Agenda item

To approve, following a recorded vote, the Council’s Budget for the Financial Year, 2014/15.  The Cabinet met on 5^th February 2014.  The following reports considered at this meeting relate to the Council’s Budget, 2014/15.

(i) Special Expenses 2014/15.

(ii) Budget 2014/15 and Beyond.

(iii) Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2016/17.

(iv) Treasury Strategy Statement 2014/15.

Minutes 84, 85, 86 and 87 relating to these reports are attached.

(Pages 103 to 107)

          The Council considered joint reports of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Board Director, Resources, considered by the Cabinet on 5^th February 2014 relating to (i) Special Expenses, (ii) Budget 2014/15 and Beyond, (iii) Capital Programme, (iv) Treasury Strategy Statement 2014/15, (v) Updated Recommendations submitted at the Cabinet meeting on 5^th February 2014, and (vi) Minute 84 of the Cabinet (Special Expenses), Minute 85 of the Cabinet (Budget 2014/15 and Beyond) Minute 86 of the Cabinet  (Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2016/17) and Minute 87 of the Cabinet (Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2014/15).

          Councillor Russell Hollandmoved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That, in line with Cabinet’s stated intent when the New Homes Bonus was introduced, the balance of the 2014/15 allocation (£2.9m) be set aside in an Infrastructure Fund.  This will be used to support schemes that are directly linked to unlocking Swindon’s full economic potential and that a further report be brought to the Cabinet in March 2014 setting out the details of how such a Fund will operate. 

That subject to this change the motions contained in Cabinet Minute 84 (Special Expenses) be noted and the recommendations in Cabinet Minutes 85 (Revenue Budget), 86 (Capital Programme) and 87 (Treasury Management Statement) of the Cabinet be confirmed and adopted.”

Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Des Moffatt seconded:

“That Council resolves to amend the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2014/15 as proposed at the February 5^th Cabinet Meeting to:

(1) Continue with the existing free and universal Borough-wide green waste collection service through the following additional savings:

1. Management Savings through the merging of senior responsibilities (£75K)

2. Forward Swindon (£250K)

·       £50K saved by moving Forward Swindon’s Offices back within Council Premises

·       The remaining savings will be found through more integrated and efficient working arrangements

3. Saving from reduced spend on Consultants (£162K

4. Cuts in the Communications and Insight Budget (£100K)

• Savings to be made from staffing costs

5. Law and Democratic Services (£116K)

• £16K saved from the start of the 2014/15 Municipal Year, by reducing the maximum number of fully-funded Cabinet Member posts by 2 to leave a maximum of 8 available
• £16K saved from a 10% cut in Special Responsibility Allowances
• The rest of the savings to be found from a reduction in dedicated scrutiny support for council committees. This staffing saving is intended to be accompanied with the reduction of the number of committees on the Council for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

6. Other Savings (£17K)

• Complete cut in refreshments and bottled water costs, leading to a £17K saving.
  
  

Total sum reallocated: £720,000

(2) Use funding from unallocated earmarked reserves for 2014/15 to meet any one-off costs (anticipated to be in the order of £250,000) resulting from the reintroduction of a free, universal Green Waste collection service.”

          The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the amendment were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mark Dempsey, Jim Grant, Neil Heavens, Fay Howard, Cindy Matthews, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Julian Price, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Bob Wright and Julie Wright.

Councillors voting against the amendment were: Councillors Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, John Haines, Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Brian Mattock, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors Anne Richards and Stan Pajak abstained during the vote.

          Councillor Des Moffatt moved and Councillor Kevin Small seconded:

“That the detail of one-off investment in services as listed on page 20, paragraph10.1, table 3 be amended as follows:                                             

                                                                                                           £000

Capacity and technology to allow customers to undertake more

transactions on-line                                                                                          140

Investment to allow customers to report issues using up to date

“App” technology (delete)                                                                         75

 Refresh road line painting in areas where the lines are not clear               25

Widen Queen Elizabeth Drive (delete)                                                               100

Undertake access works to allotments off Greenbridge Road (delete)        25

Funding to allow a 20% discount off the price of compost bins

purchased from Enterprise Works up to a ceiling of £40k                            40

Create school safety zones at Haydonleigh, Chiseldon and Peatmoor

Schools AS IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST DANGEROUS BY

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT (delete underlined bits)                                 30

Appoint a temporary part-time post to focus on the prevention of

child sexual exploitation within the Borough                                               60

 Additional funding for pot hole and pavement repairs                              350

Add, fund first year of business case for the Thamesdown Drive
Barnfield ring road design and case preparation.                                      200

Total One-Off Investment in Services                                                    845

The Worshipful The Mayor ruled, upon the advice of the Director of Law and Democratic Services, that the amendment should not be considered as part of it did not relate to the 2014/15 Budget which was the subject of the debate but referred to a decision already taken by Cabinet in relation to the 2013/14 Budget.

