Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet

Meeting of Full Council, Tuesday, 8th February, 2022 10.00 am (Item 52.)

Minutes:

Paragraph 1 – Reconciling Policy Performance and Resources

52.1 Under Standing Order 23, The Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the 5 Groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond 5 minutes.

52.2 Councillor Bennett moved the adoption of paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report.

52.3 The following amendment (from the Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and Independent Groups) was moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded:

Delete paragraph 1.66 of the Cabinet’s report and replace with:-

(1) approve, in principle, the draft Council Plan 2022/23 at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

(2) approve the net Revenue Budget estimates totalling £453.2m for 2022/23 as set out on Appendix 2 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and 3 (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Executive, 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 with the following amendments:

1. To use £4,126,000 of the revenue surplus on: -

a. Ringfence investment in Vehicle Activated Signage (VAS) Units to tackle the widespread problems of speeding across the County (at £200,000 per year for 3 years) - £600,000

b. Ringfence further investment in pavements and dropped curbs (at £100,000 per year for 4 years – managed within the capital programme) - £400,000

c. Comprehensive programme of training for all teachers and education professionals to address concerns about Mental Health and other health issues arising from the pandemic and lockdowns - £750,000

d. Community Action Programmes aimed at countering youth offending, particularly drug crime - £425,000

e. Pilot a retrofit scheme to demonstrate the comprehensive benefits of retro fitting property - £450,000

f. Ongoing re-investment in I-Send EHCP Assessment Service for 2022/23 and future years - £188,000

g. Bollards - accelerate replacement of keep left lights with reflectors, including maintenance costs - £250,000

h. Carers – provision of extra sessions of respite care, training for new carers and for young carers and development of new County App for carers to give easy access to information sources and to each other - £580,000

i. Community Match Funding – for 2022/23, pilot a reduced external match requirement to 25% - £100,000

j. Biodiversity – Pilot the development of a 50% Council match funded scheme for local biodiversity and habitat initiatives (£100,000 per year for 2 years) - £200,000

k. Use Libraries savings in 2022/23 to invest in book stock - £183,000 (and removal of all £288,000 savings currently in the Medium Term Financial Plan by 2023/24)

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2. One-off investment from the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund (MSFCCF) to review, research and identify innovative models of home care with a view to producing a business case and budget proposal for 2023/24 - £100,000

3. Use the existing Economic Intervention Fund to conduct and support feasibility work for pump priming and stimulating the Community Energy Sector - £100,000

4. Bring forward capital allocation from Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP) to focus on the development of pipeline schemes - £100,000

5. Investment in Road Safety infrastructure providing more crossings - £1,750,000

Total of proposed revenue amendments - £6,176,000

To be funded by:

6. Use of 2022/23 revenue surplus - £4,126,000

7. One off top slice from the MSFCCF - £100,000

8. One off use of Economic Intervention Fund - £100,000

9. Capital investment brought forward - £100,000

10. 2022/23 Service Grant set aside for investment opportunities - £1,750,000

Total of proposed revenue funding amendments - £6,176,000

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

(i) the net budget requirement is £453.2m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2022/23 is £328.4m;

(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 2022/23 is £1,613.34 and represents a 4.49% (2.5% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept) 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 to be revised as amended by proposals in paragraph (2) above;

(5) note the fees and charges set out in Appendix 9 that have been increased above inflation;

(6) approve the Capital Strategy and Programme as set out at Appendix 8;

(7) note the progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2021/22 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 1.34 to 1.37 of the report;

(8) note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 2 and amended by the proposals in paragraph (2) above;

(9) note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness as set out in Appendix 6;

(10) note the comments from the engagement exercises as set out in Appendix 7.

(11) agree the Reserves Policy set out at Appendix 6; and

(12) approve the transfer of:

· £3.425m of the remaining one-off Service Grant funding to the Priority Outcomes and Transformation reserve for one-off investment in programmes that meet the Council’s priority outcomes;

· £1.645m Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund and £3.1m Adult Social Care precept to Adult Social Care to support costs arising from national social care reforms, with any unused funding in year to be transferred to a new Adult Social Care Reform reserve.

52.3 A recorded vote on Opposition Groups amendment proposed by Councillor Tutt was taken. The amendment was LOST, the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE AMENDMENT

Councillors Collier, Daniel, Denis, Field, Hilton, Holt, Lambert, MacCleary, Maples, Osborne, Robinson, Rodohan, Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Georgia Taylor, Tutt, Ungar and Webb.

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Fox, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Liddiard, Lunn, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Milligan, Pragnell, Redstone, Simmons, Standley and Barry Taylor.

ABSTENTIONS

None

52.4 The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennet to adopt paragraph 1 of the Cabinet report:

(1) approve, in principle, the draft Council Plan 2022/23 at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

(2) approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £453.2m for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 2 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and Appendix 3 (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Executive, 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:

(iii) the net budget requirement is £453.2m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2022/23 is £328.4m;

(iv) 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 2022/23 is £1,613.34 and represents a 4.49% (2.5% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept) increase on the previous year;

(5) agree the Reserves Policy set out in Appendix 6;

(6) approve the transfer of:

· £5.175m one-off Service Grant funding to the Priority Outcomes and Transformation reserve for one-off investment in programmes that meet the Council’s priority outcomes;

· £1.745m Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund and £3.1m Adult Social Care precept to Adult Social Care to support costs arising from national social care reforms, with any unused funding in year to be transferred to a new Adult Social Care Reform reserve.

(7) approve the Capital Strategy and Programme at Appendix 8;

(8) note progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2021/22 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 1.34 to 1.37 of the report;

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(9) note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for 2022/23 to 2024/25, set out in Appendix 2;

38.

(10) note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness, as set out in Appendix 6:

39.

(11) note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 7; and

40.

(12) note the schedule of fees and charges that have increased above inflation at Appendix 9.

52.5 A recorded vote was taken on the motion moved by Councillor Bennett. The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows: as follows:

FOR THE MOTION

AGAINST THE MOTION

None

ABSTENTIONS

Paragraphs 3 (Annual progress report for Looked After Children’s Services) and Paragraph 4 (Treasury Management Policy and Strategy)

52.6 Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraphs in the Cabinet’s report.

52.7 The motions were CARRIED after debate.

Supporting documents: