The Head of Finance has submitted two reports which will be submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014 as follows:

 

(1)          The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2014/15 to 2017/18 and the Council’s 2014/15 Budget;

 

(2)          Supplementary Report - Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014-15 to 2017-18 and 2014-15 Budget: A Fair Future for Oxford

 

An extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014 will be circulated prior to this meeting of Council.

Council had before it the following:

 

(1)          Report of the Head of Finance, submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014;

 

(2)          Supplementary budget report of the Head of Finance, submitted to the City Executive Board on 12^th February 2014, following the Government’s late announcement of ‘excessive Council Tax’ level;

 

(3)          Extract from the minutes of the City Executive Board held on 12^th February 2014;

 

(4)          Supplementary budget report of the Head of Finance, concerning a change to the recommendation of the City Executive Board of 12^th February 2014, on Council Tax discounts;

 

(5)          Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget proposals;

 

(6)          Green Group alternative budget proposals;

 

(7)          A revised Green Group alternative budget proposals (revenue);

 

Councillor Ed Turner, seconded by Councillor Bob Price, moved and spoke to the Administration’s budget.

 

Councillor Jean Fooks, seconded by Councillor Mark Mills, moved and spoke to the Liberal Democrat Group alternative budget.

 

Following a further debate, Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote. The result of the named vote was as follows:

 

For the Liberal Democrat Group amendment – Councillors Mohammed Niaz Abbasi, Tony Brett, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, Jim Campbell, Jean Fooks, John Goddard, Graham Jones, Stuart McCready, Mark Mills, Gwynneth Royce, Ruth Wilkinson

 

Against the Liberal Democrat Group amendment – Councillor Laurence Baxter, Elise Benjamin, Susan Brown, Beverley Clack, Mary Clarkson, Colin Cook, Van Coulter, Stephen Curran, Roy Darke, James Fry, Sam Hollick, Rae Humberstone, Pat Kennedy, Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, Mark Lygo, Jajjid Malik, Helen O’Hara, Michele Paule, Susanna Pressel, Bob Price, Mike Rowley, Gill Sanders, Scott Seamons, Craig Simmons, Dee Sinclair, John Tanner, Ed Turner, Oscar Van Nooijen, David Williams

 

Abstentions – None

 

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

 

Councillor Craig Simmons, seconded by Councillor Sam Hollick, moved and spoke to the Green Group alternative budget.

 

Following a further debate, Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote. The result of the named vote was as follows:

 

For the Green Group amendment – Councillors Elise Benjamin, Sam Hollick, Craig Simmons, David Williams

 

Against the Green Group amendment – Councillors Tony Brett, Mohammed Niaz Abbasi, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, Laurence Baxter, Susan Brown, Jim Campbell, Beverley Clack, Mary Clarkson, Colin Cook, Van Coulter, Stephen Curran, Roy Darke, Jean Fooks, James Fry, John Goddard, Rae Humberstone, Graham Jones, Pat Kennedy, Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, Mark Lygo, Sajjid Malik, Stuart McCready, Mark Mills, Helen O’Hara, Michele Paule, Susanna Pressel, Bob Price, Mike Rowley, Gill Sanders, Scott Seamons, Dee Sinclair, John Tanner, Ed Turner, Oscar Van Nooijen, Ruth Wilkinson

 

Abstentions – None

 

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

 

Amendments

 

Amendment 1 - Councillor Jean Fooks, Seconded by Councillor Stuart McCready, moved an amendment to the Administration’s budget for an amendment to the parking fees as follows:

 

1.            Remove fee of 50p from one hour’s parking at Cutteslowe Park, Hinksey Park and Walton Well Road car park.

 

The new fee structure for these car parks would be

 

Cutteslowe Park; Harbord Road and A40

 

0-1                                        hour free, but ticket required

1-3 hours                   £1.10

3-24                            £2.20

 

Hinksey Park and Walton Well Road Port Meadow car parks:

 

0-1                                        hour  free, ticket required

1-3 hours                   £1.10

3-5 hours                   £2.20

5-24 hours                 £10.20

 

2.            Charge district centre fees at Alexandra Courts, with permits for tennis players

 

New charges would be

 

Monday to Sunday (0800-20.00)

 

0-1 hours                   £1.20

1-2 hours                   £1.70

2-3 hours                   £3.20

3-4 hours                   £5.20

4-6 hours                   £13.10

6-8 hours                   £13.10

8+ hours                    £13.10

All other times           £1.20

 

Amendment 2 - Councillor Mark Mills, seconded by Councillor Jean Fooks moved an amendment to the Administration’s budget as follows:

 

Council resolves to release the contingency for transport for the elderly and disabled to the general fund to support Dial-a-Ride or an analogous service.

