Agenda and draft minutes

Budget, Council - Wednesday, 24th February, 2021 2.00 pm

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Judy Cordell and Claire Heather  023 8083 2766/2412

Link: link to meeting

Items
No. Item

51.

Apologies

To receive any apologies.

Minutes:

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Murphy.

52.

Announcements from the Mayor and Leader

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

Minutes:

(i)  The Mayor announced the death of former City Councillor, Mayor (2004) and Honorary Alderman Denny Harryman on 3rd February.  Denny Harryman was first elected to the Harefield Ward in 1999, Redbridge in 2002 and 2004.  He had been living at Oaktree Lodge Care Home with his wife who died last year.  As a mark of respect Council observed a minute’s silence.

(ii)  The Mayor also announced that the Mayor’s Chaplain John Attenborough The Mission to Seafarers Port Chaplain who received the Thomas Grey Memorial Trust Silver Medal Award from the Marine Society and Merchant Navy Welfare Board recognition of this exceptional deeds of merit.  John has been making a difference to the lives of seafarers who visit Southampton port from all over the world for the past 26 years but exceptionally so during the pandemic for example by getting medications to crew members and providing practical and emotional support with so many unable to return home. 

(iii)  The Leader announced the recent appointment of Dr. Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health. 

(iv)  The Leader thanked communities in the Shirley area of the City who came forward to take part in surge testing last week. 

 

53.

Deputations, Petitions and Public Questions

To receive any requests for Deputations, Presentation of Petitions or Public Questions.

Minutes:

It was noted that no requests for deputations, petitions or public questions had been received.

 

54.

Amendment to the Contract Procedure Rules - February 2021 pdf icon PDF 318 KB

Report of Service Director - Legal and Governance outlining proposed changes to the current Contract Procedure Rules and Officer Scheme of Delegation.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance seeking approval to amend the Contract Procedures Rules and the Officer Scheme of Delegation to ensure the Constitution reflects recent changes to legislation.

 

RESOLVED to approve the proposed amendments to the CPRs and OSD as set out in the report.

55.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC - EXEMPT PAPERS INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING ITEM

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the exempt appendix 5 to the following Item

 

The appendix is considered to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3 of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.  It is not in the public interest to disclose this information due to an ongoing commercial dispute which is subject to a protected alternative dispute resolution procedure. If the information was disclosed then the Council’s financial position would be available to other parties to the dispute and prejudice the Council’s ability to achieve best value.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the exempt appendix 5 to the following item. 

 

Appendix 5 is exempt from publication by virtue of category 3 of rule 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules i.e. information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. It is not in the public interest to disclose this information due to an ongoing commercial dispute which is subject to a protected alternative dispute resolution procedure. If the information was disclosed then the Council’s financial position would be available to other parties to the dispute and prejudice the Council’s ability to achieve best value.

56.

THE REVENUE BUDGET 2021/22, MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST 2021/22 TO 2024/25 AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2020/21 TO 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 577 KB

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Income Generation detailing the Revenue Budget 2021/22, Medium Term Financial Forecast 2021/22 to 2024/25 and Capital Programme 2020/21 to 2025/26. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Income Generation detailing the Revenue Budget for 2021/22 and the Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) for the period 2021/22 to 2024/25. It provides detail to inform Council in setting Council Tax and rents for 2021/22.  The report also details the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Strategy and Programme for the period 2020/21 to 2025/26.

 

The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2:

 

(i)  to enable the above items to be considered together;

 

(ii)  to enable any amendments to be proposed, seconded and considered at the same time;

 

(iii)  to enable any amendment to be re-introduced later into the meeting; and

 

(iv) to revise the time allowed for speakers as follows:-

 

Movers of motions - 20 minutes

Seconders - 10 minutes

Other Speakers - 4 minutes

Right of Reply (Executive only) – 10 minutes

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Hannides and seconded by Councillor Fitzhenry, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. 

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED LOST

 

NOTE – FOR THE AMENDMENT: Councillors J Baillie, P Baillie, Bell, Fuller, Fitzhenry, G Galton, S Galton, Guthrie, Hannides, B. Harris, L. Harris, Harwood, Houghton, Laurent, Prior, Streets, Vaughan and White.

 

NOTE – AGAINST THE AMENDMENT: Councillors Barnes-Andrews, Mrs Blatchford, Bogle, Bunday, Chaloner, Coombs, Cooper, Fielker, Hammond, Kataria, Kaur, Keogh, Leggett, Margetts, McEwing, Mintoff, Mitchell, Noon, Paffey, Payne, Renyard, Rayment, Savage, Shields, Spicer, Taggart, Thomas, Whitbread and Windle.

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

RESOLVED that Council:

 

General Fund

i)  Notes the general budget consultation process that was followed as detailed in paragraphs 34 to 39.

ii)  Notes that the budget consultation feedback has been taken into

consideration by the Cabinet and has informed their final budget proposals. Further details are contained within the Members Room document 3.

iii)  Notes the Equality and Safety Impact Assessment process that was followed as set out in paragraphs 40 to 43. The updated ESIA’s and Cumulative Impact Assessment are available documents in the Members Room, documents 1 and 2.

iv)  Note the forecast outturn position for 2020/21 as set out in paragraphs 29 to 32 of Appendix 1.

v)  Approves the revised Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) for the period 2021/22 to 2024/25 attached as Annex 1.1.

vi)  Approves the 2021/22 General Fund Revenue Budget as detailed in Annex 1.1(a) of the MTFF at Annex 1.1.

vii)  Notes that the Executive’s budget proposals are based on the assumptions detailed within the MTFF and that this includes an increase in the Adult Social Care precept of 3.00% and an increase in the general council tax of 1.99%, allowable under general powers to increase council tax without a referendum.

viii)  Approves additional general fund pressures totalling £36.81M in 2021/22 as detailed in paragraph 50 of Appendix 1. 

ix)  Approves savings proposals totalling £10.68M that are included in the 2021/22 General Fund Revenue Budget, with £7.14M in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.