To recommend to Council the adoption of the Budget and medium term Financial Plan for 2015/16 following public consultation.

On 17 December CEB delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Board Member for Finance and Assets to determine whether it is financially advantageous for the Council to enter into a Business Rates Pool.

Councillor Darke left the meeting towards the end of the debate but before the vote was taken.

Council had before it the report of the Head of Finance to the on 12 February 2015 and the decisions of the City Executive Board.

Council also had before it the report of the Scrutiny Finance Panel and the responses of the Executive Member for Finance, Asset Management and Public Health to the Panel’s recommendations.

Council had before it two alternative budget proposals submitted in advance as amendments to the City Executive Board’s budget, with supporting commentary and comments from the Head of Finance. One set out the proposals of the Liberal Democrat Group, and one set out the proposals of the Green Group.

Councillor Ed Turner, seconded by Councillor Bob Price, moved and spoke to City Executive Board recommendations.

He clarified that the final recommendation should read:

“approve an increase in the 2014-15 capital budget of £550,000 in relation to the property purchase referred to in paragraph 52and referred to elsewhere on the CEB agenda” and that this superseded the recommendation to Council in Minute 134 of the City Executive Board minutes.

Alternative budget proposals

Councillor Fooks, seconded by Councillor Altaf Khan, moved and spoke to the Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget proposals (circulated with the briefing note).

After debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against than for, the Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget proposals were not carried.

Councillor Hollick, seconded by Councillor Simmons, moved and spoke to the Green Group alternative budget proposals (circulated with the briefing note).

After debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against than for, the Green Group alternative budget proposals were not carried.

Amendments to the recommended budget

Amendment 1 (circulated with the briefing note)

Councillor Hollick, seconded by Councillor Simmons, moved a set of amendments submitted in advance. The S11 officer confirmed these were achievable.

After debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against than for, the amendments were not carried.

Amendment 2 (appended to these minutes)

Councillor Fooks, seconded by Councillor Altaf Khan, moved an amendment tabled at the meeting and circulated to all councillors. The S11 officer confirmed this was achievable.

After debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against than for, the amendment was not carried.

Councillors Hollick and Simmons said that the Green Group supported the Housing Revenue Account budget, although noted potential difficulties in later years, and supported the Capital Programme and in particular the programme for housing. However the Group could not support the revenue budget proposals.

The recommendations of the City Executive Board, with only the amendment put forward by the proposer, were put to the vote.

In accordance with procedure rule 11.11 (d) a named vote was taken.

For the City Executive Board recommendations– Councillors Abbasi, Anwar, Brown, Clack, Clarkson, Cook, Coulter, Fry, Haines, Hayes, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Humberstone, Kennedy, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, Malik, Munkonge, Paule, Pressel, Price, Rowley, Sanders, Seamons, Simm, Sinclair, Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Turner, Upton, and Van Nooijen.

Against the City Executive Board recommendations– Councillors Altaf-Khan, Fooks, Gant, Goddard, Gotch, Royce, Wade, and Wilkinson.

Abstentions – Councillor Brandt, Hollick, Simmons, Thomas, and Wolff.

With more Councillors voting for than against, the recommendations of the City Executive Board, with only the amendment put forward by the proposer were carried.

Council resolved to:

1.     approve the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £23.304 million for 2015/16 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 1.99% or £5.44 per annum as set out in Table 8 and Appendices 1-4, representing a Band D Council Tax of £278.97 per annum;

2.     approve the continuance of the Council’s Council Tax Support Scheme (formerly Council Tax Benefit)

3.     approve the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2015/16 to 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 5 and 6 and an increase in average dwelling rent of 3.49% for April 2015 representing £3.59 per week an annual average rent of £105.77 as set out in Appendix 7;

4.     approve the Capital Programme for 2015/16 to 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 8 and 9;

5.     approve the Fees & Charges schedule as set out in Appendix 10;

6.     adopt the criteria for adopting the Business Rates Retail Relief scheme as set out in paragraph 21 and transitional relief as set out in paragraphs 22 – 24; and

7.     approve an increase in the 2014-15 capital budget of £550,000 in relation to the property purchase referred to in paragraph 52 and referred to elsewhere on the CEB agenda.