Agenda and minutes
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Apologies Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies had been received from Councillors Ray Theodoulou, Gina Blomefield, Tony Berry, Robin Hughes, Juliet Layton and Julia Judd. |
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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. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from Members
There were no declarations of interest from Officers |
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 18th January 2023 Additional documents: Minutes: Council considered the Minutes of Council held 18 January 2023 and AGREED they were an accurate record of the meeting.
Voting Record – For 20, Against 0, Abstentions 8, Absent 6, |
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Announcements from the Chair, Leader of Chief Executive (if any) Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair welcomed members of the public who were watching the proceedings in-person and on-line and described how the meeting would be conducted including the standards and courtesies that should be observed during the meeting.
The death of Clive Bennet a highly respected former councillor and Chair of the Council was announced and Councillors were invited to speak in tribute to him.
The Leader of the Council paid personal tribute to the wit and intelligence of former Councillor Clive Bennett who enjoyed a successful career as a journalist and had served the South Cerney Ward as a Councillor. The Leader also announced that the Progress Pride flag was being flown above the Council offices to recognise LGBTQ+ history month and celebrate diversity and inclusivity and the Council’s commitment to creating a welcoming and accepting community for everyone.
The Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group who had served with former Councillor Bennet paid tribute to his larger than life character, intelligence and sense of humour
Councillor Roly Hughes recalled his long association with former Councillor Bennett and how much he will be missed by all those that knew him.
The Chair then called on Council to stand for a minutes silence in memory of Clive Bennett. |
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Public Questions 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 one minute each and relate to issues under the Council’s remit. At any one meeting no person may submit more than two questions and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation.
The Chair will ask whether any members of the public present at the meeting wish to ask a question and will decide on the order of questioners.
The response may take the form of: a) a direct oral answer; b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: Appendix A |
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Member Questions No Member Questions have been submitted prior to the publication of the agenda.
A Member of the Council may ask the Chair, the Leader, a Cabinet Member or the Chair of any Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Cotswold District. A maximum period of fifteen minutes shall be allowed at any such meeting for Member questions.
A Member may only ask a question if: a) the question has been delivered in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than 5.00 p.m. on the working day before the day of the meeting; or b) the question relates to an urgent matter, they have the consent of the Chair to whom the question is to be put and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 9.30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
An answer may take the form of: a) a direct oral answer; b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: Appendix B |
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Appointment of Deputy Electoral Registration Officers Purpose To recommend to Council, the appointment of Two Deputy Electoral Registration Officers.
Recommendations That Council resolves to: 1. Approve the appointment of the Electoral Services Manager (Sarah Dalby) and Electoral Services Officer (Katrina Keylock) as Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to act in place of the Electoral Registration Officer where they are unable to act personally. 2. Delegate authority to the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer to appoint Deputies to this post in future. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to recommend to Council, the appointment of Two Deputy Electoral Registration Officers.
The Leader of the Council introduced the report and provided context for the recommendations to appoint two additional Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to provide additional support to the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer during the election.
Council noted that the elections due to take place on 4 May 2023 would introduce Voter Identity requirements and additional complexity ensuring voting is conducted correctly.
RESOLVED: Council agreed the appointment of the Electoral Services Manager (Sarah Dalby) and Electoral Services Officer (Katrina Keylock) as Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to act in place of the Electoral Registration Officer where they are unable to act personally and delegate authority to the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer to appoint Deputies to this post in future
Voting Record – For 26, Against 0, Abstentions 2, Absent 6, |
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2023/24 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, and Medium Term Financial Strategy Purpose The purpose of this report is to present the budget for 2023/24.
Recommendations Council are requested to approve: (a) the Medium-Term Financial Strategy set out in Annex B (b) the Savings and Transformation items for inclusion in the budget, set out in Annex C (c) the Council Tax Requirement of £6,310,795 for this Council (d) the Council Tax level for Cotswold District Council purposes of £148.93 for a Band D property in 2023/24 (an increase of £5) (e) the Capital Programme, set out in Annex D (f) the Annual Capital Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex E (g) the Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury Management Investment Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex F (h) the Strategy for the Flexible use of Capital Receipts, as set out in Annex H (i) the balances and reserves forecast for 2023/24 to 2026/27 as set out in Section 5 of the report Additional documents:
Minutes: The purpose of this report is to present the budget for 2023/24.