          Councillor Kevin Small moved and Councillor Des Moffatt seconded that the Motion be amended as follows:

“That £200,000 of the £355,000 added to the 2014/15 budget to help mitigate risk within 2014/15, be allocated to the 2014/15 Capital Programme to fund the start of the design and preparation work for the Thamesdown Drive/Barnfield Link Road.”

          The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the amendment were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mark Dempsey, Jim Grant, Neil Heavens, Fay Howard, Cindy Matthews, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Julian Price, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Bob Wright and Julie Wright.

Councillors voting against the amendment were: Councillors Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, John Haines, Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Brian Mattock, Stan Pajak, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Anne Richards, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

There were no abstentions.

          Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Anne Richards seconded:

“That Council resolves to amend the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2014-15 as proposed by the Cabinet on February 5^th 2014 as follows:-

(a) To reduce Residents’ Parking charges by £5 per annum for the first car, for permits renewed from 1^st April 2014.  The estimated cost of £20,000 should be funded from savings by introducing online applications for permits, increased efficiency and enforcement income across car parking services.  To reduce Residents' Parking charges further by £5 per annum for the first car from 1st April 2015.  The estimated cost of £20,000 should be funded by ending funding for Residents' Parking zonal reviews.

(b) To fund a new environmental enforcement officer post within the residential Town Centre locality at a cost of £20,000 to be funded from new penalty charge notice income raised from dog fouling and fly-tipping fines. 

(c) To increase the number of Bus trips on the No. 25 bus service through Kingshill from three per day to five per day (Monday to Saturday) at a cost of £8,200.  This cost will be met from specific grant funding for public transport.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and carried becoming the Substantive Motion.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the amendment were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Mark Dempsey, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, Jim Grant, John Haines, Neil Heavens, Councillors Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Fay Howard, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Cindy Matthews, Brian Mattock, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Stan Pajak, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, Julian Price, David Renard, Anne Richards, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Vera Tomlinson, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams Bob Wright and Julie Wright.

There were no Councillors voting against the Motion or abstaining.

          Councillor Anne Richards moved and Councillor Wayne Crabbe seconded:

“That Council resolves to amend the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2014/15 as proposed by the Cabinet on February 5^th 2014 as follows:-

To add £2,500 to the Budget to fund additional managerial hours to support Wroughton’s youth worker.  This sum should be redirected from the Corporate Contingency Fund.”

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

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the amendment were: Councillors Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, John Haines, Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Brian Mattock, Stan Pajak, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Anne Richards, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mark Dempsey, Jim Grant, Neil Heavens, Fay Howard, Cindy Matthews, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Julian Price, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Bob Wright and Julie Wright abstained during this vote.

There were no Councillors voting against the amendment.

          Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Julian price seconded that the Motion be amended as follows:

“This Council recognises the concerns raised by local residents regarding the state of many of Swindon’s roads and resolves to allocate an additional £2m of the New Homes Bonus for 2014/15 towards resurfacing Swindon’s roads.

Council requests the Board Director, Service Delivery to bring a report to the Cabinet detailing the new timetable of highways resurfacing for 2014/15 with this additional funding.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the amendment were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Mark Dempsey, Jim Grant, Neil Heavens, Fay Howard, Cindy Matthews, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Julian Price, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Bob Wright and Julie Wright.

Councillors voting against the amendment were: Councillors Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, John Haines, Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Brian Mattock, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors Anne Richards and Stan Pajak abstained during the vote.

          The Substantive Motion (as amended) was put to the vote and declared carried.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, when in force, the vote on this amendment was recorded:

Councillors voting for the Motion were: Councillors Mike Bawden, Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Roderick Bluh, Mick Bray, Wayne Crabbe, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Donachie, Mark Edwards, Toby Elliot, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Fionuala Foley, Mary Friend, Brian Ford, John Haines, Peter Heaton-Jones, Dale Heenan, Russell Holland, Richard Hurley, Colin Lovell, Nick Martin, Brian Mattock, Stan Pajak, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, Anne Richards, David Renard, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors voting against the Motion were: Councillors Junab Ali, Abdul Amin, Steve Allsopp, Paul Baker, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Jim Grant, Neil Heavens, Fay Howard, Cindy Matthews, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, Teresa Page, Julian Price, James Robbins, Kevin Small, Joe Tray, Nadine Watts, Peter Watts, Bob Wright and Julie Wright

There were no abstentions.

(Councillors Steve Allsopp, Fionuala Foley, Colin Lovell and Keith Williams made personal declarations of interest in respect of this Item as they were Council appointed Non-Executive Directors of Thamesdown Transport Ltd.)