Agenda item

Budget 2023/24

To pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED:-

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

(a) the Revenue estimates for 2023-2024;

(b) the Capital programme for 2023-2024;

(d) the Prudential indicators for 2023-2024 (incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement); and

(e) the Capital Strategy for 2023-2024.

(2) that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 10 January 2023, the Council calculated the figure of 38,247, as its council tax base for the year 2023-2024 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 2023-2024 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

(a) £122,016,928 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) £115,318,731 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) £6,698,197 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) £175.13 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
£116.75	£136.21	£155.67	£175.13

E	F	G	H
£214.05	£252.97	£291.88	£350.26

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 2023-2024, 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
£174.37	£203.44	£232.50	£261.56

E	F	G	H
£319.68	£377.81	£435.93	£523.12

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 2023-2024 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:

Minutes 6 (General Fund/HRA Estimates and Capital Programme 2023/24), 7 (Capital Strategy 2023/24), 8 (The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (Incorporating the Annual Statement of Minimum Revenue Provision) and 9 (Treasury Management Strategy Report 2023/24) of the meeting of the Combined Strategic Scrutiny and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committees held on 9 February 2023 were taken as read and noted.

Minute 8 (Council Tax Base and NNDR 1 2023/24) of the meeting of Executive held on 10 January 2023 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 2023/24.

The following alternatives to the Budget had been submitted by the Progressive Group:-

Alternatives to the proposed budget by the Progressive Group – received Wednesday 15 February 2023

Proposer: Councillor Diana Moore

Seconder: Councillor Carol Bennett

The Progressive Group noted the Budget put forward and proposed the following amendments:

Amendment 1: Capital Budget

The proposed budget transfers surplus income from the Guildhall Shopping Centre for 2023/24 (£1,089,000) to earmarked reserves for use for purposes as agreed with Government. The amendment is to use the surplus income for relevant purposes i.e. to repair the Guildhall Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP) (Part A), so releasing the funds proposed to be drawn down through borrowing for use on other projects (set out in Part B):

Part A:

a. Use £883,400 of the surplus income to fund the repairs to the Guildhall MSCP £883,400 in 2025/26, which would be in line with the agreement with Government.

b. To install and pilot in the Guildhall Car Park two lockable bicycle shelters for use by residents and one Bike Dock Solutions (BDS) cycle charging point for use by visitors and residents at a total cost of £9,400.

The remaining surplus income (£196,200) should be transferred to earmarked reserves.

Part B:

The investment (from borrowing) for works to the Guildhall MSCP to be reallocated for:

a. A contribution of £537,750 for the replacement of Mallison Bridge to match partners’ contributions (£500,000 Devon County Council, Exeter Canal and Quay Trust and the Mallison Bequest). Total project costs £1,037,750. The replacement of Mallison Bridge not only alleviates the problems created on the historic Quayside of funnelling all users through a small passageway but will also restore a strategic cycle and walking route.

b. Invest £250,000 in the parks and open spaces infrastructure in the City Centre parks to boost investment in nature, play and improve community safety.

c. One off refurbishment of Musgrave Row public toilets of £95,650.

Amendment 2: General Fund

Car Parks It is proposed to:-

A. Extend the charging periods on a Thursday evening for the John Lewis, Guildhall, Mary Arches (ground level) and Mary Arches (multi storey) to align with the charges for those car parks on every other night of the week (i.e. to 10pm) and all other Central and Zone 1 Car parks. This will raise (£37,077.60) p.a.

To be spent on the one off reopening costs of £7,000 for Musgrave Row public toilets. Thereafter, this income to be used to fund ongoing staff costs of £7,200 and £1,840 maintenance costs (Total £16,040).

The remaining funds £21,037.60 to be used for planting in the city's parks.

B. To reverse the proposed cut to Exeter Community Grants Programme from £204,000 to £15,000 by increasing car parking charges across the board by 2.5% to raise £193,858 to create a Community funding programme of £208,858.

Amendment 3: General Fund

Retrofit

In 2020 Council allocated £300,000 for three business cases, some of which has been spent on one business case. The 2023/2024 budget proposes to use £49,000 of these funds to fund a potential compulsory purchase in respect of Mary Arches which leaves £143,000 unspent.

It is proposed to use these remaining funds to kick start the work to establish the viability of a city wide retrofit programme, learning from the Council's own work on its Council Housing, the work of the Local Government Association and other Councils.

