Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies Minutes: There were no apologies. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from Councillors or Officers. |
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Minutes To confirm the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 20 January 2021. Minutes: Minutes – 20 January 2021
RESOLVED that, subject to the following amendments, the Minutes of the Meeting of Council held on 20 January 2021 be approved as a correct record:
(a) Addition of a ‘point of order’, raised by Councillor Berry, relating to a motion on Climate Change Action Awards, which had been proposed by Councillor Judd and seconded by Councillor Maclean and was not included on the Agenda of 20 January 2021. Councillor Berry was concerned that this had not been included on the Agenda.
(b) The Monitoring Officer would work with Councillor Judd to formulate a suitable motion for debate at the next Council meeting in February 2021.
(c) Member Questions – addition of ‘Leader of the Council’ on Councillor Joe Harris’ response to questions.
(d) The spelling of Councillor Blomefield’s name to be corrected on page 13 of the document pack.
(e) Addition of a ‘point of order’, from Councillor Andrews, on the Council Procedure Rules, paragraph 10.9 of the Constitution, whether a supplementary question, during public questions was allowed. He understood the Constitution stated that a supplementary to a public question was allowed.
Following this discussion, Councillor Evemy, commented that he did not think that when Members raise ‘points of order’ they should all be included in the minutes.
Record of Voting – for 30, against 0, abstentions 1, absent 0.
3 Members did not vote due to technical issues. |
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Announcements from the Chair, Leader of Chief Executive (if any) Minutes: The Leader announced some changes to the Publica Board. Sally Walker had been appointed Chair of the Board and Chris Wood had been appointed Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Board. The Leader expressed both would be good additions to the team.
The Leader welcomed Olivia Gross who had joined the team as Executive Assistant to CEO and Leader of the Council.
? The Leader congratulated Deborah Smith, Development & Planning Enforcement Manager, who had served 25 years with the Council.
There were no-announcements from the Chair or Chief Executive |
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To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate to issues under the Council’s or Committee’s remit. Any member of the public wishing to ask a public question is requested to contact Democratic Services by no later than 5.00pm the working day before the meeting. Minutes: A record of public questions and answers are available in the schedule attached to these minutes. |
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Member Questions To deal with written questions by Members, relating to issues under the Council’s remit, with the maximum length of oral supplementary questions being no longer than one minute. Responses to any supplementary questions will be dealt with in writing if they cannot be dealt with at the meeting. Minutes: There were no Member questions. |
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Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2021-22 Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Evemy, the Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced this item. He commented that it was an honour to propose the second annual budget, which continued the work the administration had begun to rebuild the Council’s finance and invest in the Cotswolds.
It was a budget that recognised issues, such as the climate emergency, the housing affordability crisis and work to improve the vibrancy, strength and sustainability of the local economy and assist in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a revenue budget for 2021/22 was proposed, which was in surplus by £6,000.
There were big decisions taken last year, to raise revenue of £¾ m, on parking, garden waste charges and on Council Tax.
Further increases were proposed, in fees and charges and Council Tax, which would generate £ ½ m, to support services to residents.
Pressures on the budget amounted to nearly £1.2m, £400,000 for additional fleet hire for Ubico, £189,000 less in investment income due to the drop in interest rates and £170,000 less in planning income following the adoption of the Local Plan.
Covid-19 would continue to have an impact on the finances of the Council. Government grants, for 2021/22, had been set aside, £377,000 for additional expenditure and £356,000 to cover income shortfalls, to be used as needed to support the budgets.
Income which would be generated from the Recovery Investment Strategy, amounted to £363,000 in 2021/22. ?
£200,000 investment was proposed over 2 years in a new Civic Pride programme, to improve the public realm.
The administration were proposing increasing the Council Tax by £5 a year for Band D, to fund future plans. 52% of respondents to the consultation, agreed with this increase.
Through the Capital Strategy, a proposal to spend £18.3m in 2021/22 on general funds services, £15.2m of this figure for projects agreed under the Recovery Investment Strategy. Councillor Evemy reiterated that expenditure would not be committed to any project unless a detailed business case was presented for approval to the Cabinet or for projects over £100,000 by Council.
£16.4m for a loan, which was proposed through the Capital Strategy, was to support, principally the provision of truly affordable homes in the district.
Councillor Evemy explained that the budget would put the administration’s values into practice and deliver the ambitions of tackling the climate emergency, deliver social rented housing, strengthen the local economy, and build financial resilience of the Council.
Councillor Selwyn seconded the proposed budget. He thanked Councillor Evemy for his clear presentation. He reiterated that the consultation had taken place over various virtual platforms and strategic signs around Cirencester and that the administration genuinely wanted to hear from residents. More responses had been received this year, and the consultation was beneficial for the administration to be able to deliver service, through the published plans and work on rebuilding the Council, investing in vital services such as the waste collection service and investing in local people by providing affordable homes. He commended Councillor ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Council Tax 2021/22 Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Evemy proposed the recommendations for setting the Council Tax for the next municipal year, 2021/22, which included precepts for Gloucestershire County Council, Town and Parish Councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Councillor Dale seconded the proposals which he considered were clear and prudent.
