Agenda item

·                     Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council will give his budget speech to the Council (No time limit)

 

·                     Budget speech by the Leaders of the Opposition (No time limit)

 

·                     Debate (Normal time limits apply)

 

·                     Right to Reply – Councillor Rennie (Normal time limits apply)

 

 

To consider:

 

a.                  the recommendations from Cabinet held on 14 February 2024 as set out in the attached revised report; and

 

b.                  in the event of amendments being received in accordance with CSO 20.3 (Section A, Council Standing Orders) the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

It should be noted that a named vote must be taken on the setting of the Council’s budget.

 

Council received budget speeches from:

 

A.                  Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council;

 

B.                  Councillor Munday, as Leader of the Labour Group; and

 

C.                 Councillor Phillipa Gray, as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group.

 

Council debated the recommended budget.

 

In his response to issues raised during the debate, Councillor Rennie agreed to:

 

a)                  provide support for climate change in the budget every year;

 

b)                  support the creation of jobs, including “green jobs”, in all employment sectors across the Borough;

 

c)                  work with Solent Cluster to deliver green policies;

 

d)                  consider improvements to the public conveniences in South Street, Emsworth;

 

e)                  consider the extension of the opening hours of the public conveniences at Emsworth Recreation Ground;

 

f)                    provide a breakdown by ward of the 250 second homes in the Borough;

 

g)                  ensure play parks are disability friendly;

 

h)                  consider the introduction of a car parking ticket for all car parks in Hayling Island as part of the car parking review;

 

i)                    provide a link to the key performance indicator (KPI) portal; and

 

j)                    ensure that all asylum seekers are looked after in the Borough;

 

 

RESOLVED that Council:

 

1)                  approve the proposed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2024-25 and set a Council Tax rate of £232.82 at Band D, representing a £6.76 increase on the current charge;

 

2)                  approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the period 2024/25 to 2028/29, Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy Business Rates 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators;

 

3)                  approve the Fees & Charges schedule for 2024-25;

 

4)                  approve the Council Tax Resolution, as per Appendix I;

 

5)                  approve the application of a Council Tax premium of 100% for all dwellings which are unoccupied but substantially furnished (second homes) with effect from 1^st April 2025;

 

6)                  approve the drawdown of up to £500,000 from the ringfenced Leisure Contingency Reserve to be used to secure the main leisure facilities in Havant Town and Waterlooville;

 

7)                  delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in conjunction with the Section 151 Officer to agree terms with Horizon Leisure Trust in line with the approved drawdown; and

 

8)                  note and endorse the Statement of the S151 Officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and the requirements of Council Standing Order 22.6, the vote on this resolution was recorded as follows:

 

For the Motion:

 

Councillor Blades   

Councillor Bowdell  

Councillor Bowerman

Councillor Brent

Councillor Briggs

Councillor Coates

Councillor Crellin

Councillor Diamond

Councillor Fairhurst

Councillor Philippa Gray

Councillor Harris

Councillor Keast

Councillor Kennett

Councillor Linger

Councillor Lloyd

Councillor Milne

Councillor Munday

Councillor Patel

Councillor Patrick

Councillor Rason

Councillor Redsull

Councillor Rennie

Councillor Richardson

Councillor Robinson

Councillor Shimbart

Councillor Stone

Councillor Tindall

Councillor Wade

Councillor Weeks

 

Against the motion

 

None

 

Abstentions

 

Councillor Paul Gray

 

Absent:

 

Councillors Denton, Guest, Payter, Raines, Sceal and Turner.