Decision - General Fund Revenue Budget & Council Tax 2014/15

79.1         The Mayor noted that all three budget areas listed as Items 79, 80 and 82 would be debated together , along with Item 81 Supplementary Financial Information, once the proposed budget and the various amendments had been moved and seconded and invited Councillor Littman to propose the budget for 2014/15.

 

79.2         Councillor Littman sated that he wished to thank finance officers and all the officers across the council involved in the budget process and his colleagues in enabling the budget papers to be brought to the council meeting.  He was willing to move the budget for 2014/15, but noted that the Green Administration believed that there should be a council tax increase of 4.75% and as such the Group’s first amendment was predicated on that and the positive outcome of a referendum.  He also wished to move the other two Green amendments which were based on a council tax increase of 1.99%.  He noted that the council faced further and more severe cuts for 2016/17 and therefore it was imperative to put the council in the best position possible.  Having had to freeze the budget in previous years, the council had lost £4m of resources that would have been available for the current budget setting process.  He could not support either the Conservative or the Labour & Co-operative amendments and therefore recommended that the council should adopt the budget as amended by the Green Group’s first amendment; and if that should fall then the council should accept the remaining two Green amendments.

 

79.3         Councillor J. Kitcat formally seconded the proposed Budget as amended by the Green Group’s first amendment and also seconded the remaining two Green amendments which would come into effect should the first amendment be lost.  He noted that a lot of progress had been made, with increased visitor numbers to the city, shop vacancies reducing and the city’s economy doing well.  He accepted that there was still more to do and that difficult decisions would have to be taken in face of the level of cuts that were anticipated for the public sector.  The council had lost out on £4m resources because of the council tax freeze and that had increased the pressure to produce a budget for this year.  The council was already incredibly efficient, there were over seventy shared services with other organisations and following the consultations on the budget proposals pubic support for an increase in council tax and a referendum.  He believed that the residents of the city should be given the opportunity to determine whether or not a budget based on a 4.7% increase should be set and therefore urged the council to support the Green Group’s amendment.

 

79.4         Councillor A. Norman moved the seven amendments to the Budget proposals on behalf of the Conservative Group and stated that she did not believe that there was a need to raise council tax.  A council tax freeze could be implemented and should be with the acceptance of the Government’s grant that was on offer.  She also wished to thank the finance officers for their help and assistance with the proposed amendments.  She suggested that further consideration needed to be given to using private contracts and the voluntary sector to help deliver services as well as shared services with other authorities.  There were clear examples of how other authorities had taken such an approach and the council could learn from these.  She also noted that the independent auditors had found council services to be more expensive and suggested that they could be delivered differently.  She noted that the Labour & Co-operative’s proposals amounted to a difference of only £850k from a budget of over £750m and suggested that this level of savings could be found with a council tax freeze budget, rather than seeing residents having to find a way to meet a council tax increase.  She then moved the following amendments:

 

79.5         Councillor G. Theobald formally seconded the Conservative Group’s amendments and thanked Councillor Norman for her hard work in enabling an alternative budget to be proposed.  It was clear that a council tax freeze could be achieved and he noted that the government grant funding had been built into future years budget funding.  There was a need to enable market testing of services and to deliver services more efficiently and to protect those residents on fixed incomes or who were just above the benefit level as they would be hardest hit by the Green Group’s proposals.  He believed that a council tax freeze was supported by the majority of residents and therefore the amendments from the Conservative Group agreed.

 

76.7         Councillor Morgan moved the seven amendments on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative Group and stated that he also wished to thank the finance officers for their assistance and advice during the budget setting process.  He stated that local government was facing an unprecedented assault on it by central government and the amendments sought to clarify matters and take account of the changes being imposed by the government and therefore the Labour & Co-operative Group could not support a council tax freeze.  He also stated that he did not believe that residents would vote in favour of a 4.75% council tax increase in a referendum and that it was better to use the available resources to support services and organisations in the year ahead.  He also suggested that a whole-scale review of the council’s budget position should have been undertaken rather asking departments to volunteer cuts to services.  There was a need to take difficult decisions and the council had to be prepared to take them and part of that process meant implementing a council tax increase as was allowed under the government’s restrictions.  He also noted that local government was the most efficient part of the public sector, yet it was faced with huge cuts to its budgets.  The Labour & Co-operative Group’s amendments reflected the residents’ priorities and he hoped that they would be supported. 