The proposal is to appoint two Officers both at Grade H (£92,980 total) for a period of 16 months (Total £123,973) to develop the model and feasibility of rolling out refurbishment at scale resulting in an evidence based business case for progressing the project. The remaining funds: £19,027 would be allocated for project costs.

One role would be Technical - focusing on modelling the scope, technical and financial issues. The other role would focus on Partnership and Community engagement to demonstrate demand and delivery capability. Building on the partnerships with other District Councils, Housing Associations, Exeter College, the University and business bodies to understand the supply chain, skills and workforce development needs and engage with residents and business to cultivate demand, and understand and develop solutions to the barriers to progressing this work.

Councillor D. Moore, as a co-leader of the Progressive Group and in moving the amendments, made the following points:-

· theOrganisational Change Programme, One Exeter, would significantly change how the Council worked and communities and the environment will more directly experience the impact of the cuts to the Council’s budget. The amendments therefore sought to enable the Council to do more to progress its stated priorities without increasing borrowing;

· other aspects of the amendments sought to respond to identified community needs and make further progress on tackling the climate and ecological emergencies;

· the income from the Guildhall Shopping Centre can be used for the regeneration of the area. By using the income from the shopping centre in the proposed way, it would release funds that were to be borrowed to repair the Guildhall MSCP for other uses;

· additional funding for the retrofit work across the city was proposed and it would be vital to understand the nature and scale of the task and identify a sound technical and financial basis for any potential company that the Council then might decide to set up.

Councillor Bennett, in seconding the amendment, made the following points:-

· the amendments sought to prioritise community safety through investment in the city’s parks as it was vital to maintain and enhance open spaces for nature, residents and visitors. Investment in the parks infrastructure would increase people’s confidence so that they would feel safer in the city's parks and not fear anti-social behaviour;

· the proposals also sought to take further action in tackling the climate and ecological emergencies by piloting lockable bike hangers and electric bike charging points to give people confidence to switch to electric bikes, knowing that they would be secure and could be easily charged. It should be rolled out across the city; and

· the work on the Homelessness Task and Finish Group was welcomed which identified the need for free open public toilets to ensure that people sleeping rough did not have to use desperate measures to avoid using a toilet or going in places which adds to the problems of anti-social behaviour. Musgrave Row toilets were an ideal central location near to the car parks and those who use the car park would help contribute to the capital works for refurbishment and reopening as well as revenue costs for ongoing maintenance and cleaning.

The following comments were made by Members:-

· Mallison Bridge on the Quay had been out of use since 2018. This Bridge was a part of a strategic route for walking and cycling around Exeter, encouraging Active Travel, which is a stated goal of this Council and Devon County Council. Its loss had a huge impact on those who lived around and visit the Quay, as their only option now was to be funnelled through a narrow alleyway in order to continue their journey;

· the Quay was a hugely popular asset in Exeter; visitors and locals alike enjoy the route along the river and replacing the Bridge would restore the ability to enjoy the river. The importance of this route is highlighted by its continued inclusion within Devon County Council’s cycle map;

· the news that a funding bid was underway to replace the Bridge was welcomed, but it was just a bid and it was yet to be submitted with the outcome unknown;

· over the years, many residents and owners of small and medium size business had requested that car parking charges be capped or not increased;

· the St. Loyes ward has had its bus service significantly reduced forcing residents to use their cars to access the city centre and are likely to park at the Guildhall, Mary Arches Street and John Lewis Car Parks. They will now be discouraged from using the city centre because of the suggestion to extend the charging periods in these car parks which will have a knock on effect on city centre businesses; and

· there would be an increased car usage and associated gridlock as a result of the removal of three double decker buses serving St. Peters School as students will now be taken to school by their parents.

Councillor D. Moore, in commending the alternative Budget to Council made the following points:-

· the budget for the Exeter Community Grants programme was just £15,000, a reduction from £204,000. The Council had received a New Homes Bonus of £29.627 million between 2011/12 to 2023/24 which, during this period, supported community projects. When it was set up the Exeter Grants programme and Exeter Fund was initially funded from the New Homes Bonus Community Reserve of £265,000 per year for three years and the Neighbourhood Proportion of the CIL (where receipts allow) of £800,000 per year, creating a total annual fund of £1,065,000. It covered ward grants, community buildings and small and large grants. New Homes Bonus is now proposed to be used in general terms to fund the Council;

· in 2019, the Exeter Community Grants Programme had an annual budget of around £1 million and, whilst 127 community groups last year received a grant from the Council at an estimated value of £463,709, there is now practically no budget;

· grants were used effectively during the Covid lockdown helping the community to respond and support their neighbours and, since then, community grants and ward grants have been vital to help re-establish community action; and

· the proposals offered good value for money and would mean an average city centre car parking fee for a Thursday evening would increase by 14p. It would negate the need for borrowing and support Active Travel and a healthy city.

