domestic violence;

·         the Council works with the Exeter Homelessness Partnership to improve the integration of services for local homeless and vulnerably housed people;

·         the refuse and re-cycling service has been maintained and expanded and the first phase of the food waste collection service to 1,300 properties in Alphington rolled out;

·         tree planting continues city-wide, with more than 680 trees planted last year;

·         major investment has included:-

 

• £140,000 on playing pitch improvements in Pinhoe; 

• £233,000 on the Welcome Back Fund for the High Street;

• £482,000 for the Community Safety Partnership; and

• £72,500 to tackle crime against women at night.

 

·         the Council funds Citizen’s Advice Exeter, Exeter Connect and Wellbeing Exeter;

·         new facilities have been provided in Heavitree and Belmont Park and work continues with the community in Pinhoe to examine the options for a new hub;

·         the Strategic Fund has helped transform community buildings and spaces across the city including the Positive Light Projects in Sidwell Street, Exwick Community Centre and Sidwell Street Bakehouse/Cookery School;

·         a Net Zero Carbon City by 2030 remains the top priority and a New Net Zero team has been established within the Council. A grant of £661,500 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund enabled an upgrade of the Council’s building management system, which will lead to further reductions in carbon footprint. Work continues with the Centre of Energy and Environment at the University of Exeter to create a Corporate Carbon Reduction Plan to meet the Net Zero 2030 commitment;

·         construction has started on the £3.5 million Water Lane Smart Grid and Storage Project and the fleet of electric vehicles will be charged using electricity generated and stored by the Council;

·         a £500,000 upgrade to the Council’s CCTV infrastructure;

·         a new Columbarium will be created within Higher Cemetery in Heavitree;

·         major improvements are planned for the Corn Exchange to increase its capacity and create a top class city centre theatre and entertainment venue;

·         the Custom House team works with Exeter Canal and Quay Trust in developing a range of cultural events and the Red Coats Guided tour service has resumed;

·         Exeter continues to be a city of culture and is an UNESCO City of Literature;

·         a community based arts organisation was recently appointed to consult with residents and artists on creating a new Public Art Strategy for Exeter;

·         large events to be held include Pride, Respect, the Exeter Marathon and Winter Wonderland and Exeter will celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in June;

·         traffic to the Visit Exeter website increased by 66% in 2021 and is almost 10% up on pre-Pandemic levels and Great Western Railway are match funding a new £10,000 campaign to encourage visits to Exeter by train;

·         an integrated approach to leisure, health and wellbeing, in partnership with “Live and Move”, the Sport England Local Delivery Pilot, will help with the Council’s key priorities of promoting active and healthy lives and building great neighbourhoods, while working to reduce health inequalities across the city;

·         outstanding Leisure facilities are run in-house. Since the re-opening of the Riverside Leisure Centre pool in July 2021, the Centre has received over 800,000 visits;

·         together with the new Bus Station opened in July 2021, the £50 million investment in St. Sidwell’s Point is the biggest single investment the Council has made in a generation. St Sidwell’s Point will be one of the best facilities of its kind anywhere in Europe and this Passivhaus, low-energy building is defining standards in the leisure industry;

·         £750,000 has been committed towards the next stage of work on the Wonford Wellbeing Centre, which will see the re-development of the existing sports centre;

·         a balanced budget is again proposed although, by increasing the Council Tax by the maximum £5 available, the Council will only have a small increase in the amount available to spend on services;

·         the proposed budget identifies £1.3 million of reductions and the Council is still generating nearly £3 million more in Business Rates Growth than the Government believes is needed to provide vital services in Exeter;

·         the Council has been awarded a further £1.362 million in New Homes Bonus taking the total earned to close to £29 million. The scheme is to be modified and the Government is still intent on overhauling the Business Rates retention scheme; and

·         further reductions of £6.35 million will be required over the next two years to balance the budget.

It was proposed to approve both the revenue estimates and capital programme for the year 2022/23 to result in the setting of a District Council Tax of £170.05 for a Band D property. This would be an increase of £5 a year for a Band D property, less than 10 pence a week. By comparison, the County precept would rise by £45.18 a year or 87 pence a week, the Police by £10 a year or 19 pence a week and the Fire by £1.79 a year or 3 pence a week. 