 

76.8         Councillor Hamilton formally seconded the amendments, and stated that he wished to thank all the finance officers for their help and advice during the budget setting process and in enabling the various amendments to be put together.  He was pleased to second the seven Labour & Co-operative Group’s amendments and noted that they did not impact on the 2015/16 budget unlike the Conservative Group’s.  He also noted that the 2015/16 budget process was likely to see a further reduction in the available grants from central government and therefore place more pressure on local authorities to find savings or alternate resources.  He agreed that a council tax freeze even with the £1.2m freeze grant built-in would result in the authority being worse off and that a potential £4m had been lost because of the previous council tax freeze.  However, he could not support a council tax increase above the 2% target and therefore a potential referendum which would be costly and was likely to result in a no vote.  He therefore hoped that the amendments put forward by the Labour & Co-operative Group would be accepted.

 

76.9         The Mayor then opened the matter up to a general debate and the following Members of the Council spoke on the various motions that had been put forward; Councillors Davey, Wakefield, Robins, Simson, Daniel, Wilson, Gilbey, Mitchell, West, Sykes, Cox, Wealls, Shanks, Deane, C. Theobald, K. Norman, Summers, Mac Cafferty, Mears, Hawtree, Duncan, Bowden, Randall, Hyde, Pissaridou, Janio, Peltzer Dunn, Jarrett, Meadows, Carden, J. Kitcat, Phillips and Smith.

 

76.10    The Mayor noted that all Members wishing to speak during the debate had done so.  She then called on Councillor Littman to respond to the debate and the amendments.

 

76.11    Councillor Littman thanked the Mayor and noted that there were a total of 14 amendments put forward by the Opposition Groups all of which had some good elements and all of which could be addressed if a council tax increase of 4.75% was approved.  He did not believe that the outcome of a referendum should be presumed and suggested that with support it was likely that residents could be persuaded to accept the proposed council tax increase and therefore they should be allowed to decide.  On that basis he hoped that the Green Group’s amendment number 1 would be accepted.

 

76.12    The Mayor stated that Items 79 and 80 would be taken together.  She intended to put each of the amendments to the vote, during which she would call on the Executive Director for Finance & Resources to confirm the budgetary position should any be carried and impact on the overall budget; before putting the substantive recommendations to the vote as outlined in the procedural document.

 

76.13    The Mayor then asked for the electronic voting system to be activated and put the Green Group’s amendments to the vote:

 

76.14    Green Amendment No. 1

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden	?				Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell		X
Buckley	?				Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel		X			Phillips	?
Davey	?				Pidgeon - absent
Deane	?				Pissaridou		X
Duncan	?				Powell	?
Farrow		X			Randall	?
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus	?
Hamilton		X			Shanks	?
Hawtree	?				Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers	?
Jarrett	?				Sykes	?
Jones	?				C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield	?
J Kitcat	?				Wealls		X
Lepper		X			Wells		X
Littman	?				West	?
MacCafferty	?				Wilson		X
					Total	20	30

 

76.15    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 20 votes to 30.

 

76.16    Green Amendment No. 2

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden	?				Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell		X
Buckley	?				Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel		X			Phillips	?
Davey	?				Pidgeon - absent
Deane	?				Pissaridou		X
Duncan	?				Powell	?
Farrow		X			Randall	?
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus	?
Hamilton		X			Shanks	?
Hawtree	?				Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers	?
Jarrett	?				Sykes	?
Jones	?				C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield	?
J Kitcat	?				Wealls		X
Lepper		X			Wells		X
Littman	?				West	?
MacCafferty	?				Wilson		X
					Total	20	30

 

76.17    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 20 votes to 30 votes.

 

76.18    Green Amendment No. 3

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden	?				Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell		X
Buckley	?				Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel		X			Phillips	?
Davey	?				Pidgeon - absent
Deane	?				Pissaridou		X
Duncan	?				Powell	?
Farrow		X			Randall	?
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus	?
Hamilton		X			Shanks	?
Hawtree	?				Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers	?
Jarrett	?				Sykes	?
Jones	?				C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield	?
J Kitcat	?				Wealls		X
Lepper		X			Wells		X
Littman	?				West	?
MacCafferty	?				Wilson		X
					Total	20	30

 

76.19    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 20 votes to 30 votes.

 

76.20    The Mayor then put the Conservative Group’s amendments to the vote:

 

76.21    Conservative Amendment No. 1

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.22    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 34 votes.

 

76.23    Conservative Amendment No. 2

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell	?
Buckley		X			Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel	?				Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou	?
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow	?				Randall		X
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus		X
Hamilton	?				Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper	?				Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson	?
					Total	30	20

 

76.24    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was carried by 30 votes to 20 votes.

 

76.25    Conservative Amendment No. 3

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.26    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 30 votes.