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 stated that his group would not be supporting the alternative Budget.

The alternative Budget proposals of the Progressive Group were put to the vote and LOST.

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

· setting a balanced budget for the year ahead had been extremely challenging and, together with the Portfolio Holders and the Senior Management Team, the city’s needs had been examined in light of the reduction in Government funding of more than 60 pence in every pound over the last 12 years coupled with the need to make efficiency savings and generate additional income;

· there had been a funding gap in the Medium Term Financial Plan of £6.6 million when presented to Executive in February 2022 and the position had changed over the last year, due to inflationary pressures causing higher staff salaries and energy costs, together with higher interest rates. As a result, the funding gap had increased to £9.675 million or nearly 18% of the Council’s General Fund operating budget;

· as a result of energy price rises, rising interest rates and the national Cost of Living Crisis, the Medium Term Financial Plan identifies increased funding gaps of £3.095 million in 2023/24; £2.236 million in 2024/25, £2.45 million in 2025/26 and £1.8 million in 2026/27;

· a replacement for Mallison Bridge at Exeter Quay is not in the Capital Budget Programme as the Council does not have the necessary funds but ways to deliver it will continue to be explored and a joint bid is being prepared with Devon County Council to secure funding through the Department for Transport’s Active Travel programme. If successful, this will lead to a replacement bridge for cyclists and pedestrians;

· an additional £100,000 is being made available for the Splash Park in St. Thomas and paddling pools in Heavitree, all free facilities;

· the food waste collection rollout is progressing well and, from July 2022, the rollout commenced to Alphington, then Beacon Heath last October, Pinhoe in November and St. Loyes in January. The next rollout will be Exwick and St. Thomas in the middle of February then the Pinhoe, Stoke Hill and Pennsylvania areas together with the Heavitree and Polsloe areas from March to May. This would take the number of homes receiving food waste collections in the city to more than 20,000. It is very popular with residents and will significantly increase the recycling rate;

· a team has been established to deliver Net Carbon Zero within the City Council, with an action plan produced to reduce carbon emissions. The first three electric refuse collection trucks are now operating and the solar array and battery storage facility at Marsh Barton is now operating, linking directly to the Materials Recycling Facility at Exton Road and will be used to power the electric vehicle fleet. The solar array on the roof of the Riverside Leisure Centre has been completed;

· trees have been planted throughout the city, including 591 whips in a new woodland project at Newhaven fields and the sustainable wild flower planting programme has been continued;

· protecting and enhancing green spaces remains a priority and, in November last year, an independent study by the University of Sheffield looking at 68 cities in the UK and scoring them according to greenness, tree canopy cover and percentage of green space rated Exeter as No 1;

· footfall has returned strongly to the city centre following the Pandemic, with the recent Christmas period the busiest in four years. 2022 saw an annual footfall increase of 22.9% to 24.3 million, a figure almost 20 % higher than the pre-Pandemic 2019 figure;

· the CCTV control room has been upgraded with new and better quality cameras as part of the commitment to ensuring Exeter is a Safe City for all;

· the in-house Exeter Leisure service has gone from strength to strength with St. Sidwell’s Point opened at the end of April last year winning many regional and national awards. All the leisure facilities continue to be well used and highly valued by residents and membership figures are increasing;

· the BBC recently reported that more than 60 public pools across the UK have closed over the last three years but Exeter has bucked the trend through the Council’s vision to deliver a new swimming pool and leisure centre helping make Exeter a healthy and active city for all residents. The launch of the new Live and Move strategy will help more people lead active lifestyles through the partnership programme with Sport England to 2025;

· the Playing Pitch Strategy has been agreed and there is a commitment from partners to invest in improving Exeter’s playing fields;

· the inspirational Inclusive Communities Programme is supporting hundreds of people from the city’s culturally diverse communities;

· designs for a new Community Wellbeing Hub in Wonford will be submitted later this year following widespread consultation;

· support for communities has continued through these challenging financial times with £850,000 spent directly supporting 112 groups to deliver community activities across the city. These included:-

