Agenda item

Paragraph 1 – Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources

53.1     Under Standing Order 2, the Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the five groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond five minutes.

53.2     Councillor Elkin moved the adoption of paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report.

53.3     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Webb and seconded:

 

Delete paragraph 1.50 of the Cabinet’s report and replace with:-

 

(1)  approve, in principle, the draft Council Plan at Appendix 4 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

 

(2)  approve the net Revenue Budget estimates totalling £375m for 2019/20 as set out in Appendices 1 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and 2 (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the Budget Summary to reflect the final settlement and budget decisions subject to the following amendments for 2019/20 only:

 

1.    Reverse the proposed saving for SLES high standards of £0.124m

2.    Reverse the proposed saving for SLES performance £0.725m

3.    Reverse the proposed saving for Home to School Transport of £0.042m

4.    Reverse the proposed saving for working age adults of £0.247m

 

To be funded by the following:-

 

5.    Reduce contributions to reserves by £1.138m

 

(3)  in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to agree that:

 

(i)           the net budget requirement is £375m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council  as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2019/20 is £287.7m;

 

(ii)           the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as the basic amount of its council tax (i.e. for a band D property) for the year 2019/20 is £1,434.78 and represents a 2.99% increase on the previous year;

 

(4)  advise the District and Borough Councils of the relevant amounts payable and council tax in other bands in line with the regulations and to issue precepts accordingly in accordance with an agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 5

 

(5) note the fees and charges set out in Appendix 6 that have been increased above inflation;

 

(6)  approve the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2018 – 2023 as set out at Appendix 7;

 

(7)  note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for the period 2019/20 to 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1;

 

(8)  note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness as set out in Appendix 8; and

 

(9)  note the comments from the engagement exercises as set out in Appendix 9.

 

53.4     A recorded vote on Councillor Webb’s amendment was taken. The amendment was LOST, the votes being cast as follows:

 

FOR THE AMENDMENT

 

Councillors Godfrey Daniel, Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing and Webb

 

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT

 

Councillors Barnes, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Boorman, Bowdler, Charles Clark, Martin Clarke, Davies, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Earl-Williams, Elford, Elkin, Enever, Ensor, Fox, Galley, Glazier, Liddiard, Loe, Maynard, Pragnell, Simmons, Smith, Standley, Stogdon, Taylor, Tidy and Whetstone

 

ABSTENTIONS

 

Councillors Philip Daniel, Field, Lambert, Osborne, Rodohan, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Tutt, Ungar and Wallis

 

53.5     The following motion was moved by Councillor Elkin to adopt paragraph 1 of the Cabinet report

(1)  approve, in principle, the draft Council Plan at Appendix 4 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

 

               (2)  approve the net Revenue Budget estimates totalling £375m for 2019/20 as set out in Appendices 1 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and 2 (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the Budget Summary to reflect the final settlement and budget decisions;

 

            (3)  in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to agree that:

 

(i)            the net budget requirement is £375m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council  as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2019/20 is £287.7m;

 

(ii)           the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as the basic amount of its council tax (i.e. for a band D property) for the year 2019/20 is £1,434.78 and represents a 2.99% increase on the previous year;

 

(4)  advise the District and Borough Councils of the relevant amounts payable and council tax in other bands in line with the regulations and to issue precepts accordingly in accordance with an agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 5

 

(5) note the fees and charges set out in Appendix 6 that have been increased above inflation;

 

(6)  approve the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2018 – 2023 as set out at Appendix 7;

 

(7)  note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for the period 2019/20 to 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1;

 

(8)  note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness as set out in Appendix 8; and

 

(9)  note the comments from the engagement exercises as set out in Appendix 9.

 

53.6     A recorded vote on Councillor Elkin’s motion was taken. The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION

 

Councillors Barnes, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Boorman, Bowdler, Charles Clark, Martin Clarke, Davies, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Earl-Williams, Elford, Elkin, Enever, Ensor, Fox, Galley, Glazier, Liddiard, Loe, Maynard, Pragnell, Simmons, Smith, Standley, Stogdon, Taylor, Tidy and Whetstone

 

AGAINST THE MOTION

 

Councillors Godfrey Daniel, Philip Daniel, Field, Lambert, Osborne, Rodohan, Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Tutt, Ungar, Wallis and Webb

 

ABSTENTIONS

 

None

 

Paragraph 3 (Annual progress report for looked after children’s services)

 

53.7     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph of the Cabinet’s report.

 

53.8     The motion was CARRIED after debate

 

53.9     The Chairman reminded the Council that he was taking paragraph 6 of the Cabinet report with the report of the People Scrutiny Committee.