 

76.27    Conservative Amendment No. 4

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.28    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 34 votes.

 

76.29    Conservative Amendment No. 5

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.30    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 34 votes.

 

76.31    Conservative Amendment No. 6

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.32    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 34 votes.

 

76.33    Conservative Amendment No. 7

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett	?				Marsh		X
Bennett - absent					Meadows		X
Bowden		X			Mears	?
Brown	?				Mitchell		X
Buckley		X			Morgan		X
Carden		X			A Norman	?
Cobb	?				K Norman	?
Cox	?				Peltzer Dunn	?
Daniel		X			Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou		X
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow		X			Randall		X
Fitch		X			Robins		X
Gilbey		X			Rufus		X
Hamilton		X			Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson	?
Hyde	?				Smith	?
Janio	?				Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald	?
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald	?
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls	?
Lepper		X			Wells	?
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson		X
					Total	16	34

 

76.34    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 16 votes to 34 votes.

 

76.35    The Mayor confirmed that the Conservative Group’s amendment No.2 had been carried and that amendment No’s. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 had been lost.

 

76.36    The Mayor then put the Labour & Co-operative Group’s amendments to the vote:

 

76.37    Labour & Co-op Amendment No. 1

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden	?				Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell	?
Buckley	?				Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel	?				Phillips	?
Davey	?				Pidgeon - absent
Deane	?				Pissaridou	?
Duncan	?				Powell	?
Farrow	?				Randall	?
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus	?
Hamilton	?				Shanks	?
Hawtree					Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers		X
Jarrett	?				Sykes	?
Jones	?				C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield	?
J Kitcat	?				Wealls		X
Lepper	?				Wells		X
Littman	?				West	?
MacCafferty	?				Wilson	?
					Total	31	19

 

76.38    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was carried by 31 votes to 19 votes.

 

76.39    Labour & Co-op Amendment No. 2

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden	?				Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell	?
Buckley	?				Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel	?				Phillips	?
Davey	?				Pidgeon - absent
Deane	?				Pissaridou	?
Duncan	?				Powell	?
Farrow	?				Randall	?
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus	?
Hamilton	?				Shanks	?
Hawtree					Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers		X
Jarrett	?				Sykes	?
Jones	?				C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield	?
J Kitcat	?				Wealls		X
Lepper	?				Wells		X
Littman	?				West	?
MacCafferty	?				Wilson	?
					Total	31	19

 

76.40    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was carried by 31 votes to 19 votes.

 

76.41    The Executive Director for Finance & Resources confirmed that as a result of the Conservative Group’s amendment No.2 being carried, the Labour & Co-op Amendment No. 3 was withdrawn.

 

76.42    Labour & Co-op Amendment No.4

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden		X			Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell	?
Buckley		X			Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel	?				Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou	?
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow	?				Randall		X
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus		X
Hamilton	?				Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls		X
Lepper	?				Wells		X
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson	?
					Total	14	36

 

76.43    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 14 votes to 36 votes.

 

76.44    Labour & Co-op Amendment No.5

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden		X			Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell	?
Buckley		X			Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel	?				Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou	?
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow	?				Randall		X
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus		X
Hamilton	?				Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls		X
Lepper	?				Wells		X
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson	?
					Total	14	36

 

76.45    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 14 votes to 36 votes.

 

76.46    Labour & Co-op Amendment No.6

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden		X			Mears		X
Brown		X			Mitchell	?
Buckley		X			Morgan	?
Carden	?				A Norman		X
Cobb		X			K Norman		X
Cox		X			Peltzer Dunn		X
Daniel	?				Phillips		X
Davey		X			Pidgeon - absent
Deane		X			Pissaridou	?
Duncan		X			Powell		X
Farrow	?				Randall		X
Fitch	?				Robins	?
Gilbey	?				Rufus		X
Hamilton	?				Shanks		X
Hawtree		X			Simson		X
Hyde		X			Smith		X
Janio		X			Summers		X
Jarrett		X			Sykes		X
Jones		X			C Theobald		X
Kennedy - absent					G Theobald		X
A Kitcat - absent					Wakefield		X
J Kitcat		X			Wealls		X
Lepper	?				Wells		X
Littman		X			West		X
MacCafferty		X			Wilson	?
					Total	14	36

 

76.47    The Mayor confirmed that the motion was lost by 14 votes to 36 votes.

 

76.48    Labour & Co-op Amendment No.7

 

	For	Against	Abstain			For	Against	Abstain
Barnett		X			Marsh	?
Bennett - absent					Meadows	?
Bowden		X			Mears		X
Brown<