(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^st April 2013, 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 2013/2014 for each of the categories of dwellings included in the respective valuation bands A to H.

(d)        To agree the Treasury Management Strategy 2013/14 – 2015/16.

(Members are requested to refer to the reports circulated in respect of Agenda Items 4-7 for the Executive meeting on 20 February 2013 and also the Fees and Charges Book 2013/14* which will be made available, with the rest of the agenda papers, on the “Council and Democracy” area of the Council’s website at www.trafford.gov.uk > Home > Council and democracy > Committees > Council > 20/02/2013.)

*Note: a hard copy will be made available to Members upon request.

(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 that the Executive’s recommendations for the budget, circulated to Members at the meeting, be approved.

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

(Note: During the debate on the Motion, the time being 8.35 p.m. the Mayor indicated that the length of speeches would now be restricted to a maximum of two minutes per speaker. With the time being 8.50, the Mayor further reduced speeches to 1 minute.)

In accordance with procedures agreed at the outset of the debate, the Political Group Leaders summarised the essential views of their respective group. The Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

        RESOLVED -

(1)    That the Council approves the overall 2013/14 budget at £158.947 million, a decrease of £(11.063) million, (6.5)%, on a like for like basis over the current year’s budget as per the budget report.

(2)    That there will be no increase in the Council Tax level for Trafford related services in 2013/14, and agrees the calculation and Council Tax Requirement for 2013/14 as set out in (9) – (13) below.

(3)    That the minimum level of reserves be set at £6 million.

(4)    That the fees and charges be set per the booklet available alongside this report on the Council’s website, including specifically:

·        an increase in the weekly charge for Allotment fees in 2014/15 (12 month notice period is required);

·        cease contributions to Mersey Valley and Bollin Valley Partnerships in 2014/15 (12 month notice period required).

(5)        That, as a continuation of previously agreed delegated powers, the Director of Finance, in consultation with the relevant Corporate Director, be delegated authority to amend fees and charges during 2013/14 in the event of any change in the rate of VAT, as appropriate.

(6)        That the overall Capital Investment Programme level for 2013/16 of £77.0 million be approved.

(7)        That the Prudential Borrowing Indicators contained within the Treasury Management Strategy 2013/16 be approved.

(8)        That the report of the Director of Finance on the Robustness of the Budget Estimates and Adequacy of General Reserves be noted.

(9)        That it be noted that on 28^th January 2013 the Council calculated:

(a)    the Council Tax Base 2013/14 for the whole Council area as 70,991 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")] and;

(b)    1,331 for dwellings in the Parish of Partington to which Parish Precepts relates.

(10)    That the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2013/14 (excluding Parish precepts) be £78,461,383.

(11)    That the Council agrees the calculation of the Aggregate Amounts for the year 2013/14 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act, as follows:

                                                    Parish Council Precept

(12)  That it be noted that for the year 2013/14 the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table set out in (13) below.

(13)  That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2013/14 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings:

                                           Valuation Bands