(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 Requirement as detailed in Section 10 of the budget report and summarised in the Appendix A of the Executive’s recommendations circulated at the meeting.

(3)        The formal Council Tax Resolution, as required under statute and set out in (D) below.

(4)        That there is no increase in the proposed Council Tax level for Trafford related services in 2015/16 (valuation bands are detailed at Annex E of the budget report);

(5)        The Fees and Charges for 2015/16, as set out in the booklet available on the Council’s web site, including specifically:

• delegation to the Corporate Director, Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure jointly with the Director of Finance of authority to amend fees and charges in line with commercial negotiations with the Joint Venture Partner(s) (if approved);
• delegation to Corporate Directors jointly with the Director of Finance of authority to amend fees and charges during 2015/16 in the event of any change in the rate of VAT, as appropriate

subject to the following amendment to Page 26, 1. Taxis – Private Hire & Hackney:

(6)        That the minimum level of General Reserve for 2015/16 be set at £6 million, the same as in 2014/15, Section 5 of the budget report.

(7)        The overall Capital Investment Programme level of £79.7 million be approved (as detailed in the Capital Investment Programme 2015/18 report) of which £41.8 million relates to 2015/16.

(8)        The Prudential Borrowing Indicators as set out in Appendix 3, page 14, of the Treasury Management Strategy.

(B)       That, in approving the above, it is noted that the Council has taken into consideration:

(1)        The objective assessment by the Director of Finance of the robustness of budget estimates and adequacy of the General Reserve (Section 5 and Annex M).

(2)        The Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations to the budget proposals.

(3)        The detailed report on the outcomes of the Staff and Trade Union Consultation which were submitted to the Executive on 26 January 2015.

(4)        The Equality Impact Assessments in relation to the budget proposals and the Public Sector Equality duty.

(C)       That in addition, the Council notes the following:

(1)        The approval on 30 January 2015 under delegated powers by the Director of Finance of the Council Tax Base for 2015/16 at 72,669 Band D equivalents. Along with the calculation of the estimated Council Tax surplus, sufficient to release £(300) thousand to support the Council’s 2015/2016 revenue budget and a distribution of £(41.3) thousand and £(15.6) thousand representing the respective shares of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority. 

(2)        That the Capital Investment Programme for 2016/17 and 2017/18 is to be set at an indicative £23.5 million and £14.4 million respectively.

(3)        The Treasury Management Strategy 2015/18.

(4)        The writing down of the Learning Disability pool deficit of £3.0 million.

(5)        The base budget assumptions as set out in the Medium Term Financial Outlook as detailed in Annex A of the Executive’s Revenue Budget Proposals 2015/2016.

(6)        That final decisions with regard to some services will not be taken until March 2015. As a result, the allocation of resources set out in the budget report may vary, including the use of reserves. All reports will be presented at the appropriate time.

(D)       That, as referred to in A3 above, the Council calculates the formal Council Tax Resolution as follows:

PARISH COUNCIL PRECEPT

Valuation Bands