RESOLVED that
1) for the purposes of
the Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 35(2), there
are no special expenses for the District Council in
2021/22; 2) it be noted that, using her delegated authority, the Chief Finance Officer calculated the Council Tax Base for 2021/22:
(a) for the whole
Council area as 41,848.15 [item T in
the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance
Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; and
(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates as in the attached Schedule 1.
3) the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2021/22 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £138.93.
4) the following amounts be calculated for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
(a) £43,111,935 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the Act, taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils and any additional special expenses.
(b) £33,777,152 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act.
(c) £9,334,783 being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).
(d) £223.06 being the amount at 4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts and Special Expenses);
(e) £3,520,820 being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish Precepts and Special Expenses) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act as per the attached Schedule 2.
(f) £138.93 being the amount at 4(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by Item T(2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish Precept or special item relates;
(g) the amounts shown in Schedule 2 being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 4(f) above, the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area shown in Schedule 2 divided in each case by the amount at 2(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Notice of Motions In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the following Motion has been received:-
(a) Motion 7 of 2020/21 - re Climate Change Action Awards
Proposed by Councillor Julia Judd, Seconded by Councillor Andrew Maclean.
‘Council notes that in July 2019 a Climate Emergency ‘that requires urgent and comprehensive action’ was declared.
Part of that declaration was a proposal to establish a Climate Change Panel, involving Councillors, residents, young citizens, climate science and solutions experts, businesses and other relevant parties, to help shape and promote the District’s zero carbon strategy and also recommend ways to maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as employment, health, agriculture, transport and the economy.
To recognise and motivate good practice and innovation by business, individuals, supply chains and group practices in response to Climate Change, it is proposed that the Council introduces a scheme to make Climate Change Action Awards.
This would be the first ever District award scheme to recognise and encourage those who are leading the way in the management and reduction of carbon - both in internal operations and throughout the supply chain.
The awards would highlight leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution and inspiring new initiatives. Suggested categories might include: Individual Leadership Award.
To recognise individuals who demonstrate leadership in both addressing climate change and engaging with businesses, groups, peers and partners.
Youth Award
To recognise an individual or group aged under 18 or under who demonstrate leadership in addressing climate change and engaging with communities, peers and partners.
Group Leadership Award
To recognise groups working collaboratively on leading edge climate initiatives. Partnerships collectively establishing objectives to address greenhouse gas reductions goals and/or adaptation and resilience activities.
Commercial Award
To recognise businesses that have their own emission reduction goals and exemplify leadership in their internal responses to climate change, and engagement of their peers, partners and supply chain.
Supply Chain Leadership Award.
To recognise businesses that have their own emissions reduction goals and demonstrate they are at the leading edge of managing greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains.
This council therefore resolves to establish a cross-party action group to create such an award system for the benefit of the wider community and make recommendations to Council for adoption.’ Minutes: Motion 7 of 2020/21 – re Climate Change Action Awards
Proposed by Councillor Julia Judd, Seconded by Councillor Andrew Maclean.
‘Council notes that in July 2019 a Climate Emergency ‘that requires urgent and comprehensive action’ was declared.
Part of that declaration was a proposal to establish a Climate Change Panel, involving Councillors, residents, young citizens, climate science and solutions experts, businesses and other relevant parties, to help shape and promote the District’s zero carbon strategy and also recommend ways to maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as employment, health, agriculture, transport and the economy.
To recognise and motivate good practice and innovation by business, individuals, supply chains and group practices in response to Climate Change, it is proposed that the Council introduces a scheme to make Climate Change Action Awards.
This would be the first ever District award scheme to recognise and encourage those who are leading the way in the management and reduction of carbon - both in internal operations and throughout the supply chain.
The awards would highlight leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution and inspiring new initiatives. Suggested categories might include:
Individual Leadership Award.
To recognise individuals who demonstrate leadership in both addressing climate change and engaging with businesses, groups, peers and partners.
Youth Award To recognise an individual or group aged under 18 or under who demonstrate leadership in addressing climate change and engaging with communities, peers and partners.
Group Leadership Award To recognise groups working collaboratively on leading edge climate initiatives. Partnerships collectively establishing objectives to address greenhouse gas reductions goals and/or adaptation and resilience activities.
Commercial Award To recognise businesses that have their own emission reduction goals and exemplify leadership in their internal responses to climate change, and engagement of their peers, partners and supply chain.
Supply Chain Leadership Award. To recognise businesses that have their own emissions reduction goals and demonstrate they are at the leading edge of managing greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains.
This council therefore resolves to establish a cross-party action group to create such an award system for the benefit of the wider community and make recommendations to Council for adoption.’
Councillor Judd spoke to the motion which built on the Council declaration regarding climate change.
Councillor Maclean seconded the motion, highlighting that this would recognise individuals and would be positive reinforcement of the issues.
RESOLVED that the motion stand referred to the Cabinet. |
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Next meeting Wednesday 17 March 2021, 6.00pm Minutes: The next meeting of Full Council to be held on 17 March 2021 |