Therefore the Band D Council Tax would be split as follows:-

 

Exeter City Council                                                     £170.05

Devon County Council                                                £1,556.46

Devon & Cornwall Police                                            £246.56

Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service            £91.79

 

Making a total bill of:-                                                 £2,064.86

 

Councillor Foale, as the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Environment, thanked staff for their dedication and work and referred also to the successive Government cuts over the years and for the need for over £7.5 million savings to be sought in the next three years.

 

Councillor Morse, as the Portfolio Holder for City Development, made the following points:-

 

·         it was anticipated that the backlog of enforcement cases would be cleared during the six month employment of an agency worker, assisted by the newly appointed Planning Solicitor; and

·         discussions would be held with the Planning Team to free up officer time to focus on more enforcement cases.

 

Councillor Wood, as the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Physical Activity, made the following points:-

 

·         despite Government cuts, the Council continues to invest significantly in discretionary services;

·         St. Sidwell’s Point is a radical, ground breaking development setting a standard for the leisure sector across the country;

·         the re-design of the Wonford Community Centre as a Health and Wellbeing Hub will achieve improved integration with the community;

·         the Riverside Leisure Centre is in full use and all Leisure services have been successfully brought in-house; and

·         the “Live and Move” Programme will encourage more active lifestyles.

 

Councillor Harvey, as the Portfolio Holder for Environment and City Management, made the following points:-

 

·         although one vehicle has been obtained, the roll out of the food waste collection service has not progressed as quickly as hoped as a further vehicle is awaited and should be delivered in May. There had also been difficulties in recruiting drivers. An update report will be presented to the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee on 31 March 2022;

·         the £3.5 million Water Lane Smart Grid and Storage Project will provide a renewable energy supply to the Council’s Operations Depot at Exton Road and support the future electrification of the Council’s operational fleet; 

·         although the City Council is the collection authority, it works with its partners - Devon County Council as the dispersal authority and the Environment Agency on standards;

·         there has also been a delay in the Government announcing further guidance on re-cycling, including the Deposit Return Scheme;

·         CIL monies continue to be invested in funding play area improvements such as the West Garth Road play area. However, delays in the supply chain have limited progress in this area;

·         removal of bins from Cathedral Green led to a reduction in the litter problem;

·         re-wilding has been introduced as an alternative to grass cutting;

·         discussions are ongoing with Devon County Council to achieve a balance between car parks and off street parking charges; and

·         work has continued on combating Ash Die Back.

 

Councillor Ghusain, as the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Culture, stated that the Budget continued to support grass root community and art projects and the enthusiasm, innovation and community spirit of those who participate was to be applauded.

 

Councillor Williams, as the Portfolio Holder for Supporting People, made the following points:-

 

·         welcome support for nearly 8,500 businesses to the value of £50 million during the Covid pandemic; and

·         a bid was being prepared to secure three years’ worth of funding for services targeting an end to rough sleeping in the city by 2025 and a new homelessness strategy for the city is to be co-produced with stakeholders would be launched in the Autumn.

 

A number of Members welcomed and commended the budget proposals as an ambitious and balanced approach to the serious challenges faced by the Council, referring to some of the many achievements. The following were highlighted:-

 

·         the contribution of £260,000 to the YMCA development for 26 self-contained one-bed units that will be opening shortly to residents which was an excellent affordable housing solution for young people in the city;

·         the varied approach to providing housing through the Council retaining its own housing stock, the Council’s Extra Care housing scheme at Edwards Court, Exeter City Living, the Liveable Exeter Strategy, the retrofit programme and the commitment to Passivhaus standards; and

·         the work on the grants programme in response to the Covid pandemic, provided lifelines to businesses, residents and those self-isolating.

 

Councillor D. Moore, as a co-leader of an opposition group, made the following points:-

 

·         all Members agree that the Net Zero 2030 agenda is a priority;

·         support for social justice is also important, especially with rising inequalities and low incomes across the city, particularly in the St David’s Ward;

·         commend the work of the Council Housing and Development Advisory Board and ask for the minutes of the meeting to be made more widely available;

·         concern that rents may not be affordable as part of the proposed Residential Property Company;

·         a focus on discretionary services should be maintained, especially in deprived area with a continued focus on graffiti removal and anti-social behaviour;

·         increasing the debt level results in higher repayments, funds which could be better used to support discretionary services;

·         welcome the start on the Net Zero agenda; but hope that all schemes will be assessed for their carbon impact during construction, as well as through their life cycle;

·         there was a need for a more transparent scrutiny process, particularly in respect of the Liveable Exeter Place Board as the scope of the Board has drifted and expanded since it was established. This will become relevant for those schemes identified for the River and Quay and Riverside Valley Park areas;

·         cuts in the community grants over the last three years are regrettable as the community sector plays a vital role in fostering inclusivity and reducing inequality; and

·         welcome further dialogue to help achieve the necessary £6.5 million cuts and request additional meetings for Group Leaders with the Leader.