· almost £30,000 on community groups to run activities in their wards;

· £75,000 supporting community buildings;

· £50,000 on small grants for projects that run across the city;

· £60,000 on capital support for community buildings;

· £10,000 to support community groups in providing warm spaces and facilitating free use of community facilities to anyone in need of them over the coldest winter months;

· £200,000 contributed in the last 12 months to ensure that Citizen Advice Exeter can continue to support residents during the Cost of Living Crisis;

· £180,000 in the last 12 months to Exeter Community Initiatives to provide voluntary sector support and advice; and

· Community organisations will be further boosted with the launch of the Exeter Community Lottery later this year;

· the Council continued to support residents through the Cost of Living Crisis, distributing payments from the various Household Support Fund schemes to 7,489 households, with a total value of £715,673. The Council had distributed the Council Tax £150 Energy Rebate, both the mandatory and discretionary schemes, to 45,557 households, with a total value of £6,803,310;

· the Leader was proud of the way Exeter has responded over the last year to the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The city had welcomed those forced to escape the war with open arms. The Devon Ukrainian Association had been supported through the Conversation Café, supported by Home Office funding. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Council has distributed just over £43,000 in guest payments to Ukrainian refugees since the scheme started, helping 213 individuals. So far, 133 payments have been paid to hosts, totalling £268,650, including £54,100 in discretionary payments, which top up the £350 per host payment from the Government to £500. The Council has also given £39,492 towards rent and moving costs which has helped 13 Ukrainian households to move into their own private rented accommodation;

· providing quality housing remained a key strategic priority. Last October the Council’s extra care housing scheme at Edwards Court was opened. It had been developed in partnership with Devon County Council and was the first extra care scheme in the city. It provides 53 flats for affordable rent and was recently praised by the NHS for helping to take the pressure off hospital beds in the city. It is also the country’s first Passivhaus care facility;

· work on 21 new Passivhaus flats have been commenced at Hamlin Gardens;

· site clearance and the tendering process has been completed for the commencement of 92 flats at The Gardens Whipton, at Vaughan Road;

· the delivery of the Council Housing Retrofit Programme had been delivered with 420 properties completed to date with some £1.6 million of Government grant helping residents facing spiralling fuel costs by lowering energy use and carbon footprint at the same time;

· a bid for Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding was submitted in November, and the results will be known in March;

· a successful public consultation on the Draft Exeter Plan was held at the end of 2022 highlighting how the city will grow in a sustainable way over the next few decades. Roadshows were held in every ward with over 1,000 people attending. The Local Plan team were analysing almost 4,000 responses from residents, businesses and organisations across the city. A further public consultation, on the final draft Exeter Plan, would take place later this year;

· the Housing Needs Team, voluntary sector partners and volunteers continue to help the homeless or people at risk of homelessness in Exeter and a five year Homelessness Prevention Strategy was to be launched in April. The delivery of rough sleeping services had been extended following a successful £3 million bid to Government. Funding was obtained through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme to purchase 25 former Council one-bed properties to use as stepping stone homes for people recovering from rough sleeping. A successful trial of four new rough sleeping relief pods was run, enabling over 20 rough sleepers with high needs to come off the streets and two bespoke projects provided emergency accommodation and recovery support for victims of domestic violence and abuse, with more than 30 users in the first 12 months;

· the Queen’s Commonwealth Games Baton Relay travelled through Exeter in July, culminating in a visit to St Sidwell’s Point. The Queen’s Jubilee Street Party was delivered to thousands of residents and, with the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Exeter hosted a perfectly executed Proclamation with residents able to pay respects publically at a screening of the state funeral in Northernhay Gardens;

· the Council was currently working with InExeter to deliver a celebration to mark the Coronation of King Charles III;

· Exeter Carnival returned to the city centre for the first time in 25 years in partnership with InExeter;

· supporting Exeter’s cultural offer remains a key strategic priority for the Council. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), the Corn Exchange and attractions like the Underground Passages are supported and, over the next three years, the Council will commit more than £6.78 million in supporting the five National Portfolio Organisations - Exeter Phoenix, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Libraries Unlimited and RAMM; and

· the RAMM was recently awarded Gold in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism category at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards and has held a number of high profile and highly regarded exhibitions over the last 12 months

The proposed Budget

· the proposed budget would achieve the requirement to maintain a minimum balance in excess of £3 million and significant work has been undertaken to deliver substantial reductions and additional income;

· as the Council can no longer merely approve additional expenditure without identifying what will be cut to fund it, is essential that Members and Officers prepare to identify ways to address the further gaps in funding over the life of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

· the proposed revenue estimates and capital programme for the year 2023/24 would result in the setting of a District Council tax of £175.13 for a Band D property which is an increase of £5.08 a year for a Band D property, less than 10p a week.