 

Amendment 3 – Councillor Jean Fooks seconded by Councillor Craig Simmons moved a joint amendment to the Administration’s budget (details appended to these minutes)

 

Amendment 4 – Councillor Sam Hollick, seconded by Councillor Craig Simmons moved an amendment to the Administration’s budget as follows:

 

Introducing an inflation cap on rent rises for council homes form 16/17

 

Amend the HRA budget as follows:

 

Additional savings

 

Reduce revenue contribution to capital     0          0          -700    -1300

 

Additional costs

 

Reduce rental income to inflation

Only increased for 16/17 and 17/18           0          0          600     1200

Prudential borrowing costs to finance

The HRA capital programme                      0          0          56        112

 

Transfer the balance of proposals

From /(to) reserves                                        0          0          -44      12                  

 

 

Amendment 5 – Councillor Sam Hollick, seconded by Councillor Craig Simmons moved an amendment to the Administration’s budget as follows:

 

Extra support for homelessness – reversing the cut in officer post from the Housing Team, and extending funds available to support people facing homelessness.

 

This would be funded from modest other proposals already in the Council papers.

 

Amend the revenue budget as follows:

 

Extending annual increase to Park

And Ride sites (in 2 * 5%)                            -50      -50      -100    -100

Reverse proposed cuts in some off

Street parking tariffs                                      -50      -50      -50      -50

Introduce district car parking charges

To Alexandra Courts                                     -26      -26      -26      -26

Reduce Your Oxford to 1 per year              -10      -10      -10      -10

TOTAL                                                            -136    -136    -186    -186

 

Reverse cut to homeless officer                  36       36       36        36

Homeless Support Grant                             100     100     100     100

TOTAL                                                            136     136     186     186    

 

Following a combined debate on all of the amendments, Council voted.  All four amendments fell with more Councillors voting against than for.

 

Council resolved under procedure Rule 11.19(d) to have a named vote on the City Executive Board’s recommendations from its meeting on 12^th February 2014 and on the amended recommendation submitted to this Council meeting.  The result of the named vote was as follows:

 

For the City Executive Board recommendations as amended – Councillors Mohammed Niaz Abbasi, Laurence Baxter, Susan Brown, Anne-Marie Canning, Beverley Clack, Mary Clarkson, Colin Cook, Van Coulter, Stephen Curran, Roy Darke, James Fry, Rae Humberstone, Pat Kennedy, Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, Mark Lygo, Sajjid Malik, Helen O’Hara, Michele Paule, Susanne Pressel, Bob Price, Mike Rowley, Gill Sanders, Scott Seamons, Dee Sinclair, John Tanner, Ed Turner, Oscar Van Nooijen

 

Against the City Executive Board recommendations as amended – Councillors Tony Brett, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, Jean Fooks, John Goddard, Stuart McCready, Mark Mills, Gwynneth Royce, Ruth Wilkinson

 

Abstentions – Councillor Elise Benjamin, Sam Hollick, Graham Jones, Craig Simmons, David Williams

 

The following recommendations were carried:

 

(a)     TheCouncil’s GeneralFund BudgetRequirementof£24.080million for 2014/15andan increasein theBandD Council Taxof1.99%or £5.34 perannumas setoutin Table1 ofthesupplementaryreport ofthe Head ofFinance,representing aBand DCouncil Tax of£273.53per annum;

 

(b)  The continuance of the Council’s Council Tax Support Scheme (formerlyCouncil TaxBenefit)as referredtoin paragraph44 ofthe mainreportofthe Head ofFinance;

 

(c)     The  Housing  Revenue  Account  budget  for  2014/15  as  set  out  in Appendix4 tothemainreport andan increasein averagedwelling rentof5.42%representing £5.25per weekand taking theannual averagerent to£102.08 as set out in Appendix5 to the main report;

 

(d)  The CapitalProgrammefor 2014/15-2017-18as setout inAppendix6 to themain report;

 

(e)  The FeesandChargesSchedulethatformsAppendix7 tothe main report;

 

(f)       The changes to the level of exemptions and discounts on empty homesandunoccupiedproperties asoutlinedin paragraph 44ofthe mainreport, except for Class A empty properties where the Council Tax Discount for Class A empties remains unchanged from that agreed on 1^st April 2013, namely a 25% discount for a period of one year.