 

Councillor Leadbetter, as the leader of an opposition group, acknowledged the significant work the Council was doing for the city as set out in the Budget speech. He also referred to the number of grants being made by the Government which had enabled many of the initiatives to be brought forward. Referring to the necessary cuts being made, he urged that support should continue for the disadvantaged such as the homeless and street attached within the Budget. He asked for better communication with Members on the preparation of the Budget.

 

Councillor Wright, in seconding the proposal, referred to the outstanding work being undertaken by the Council, as referred to in the Budget speech, in spite of on-going cuts and to the support and hard work of Council staff, making particular reference to the Housing and Democratic Services teams. She urged Members to take full advantage of the training opportunities available.

 

In conclusion, the Leader thanked the Portfolio Holders for their support and the Chief Executive & Growth Director, the Directors and all Council staff for their work. He undertook to hold meetings with the Group Leaders. Notwithstanding the current Government proposals for levelling up and increasing productivity and employment, Exeter had been working on these areas for the last 10 years and continued to do so. The Council was levelling up for the citizens of Exeter, delivering for everyone in the city, in collaboration with partners, to ensure Exeter remained a city to be proud of.

 

The Leader commended the budget and the recommendations set out in the papers.

 

In accordance with Standing Order 30, a named vote on the Resolution, as set out in the agenda papers, was recorded, as follows:-

 

Voting for:-

 

Councillors Allcock, Atkinson, Begley, Bialyk, Branston, Buswell, Denning, Foale, Ghusain, Hannaford, Harvey, Lights, Martin, Morse, Pearce, Sheldon, Sills, Sutton, Vizard, Wardle, Warwick, Williams, Wood and Wright.

 

(24 Members)

 

Voting against:-

 

Councillors K. Mitchell, M. Mitchell, D. Moore, J. Moore and Sparling

 

(5 Members)

 

Abstain:-

 

The Lord Mayor  

Councillors Holland, Jobson, Leadbetter, Newby and Sparkes

 

(6 Members)

 

Absent:-

 

Councillors Mrs Henson, Quance, Packham and Pearson.

 

(4 Members)

 

The Resolution was CARRIED:-

 

RESOLVED:-

 

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

 

            (a)        the Revenue estimates for 2022-2023;

 

            (b)        the Capital programme for 2022-2023;

 

            (c)        the Treasury Management Strategy for 2022-2023;

 

(d)        the Prudential indicators for 2022-2023 (incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement);

 

            (e)        the Capital Strategy for 2022-2023.

 

(2)        that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 11 January 2022, the Council calculated the figure of 37,666, as its council tax base for the year 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

 

(a)        £111,826,010 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)        £105,420,892 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)        £6,405,118 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)        £170.05 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
£113.37	£132.26	£151.16	£170.05
E	F	G	H
£207.84	£245.63	£283.42	£340.10

 

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 2022-2023, 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

             

A	B	C	D
£915.06	£1,067.57	£1,220.08	£1,372.59
E	F	G	H
£1,677.61	£1,982.63	£2,287.65	£2,745.18

 

            Devon County Council - Adult Social Care

 

A	B	C	D
£122.58	£143.01	£163.44	£183.87
E	F	G	H
£224.73	£265.59	£306.45	£367.74

 

 

            Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

 

A	B	C	D
£164.37	£191.77	£219.16	£246.56
E	F	G	H
£301.35	£356.14	£410.93	£493.12

           

 

            Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

            Valuation Bands

 

A	B	C	D
£61.19	£71.39	£81.59	£91.79
E	F	G	H
£112.19	£132.59	£152.98	£183.58

 

(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 2022-2023 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

 

            Valuation Bands

 

A	B	C	D
£1,376.57	£1,606.00	£1,835.43	£2,064.86
E	F	G	H
£2,523.72	£2,982.58	£3,441.43	£4,129.72