Issue - meetings

(1) To consider Minutes for Confirmation from Cabinet:

·       Minute 41(2) (Budget Management 2014/15 and Draft Budget 2015/16.

·       Minute 46(1) (Independent Renumeration Panel on Councillors’ Allowances Recommendations 2015/16).

(Minutes to follow under separate cover)

(2) To receive Minutes to Note from Cabinet:

·       Minute 31 (Housing Strategy 2015-2026).

·       Minute 34 (Motion at Council – Traffic on Cricklade Road, Swindon).

·       Minute 35 Invest and Save for a Low Carbon Swindon – Swindon’s Energy Future – Motion at Council).

          (1) Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor Richard Hurley seconded:

“That Minute 41(2) of the Cabinet (Budget Management 2014/15 and Draft Budget 2015/16) be confirmed and adopted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (2) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Brian Mattock seconded:

“That  Minute 46(1) of the Cabinet (Independent Renumeration Panel on Councillors’ Allowances and Renumeration) be confirmed and adopted.

          Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Des Moffatt seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council thanks the Independent Renumeration Panel for its work. However, given the Council’s budgetary pressures, Council resolves to freeze the basic Councillors’ Allowance and cut all Special Responsibility Allowances by 10%.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

          Councillor Kevin Small moved and Cpouncillor Jim Grant seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council requests the Director of Law and Democratic Services to provide legal advice on how the Council can set Councillors’ Allowances at its Annual Meeting for the following Financial Year, in order to improve the process of determining Councillors’ Allowances.”

          The Leader of the Council advised Council that he would refer this issue to the Council’s Corporate Governance Working Group for its deliberation.  The Mover and Seconder of the Amendment requested and Council agreed that the Amendment be withdrawn.

          The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (3) Councillor Emma Faramarzi moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 31 of the Cabinet (Housing Strategy 2015 - 2026) be noted.

          Councillor Bob Wright moved and Councillor Steve Allsopp seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council believes the final decision on key strategic documents of the Council, like the Housing Strategy, should be determined by Full Council.  This Council urges the Cabinet to reconsider its decision to delegate responsibility to authorize the Housing Strategy following consultation to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety and to transfer its responsibility to Full Council.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

          The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (4) Councillor Dale Heenan moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 34 of the Cabinet (Motion at Council – Traffic on Cricklade Road) be noted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

(5) Councillor Dale Heenan moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 35 of the Cabinet (Low Carbon Swindon – Swindon’s Energy Future – Motion at Council) be noted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and the Board Director, Resources submitted a joint report setting out (a) the current forecast outturn position of the Council's Revenue Budget as at the end of August 2014, (b) the context for the Council’s Budget for 2015/16 and for the Medium Term Financial Plan, including funding assumptions for 2015/16, (c) initial draft Budget proposals for 2015/16 for consultation with residents and stakeholders, (d) Debt Charges, (e) Council Tax, (f) the Council Tax Support Scheme and Grant, (g) proposed future joint working with parish and town councils, (h) General Reserves, (i) Severance Costs, (j) One-off investment (Children’s Centre Proposals), and (k) District Heating Schemes funding proposals.

Councillor Russell Holland, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report and highlighted the financial challenges that the Council and the country faced and the financial context in which the Borough was operating. He highlighted the joint report’s recommendations. He advised that the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2015/16 would not be known until later in 2014 and therefore the issue of the amount to be held in General Reserves and Council Tax proposals could not be considered at this time. The Council had established a good record of identifying savings early that enabled the Council’s financial position to be strengthened for the next financial year. He wished to continue this approach and to allow as much time as possible for views to be sought on the Budget proposals set out in Appendix 4 to the joint report. He drew particular attention to the operation of the Council Tax Support Scheme and to the decision of the Cabinet earlier in the meeting on Children’s Centres provision.

Councillor Des Moffatt referred to the Council’s Capital programme and the borrowing cost and revenue effect of the Council’s investment in the Whalebridge Car Park. He would welcome the opportunity to speak the Cabinet Member regarding the implications of the proposal to change the level of Fleming Way.

Councillor Bob Wright, Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, referred to the draft Budget proposals in respect of the Change Programme for Learning Disability and what this would mean for service users.

Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, referred to the successes of Adult Social Care and its partners in keeping spending within budget despite increasing pressures. He advised that the change programmes presented one of the ways this was achieved. He explained the change programme in respect of Learning Disabilities and that Swindon’s spending in this area appeared to exceed the national average. The reasons for this were being examined so that appropriate action could be taken where necessary. He confirmed that every effort was made to keep service users within Swindon and close to friends and family.

Councillor Stan Pajak, Leader of the Minority Group on the Council, noted that the Council’s reserves were currently at a level that was considered to be above the minimum level. He wondered if consideration should be given to using this “additional”  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41