· The Band D Council Tax will be split as follows:-

Exeter City Council £175.13;

Devon County Council £1,419.21(and social care £214.42);

Devon & Cornwall Police £261.56;

Devon & Somerset Fire £96.79;

Making a total bill of £2,167.61.

Councillor Jobson, as leader of the Conservative group, and, although on behalf of the group supporting the budget, made the following points:-

· she thanked the officers for their work in preparing a balanced budget;

· the higher rate of borrowing has resulted in a Council debt of £167 million of which £56.8 million would not be repaid until 2062 at an interest rate of 3.48%, £34.6 million would not be repaid until 2069 and £43 million would not be repaid until 2071;

· interest rates had gone up to bring inflation under control meaning the end of cheap borrowing previously available through the Public Works Loan Board;

· General Fund and HRA reserves were likely to fall in the next two or three year and this was a concern given the uncertainty over future interest rates;

· the Government had advised that the Business Rates retention scheme which is vital to Exeter and the New Homes Bonus are to remain for at least another year;

· the £29.6 million Exeter has received from the New Homes Bonus since 2011 could have been spent better;

· there was considerable debt and it had to be repaid now and in the future;

· the good news for Council tenants was that rent rises were capped at 7% rather than the Consumer Price Index +1% rate which would have been 11%;

· whilst the increases in car parking charges is logical it is hoped that it will not discourage visits to the city centre which would impact adversely on business including the Guildhall Shopping Centre leading to empty properties;

· the 20% reduction in car park and commercial income predicted would incur a loss of £3 million resulting in a reduction in street cleaning, fewer play areas being upgraded and a reduction in the grants programme; and

· the budget simply brought Council finances under control and therefore should be supported.

Councillor Morse, as the Portfolio Holder for City Development, referring to the particularly challenging nature of this year’s budget setting process, welcomed the following:-

· the retention of the Enforcement Officer’s post;

· the review of the Article 4 Direction;

· the roll-out of the food waste collection service in the Beacon Health area; and

· funding for the Splash pool in St. Thomas and the paddling pool in Heavitree, providing a free facility for families and their children.

Councillor Denning, as the Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing, also welcomed the funding of the Splash pool and paddling pools and remarked that many Council house tenants accepted that increased rentals helped preserve vital services.

Councillor Pearce, as the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Homelessness Prevention, made the following points:-

· in spite of Government cuts, the Council continued to invest in services, the city’s infrastructure and the projects referred to and because of these cuts, borrowing has been necessary;

· the city centre car parks were often close to capacity and the revenue from these also offsets the cuts;

· the community grants programme was an outstanding commitment with £200,000 spent last year;

· the inability to spend committed CIL monies for grant making until they have been lodged with the Council; and

· the grants programme was flexible, for example, it had this year been used to help combat the cost of living crisis.

Councillor Wood, as the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, made the following points:-

· the ongoing challenge in balancing the budget in the face of national, international and global issues;

· the value of the contemporary St. Sidwell’s Point as a radical, ground breaking development setting a standard as an energy saving facility, particularly as the recent high energy costs had contributed to the closure of some 60 leisure pools across the country;

· the charging of the three electric refuse collection vehicles by the solar array and battery storage facility at Marsh Barton would save 35,000 gallons of diesel a year; and

· welcome the upgrading of play park facilities.

Councillor Williams, as the Portfolio Holder for Supporting People, stated that the ward by ward basis for the roll-out of the food waste collection service helped identify efficiencies for the remainder of the programme rollout across the city

A number of Members welcomed and commended the budget proposals as an ambitious and balanced approach to the serious pressures and additional challenges faced by the Council, particularly resulting from the 60% reduction in Government funding over the years, referring to some of the many achievements. The following were highlighted:-

· the significant progress in the roll-out of food waste collection and a very well received presentation to the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2023 by the Service Lead Environmental Health and Community Safety on Waste, Recycling and Fleet;

· the upgrading of the CCTV control room and provision of new and better quality CCTV cameras;

· the Government’s failure to introduce a three year rather than 12 month settlement; the continuing reductions in the block grant support; and the regressive nature of the current Council Tax system, all of which exacerbated the Cost of Living crisis;

· the impact of the Government’s mini budget which it had been calculated had left a £30 billion hole in the economy;

· the Council’s commitment to leisure provision in the city which was not a mandatory duty and the value of affordable and well run facilities from a health and well-being perspective;

· the discretionary employment of an Enforcement Officer;

· the Council’s ambition and vision helping to maintain Exeter as the economic hub of the County; and

· the Council’s humanitarian response in supporting the Ukrainian refugees.