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the Revenue Budget, Capital programme and Medium Term Financial Strategy and provided history, context and detailed summary of fourth and final Budget from the Liberal Democrat Administration The Budget had been built in the aftermath of a pandemic and against a backdrop of reducing Government funding (down £2m over 10 years), increased fuel, energy and cost of living costs, instigated by the war in Ukraine, and high inflation, high interest rates, and political and public financial uncertainty following the 23 September 2022 mini-budget. Despite these challenges, the Administration’s priorities to Tackle Climate Change, Deliver Social Rented Housing and Strengthen the Local Economy would be delivered through a financial approach that aimed to deliver more efficient services, improve standards, increase income to replace lost funding, and bring in money from external funding sources.
Council noted that although the Budget would require the use of Council financial reserves (£860,000), other plans to reduce Council expenditure (by £1.1m) and increase income and revenue (by £415,000) would reduce the amount of financial reserves required to balance the budget.
Council noted that both the Council, and its partners Publica and Ubico, would be expected to deliver the reduction in the Council’s expenditure
Council noted that funds that had been released through the sale of the Council’s Housing stock in 1997 had been used by previous administrations on a number of projects from building the Cirencester Leisure Centre to replacing the recycling collection fleet. Those funds had now come to an end and would not be available for future projects.
Council noted that the Recovery Investment Strategy had been rescinded when escalating interest rates and tighter Government (investment) regulation meant it was no longer viable.
Council noted over £860,000 had been raised by reviewing fees and charges that had been previously frozen or increased below cost and £184,000 Local Government Pension Costs had been saved for each of the last three years.
Council noted over £4.25m of external funding had been brought to the Cotswolds
Council noted the creation of a new Cabinet Transformation Working Group to oversee the Councils finances and produce proposals for consideration as part of the 2024/25 budget and deliver savings in 2023/24
Council noted that a Financial Resilience Reserve of £3.3 million pounds would be created to fund the £860,000 revenue reserves required to balance the 2023/24 budget and support services while they transform their provision to meet the funds available.
Council noted that the public had been consulted on proposals to increase Council Tax increases and parking charges
Council noted that discretionary charges would increasingly be set at a level that would enable them to be funded by those that used them. Green Waste Collection charges had been increased so that the service would be funded by those that used it,
Council noted that the funding for the replacement recycling vehicles would be required on a rolling basis as ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Council Tax 2023/24 Purpose To set the Council Tax for 2023/24
Recommendations It is recommended that (subject to confirmation of Gloucestershire County Council’s precept):
1) for the purposes of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 35(2), there are no special expenses for the District Council in 2023/24;
2) it be noted that, using their delegated authority, the Deputy Chief Executive calculated the Council Tax Base for 2023/24:
(a) for the whole Council area as 42,374.24 [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 2023/24 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £148.93.
4) the following amounts be calculated for the year 2023/24 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
(a) £45,096,080 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) £34,724,034 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act.
(c) £10,372,046 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) £244.77 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) £4,061,250 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) £148.93 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 the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate;
(h) the amounts shown in Schedule 3 being ... view the full agenda text for item 9. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to set the Council Tax for 2023/24
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report and provided details of how the precept for Band D Properties (agreed in the previous Budget) would determine Council Tax liabilities for each household in the District.
Council noted that the Council Tax consultation had revealed that many Council Tax payers did not know that it was not possible to change key features of Council Tax calculations (e.g. increase charges for larger properties, changing the percentage increments between bandings), as these were set by the Government.
Council welcomed the level of scrutiny that Council was able to give to Council Tax charging levels.
Council noted the support that was available for Council Tax payers in receipt of certain benefits and those on the lowest incomes.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Mike Evemy propose and The Leader of the Council, Joe Harris seconded that the Council Tax recommendations 1 to 8 were agreed.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED 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 2023/2 2) it be noted that, using her delegated authority, the Deputy Chief Executive calculated the Council Tax Base for 2023/24: (a) for the whole Council area as 42,374.24 [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 2023/24 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £148.93. 4) the following amounts be calculated for the year 2023/24 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act: (a) £45,096,080 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the Act, taking in account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils and any additional special expenses. (b) £34,724,034 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act. (c) £10,372,046 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) £244.77 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) £4,061,250 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) £148.93 being the amount at 4(d) ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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Notice of Motions No motions have been received for consideration at this meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no motions submitted for Council to consider. |
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Next meeting The next meeting of Council will take place on Wednesday 15th March 2023 Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting of Council will be held at 2.00pm 15 March 2023 |