To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 January 2015 for signature by the Mayor as Chairman.

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 January 2015, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that no questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive and an anticipated referral from the Employment Committee meeting held 11 February 2015.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking to review Corporate and Senior Management Team arrangements following the resignation of the Corporate Director Transformation and Resources. The proposals had been considered and recommended to the Council by the Employment Committee at its meeting on 11 February 2015.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the content of the report in the context of the revised Corporate and Senior Management arrangements and the arrangements for salaries, as outlined in the Pay Policy, be approved and the proposals set out in Section 3 of the report be endorsed.

(2)        That, noting the disestablishment of the post under the proposals, the Council places on record it’s thanks to Ian Duncan, Director of Finance for all his hard work on behalf of the Council over many years.

(a)        To receive and consider the capital and revenue budget estimates presented by the Executive, together with the summaries, statements, schedules of fees and charges and reports of the Executive in relation thereto and to adopt resolutions therein.

(b)        To set and approve the Council Tax Requirement for the District for the year beginning 1 April 2015, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended.

(c)        To set and approve, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended the amounts as the amounts of the Council Tax for the year 2015/2016 for each of the categories of dwellings included in the respective valuation bands A to H.

(d)        To agree the Treasury Management Strategy 2015/16 – 2017/18.

(Members are requested to refer to the reports circulated in respect of Agenda Item 3 for the Executive meeting on 18 February 2015 which will be made available, with the rest of the agenda papers, on the Council’s website at www.trafford.gov.uk > Home > your Council > Councillors & committees > Committee meetings > Council > 18 Feb 2015 7.00 pm)

(Note: PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS - In respect of the main item of business on the agenda, the Mayor announced that the Leader of the Council (or his nominee) would have a maximum of 15 minutes to make the initial speech and a further maximum of 15 minutes to finish the debate. The Leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups (or their respective nominees) would each have a maximum of 15 minutes to make their initial speeches and a further maximum of 5 minutes to wind up on behalf of their respective Groups. The Mayor also outlined the approach for dealing with amendments, should any be made to the main motion, and indicated that the mover of an amendment would have 5 minutes, whilst the time for all other speeches would be restricted to 3 minutes.)

The Executive Member for Finance presented a number of reports setting out the proposed budget for the forthcoming year, together with the recommendations from the Executive meeting held earlier that evening.

It was moved and seconded thatthe Executive’s recommendations for the budget, circulated to Members at the meeting, be approved, subject to the revisions to page 26 of the 2015/16 Schedule of Fees, Charges and Allowances, also circulated, in respect of the fees for renewal of a Hackney Vehicle Licence and Hackney Carriage Driver.

Councillors Ross and Bowker responded to the Motion on behalf of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively, after which the budget proposals were then debated by the Council.

(Note: Councillor Mrs. Brophy declared a personal interest in the item, insofar as it relates to the Adult Social Care proposals, since a member of her family accesses the services.)

In accordance with procedures agreed at the outset of the debate, the Political Group Leaders summarised the essential views of their respective group and responded to some of the issues that had arisen from the debate.

The Motion was then put to a recorded vote, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The result was as follows:

Those in favour of the Motion: Councillors Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Bowker, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Candish, Chilton, Mrs. Cooke, Cornes, Coupe, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. Evans,  N. Evans, Fishwick, Higgins, Holden, Hyman, Lally, Lamb, Mitchell, Myers, Mrs. Reilly, Rigby, Sephton, Sharp, Shaw, Mrs. Ward, Whetton, Williams and M. Young.

Those against the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Bennett, Boyle, Brotherton, Carter, Cordingley, Dagnall, Duffield, Freeman, Gratrix, Harding, Hynes, Jarman, Lloyd, Malik, O’Sullivan, Procter, Ross, Smith, Stennett, Taylor, Walsh, A. Western and D. Western.

Those abstaining from voting: Councillor Mrs. Brophy.

With the result of the vote being 33 in favour and 26 against, with 1 abstention, the Motion was declared carried.

        RESOLVED –

(A)       That the Council approves:

(1)        The net Revenue Budget for 2015/16 at £148.914 million, a decrease of £(5.638) million, or (3.6)%, when compared to the 2014/15 base budget of £154.552 million.

(2)        The calculation of the Council Tax  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Note:        At the conclusion of the meeting it is intended to hold an informal meeting of the Council to consider issuing invitations to Members of Council to be the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2015/2016.

(Note: At the conclusion of the formal meeting of the Council, an informal meeting was held to extend an invitation to:

Councillor John Holden to be the Mayor of the Borough of Trafford for 2015/16;

and

Councillor Judith Lloyd to be the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Trafford for 2015/16.

The informal meeting concluded at 9.26 p.m.)