Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor A Wilce:

That the recommendations 1 to 6 of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 160 be ADOPTED.

The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:

“That the vote in respect of this MOTION shall be by Roll Call”

A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.

Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: G Barnell, J Bartlett, J Buczkowski, W Burke, J Cairney, R J Chesterton, S J Clist, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, L Cruwys, Mrs C P Daw, R J Dolley, J M Downes, C J Eginton, R Evans, P J Heal, B Holdman, D J Knowles, F W Letch, Ms E J Lloyd, B A Moore, S E Pugh, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C Slade, Mrs E J Slade, Mrs M E Squires, R L Stanley, L D Taylor, B J G Warren, A Wilce, Mrs N Woollatt, J Wright, A Wyer.

Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: None

Those ABSTAINING from voting: None

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The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor Mrs N Woollatt:

That the recommendations 7, 8 and 9 of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 160 be ADOPTED.

Cllr C J Eginton MOVED an AMENDMENT, seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires:

“That we take 7, 8 and 9 individually with 9 being the first one to be voted on so that allows then the members of the public to go home.”

Upon a vote being taken the AMENDMENT was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:

“That the vote in respect of this AMENDMENT shall be by Roll Call”

A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken for recommendation 9 from minute 160 of the Cabinet.

Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: G Barnell, J Bartlett, J Buczkowski, W Burke, J Cairney, R J Chesterton, S J Clist, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, L Cruwys, Mrs C P Daw, R J Dolley, J M Downes, C J Eginton, R Evans, P J Heal, B Holdman, D J Knowles, F W Letch, Ms E J Lloyd, B A Moore, S E Pugh, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C Slade, Mrs E J Slade, Mrs M E Squires, R L Stanley, L D Taylor, B J G Warren, Mrs N Woollatt, J Wright, A Wyer.

Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: None

Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillor A Wilce

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The AMENDMENT was declared to have been CARRIED.

Cllr J M Downes MOVED an AMENDMENT, seconded by Cllr C J Clist that:

“We take recommendations 7 & 8 on block”

Upon a vote being taken the AMENDMENT was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:

“That the vote in respect of this AMENDMENT shall be by Roll Call”

A roll call  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive, this item will be discussed under the general exception clause.

The Cabinet were presented a report* which provided revised budgets for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account for the year 2023/24.

The Deputy Chief Executive explained that recommendations 7 and 8 were added as a revision to the budget following recommendations made by Full Council.

The following was considered:

• That the budget for open spaces increased by £145k. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that this was due to maintenance costs for those services.
• That the waste collection budget increased by nearly £249k. The Deputy Chief Executive explained this was due to the increase in the national living wage and that this service was hit hard by the increased cost of fuel and utilities. In addition income had decreased.
• Administration building had seen an increase of nearly £230k, but the building was not fully utilised. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that utility costs had increased and he commercial property rate value had changed. However, negotiations were underway with Devon Police to utilise part of the building.
• The increased budget for the 3 leisure centres. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that the increased national living wage and utility spend were contributing factors. In addition, this service had still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
• The paddling pools within Mid Devon District Council were raised, with potentially a need to review the funding options for the Paddling Pools within Mid Devon. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that the total costs for this service was circa £40k. In addition, it was felt that it was possible for the pools to be kept open.
• Corporate functions covered Mid Devon District Council’s technical teams such as performance management and data protection.
• Whether the savings outlined had been considered as deliverable and whether the increased costs were justified. The Leader explained, the increased costs were challenged and noted that officer advice was taken on the potential savings.
• 3 Rivers Developments Ltd was raised, the Corporate Manager for Finance and Procurement explained that the interest from 3 Rivers Developments Ltd had been removed from the revised budget and had been replaced with estimates from temporary treasury investments.
• Whether the use of reserves could be justified and if there was a plan to replenish the reserves. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that this had put the next administration into a difficult position and that this was the situation Mid Devon District Council was in, with an aim for reserved to be replenished. 
• Whether new homes bonus could be used as temporary funding, to which the Deputy Chief Executive explained that all new homes bonuses were already allocated and that there was a plan for it to be replenished.

RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council:

1.     A Council Tax Requirement of £6,724,350 calculated using a Council Tax of £225.40 for a Band D property, an increase of £6.56 or 2.99% from 2022/23 and a Tax Base of 29,832.98, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulation 1992, as amended, after the relevant adjustments in respect of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160