Councillor D. Moore, as co-leader of the Progressive Group commended many of the Council initiatives recognising the multiple crises being faced, including Government cuts, the Cost of Living crisis and the climate and ecological emergencies and, in suggesting that the Budget did not show how the Council would tackle these challenges and rising inequalities, made the following points:-

· the need for a clear commitment to the timing of the full roll out of food waste collection across the city;

· it was hoped that funding for replacing the Mallison Bridge would be included in the Capital Budget in light of the bid to the Department of Transport;

· the maintenance of green spaces in the city centre was vital, particularly as the 11% of tree coverage was not as high as the city’s overall tree canopy of 22%;

· a clear focus on essential services was vital to meet the challenges facing the city;

· the contracts for community services did not go far enough to ensure a robust grant funding programme which was vital to nurture community life in uncertain times;

· as recommend by the Auditor, consultation with the community was important to explain the impact that cuts would have on services;

· it was regrettable that 22% of net income will be spent on the repayment of debt rather than service delivery; and

· cooperation on the challenges facing the Council was welcome.

Councillor Wright, in seconding the proposal, made the following points:-

· the Council’s valuable work with partners through the Community Safety Partnership, benefitting this year from the Safer Streets funding;

· the Gold award to RAMM in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism category at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards; and

· in spite of funding cuts, the Council’s continued commitment to providing discretionary services.

In conclusion, the Leader thanked the Portfolio Holders and Members for their support and re-affirmed many of the points made. He thanked the outgoing Chief Executive & Growth Director for his leadership and support and emphasised that it remained the intention to consult and listen on initiatives and to work collaboratively with others across the Council to face the challenges ahead.

The Leader commended the budget to Council.

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 Asvachin, Atkinson, Bialyk, Branston, Denning, Ellis-Jones, Foale, Ghusain, Hannaford, Harvey, Holland, Jobson, Knott, Lights, Morse, Oliver, Packham, Pearce, Snow, Sutton, Vizard, Wardle, Warwick, Williams, Wood and Wright.

(26 Members)

Voting against:-

Councillors Bennett, K. Mitchell, M. Mitchell, D. Moore, Read, Rees and Sparling

(7 Members)

Abstain:-

The Lord Mayor

(1 Member)

Absent:-

Councillors Allcock, Leadbetter, Newby, J. Moore and Parkhouse

(5 Members)

The Resolution was CARRIED:-

RESOLVED:-

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

(a) the Revenue estimates for 2023-2024;

(b) the Capital programme for 2023-2024;

(d) the Prudential indicators for 2023-2024 (incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement; and

(e) the Capital Strategy for 2023-2024.

(3) that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2023-2024 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

(a) £122,016,928 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) £115,318,731 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;

(e) Valuation Bands

A	B	C	D
£116.75	£136.21	£155.67	£175.13

E	F	G	H
£214.05	£252.97	£291.88	£350.26

Devon County Council

A	B	C	D
£946.14	£1,103.83	£1,261.52	£1,419.21

E	F	G	H
£1,734.59	£2,049.97	£2,365.35	£2,838.42

Devon County Council - Adult Social Care

A	B	C	D
£143.28	£167.16	£191.04	£214.92

E	F	G	H
£262.68	£310.44	£358.20	£429.84

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

A	B	C	D
£174.37	£203.44	£232.50	£261.56

E	F	G	H
£319.68	£377.81	£435.93	£523.12

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

Valuation Bands

A	B	C	D
£64.53	£75.28	£86.04	£96.79
E	F	G	H
£118.30	£139.81	£161.32	£193.58

Valuation Bands

A	B	C	D
£1,445.07	£1,685.92	£1,926.77	£2,167.61
E	F	G	H
£2,649.30	£3,131.00	£3,612.68	£4,335.22

Supporting documents: