Issue - meetings

The Council considered four reports which together comprised a single Agenda item:

·         the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2016/19 as set out on Agenda pages 35 to 46;

·         the Capital Programme and Strategy 2016/19 as set out on Agenda pages 47 to 58;

·         the Treasury Management Strategy 2016/19 as set out on Agenda pages 59 to 104;

·         the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19 – Revenue Budget Submission on Agenda pages 105 to 108, subject to the tabled statutory resolution, Updated Parish Precepts 2016/17 and Updated Council Tax by Band and Parish 2016/17.

The Mayor reminded Members that a total of 90 minutes would be set aside for debate.

Keith Baker, Leader of the Council, made a statement on the 2016/17 budget, together with his budget proposals (attached at Appendix 1 to these Minutes).

Following his statement, Councillor Baker proposed that the recommendation under Item 66.2, Capital Programme and Strategy 2016/19, be amended as follows:

Replace the existing recommendation under 66.2 with the following:

The Council approve the Capital Programme and Strategy for 2016/19 subject to the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Capital Programme budgets for Car Park Entry/Exit Barriers being reduced to zero pending further review.

The proposed amendment was seconded by Councillor Anthony Pollock.

The proposed amendment was put to the vote and was declared by the Mayor to have been carried.

Councillor Baker then proposed that the recommendation under Item 66.4, Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2016/19, be amended as follows:

Replace the existing recommendation under 66.4 with the following:

Council is recommended to approve:

1)      the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2016/19, including the Revenue Budget submission for 2016/17 subject to the following adjustments:

(a)  the introduction of Transitionary Grant of £2.1m in 2016/17 and 2017/18 following the final Local Government Finance Settlement announcement;

(b)  the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Capital Programme budgets for Car Park Entry/Exit Barriers be reduced to zero pending further review;

(c)  the provisional precept figure for Arborfield, Earley, Winnersh and Woodley to be amended to final figures;

(d)  the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority precept to be included at £4,043,906.

2)      The Statutory Resolution, incorporating the above amendments, that sets out the 2016/17 Council tax levels, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

The proposed amendment was seconded by Councillor Anthony Pollock.

The proposed amendment was put to the vote (the Mayor reminded the Council that under “The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014” Councils were required to hold recorded votes in relation to Council Tax decisions.

Consequently, a recorded vote was taken on the proposed amendment.