Issue - meetings

To seek approval of the 2017/18 general fund revenue budget. Consideration was given to this report by the Joint meeting of Finance & Performance and the Scrutiny Commission on 30 January and an extract from the minutes of that meeting is attached.

Further to the discussion on the finance reports (minute 371 refers), it was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that the recommendations within the General Fund Budget report be approved. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, voting on this item was recorded and taken as follows:

Councillors Boothby, Camamile, Cook, Hall, Kirby, Ladkin, Morrell, Nickerson, O’Shea, Richards, Rooney, Surtees, Sutton, Wallace, Ward, Williams and Wright voted FOR the motion (17);

Councillors Bill, Bray, Cartwright, Mr Cope, Mrs Cope, Crooks, Hodgkins, Hollick, Lynch, Nichols, Taylor and Witherford voted AGAINST the motion (12).

The motion was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The general fund budget for 2016/17 and 2017/18 be approved;

(ii)           The special expenses area budget for 2016/17 and 2017/18 be approved;

(iii)          The movement in general fund reserves and balances for 2016/17 and 2017/18 be approved.

To present the general fund budget for 2017/18. Members are asked to read this report in conjunction with the capital programme and HRA budget reports and make recommendations to Council.

Members gave consideration to the general fund budget for 2017/18. It was reported that almost £200k savings above those predicted in February 2016 had been achieved, the enforcement, appeals and planning capacity reserves had been merged, and that contributions to the Developing Communities Fund and business rates reserve had been incorporated.

In response to questions about Block C at the Crescent, it was noted that there were two units still to let, but that a joint agent had been appointed who was confident that they could attract interest. It was requested that members be provided with a total loss figure, including not only rental income but also business rates.

In relation to planning enforcement and appeals, it was noted that the reserve was recommended to be £90-100k less than the previous year, but members were reassured that this would be sufficient.

Councillor Rooney left the meeting at 7.21pm.

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

To present the proposed draft budget for the special expenses area.

Members gave consideration to the draft budget for the special expenses area. It was noted that, since the report had been dispatched, further work had been undertaken and the projected reserves at the end of 2017/18 would be around £150,000.

In relation to the £25,000 contribution to car parks, members were reminded that this payment was agreed as a subsidy when the parking charges in the town centre were reduced. It had been requested that this subsidy would be matched by the BID but, despite officers raising it with the BID frequently, it had never been forthcoming.

The Leader of the Council, in attendance at this meeting, suggested that the committee may wish to reconsider which activities they funded and suggested that items linked to economic growth, such as car parks and events to increase footfall in the town, may be better funded by the general fund or BID and that the special expenses budget would be better used to fund events in the community, for example in local parks.

It was subsequently moved by Councillor Bill and seconded by Councillor Nichols that the £25,000 subsidy from the special expenses area budget to car parking be withdrawn. This motion was CARRIED.

Members expressed concern in relation to the lack of opportunity for funding of projects in the Hinckley area in comparison to the parished areas which could apply to the Parish & Community Initiative Fund (PCIF) and the new Developing Communities Fund for grants. Whilst it was acknowledged that any applications to the PCIF from the Hinckley area would be brought to this committee for consideration, members felt that the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund should be reinstated. It was moved by Councillor Kirby and seconded by Councillor Bill that the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund be reinstated at a value of £10,000, on the basis that projects should be based in Hinckley, should be match funded and applications should be submitted by 30 April and money allocated should be spent by 31 March the following year. The motion was CARRIED.

A member reminded the committee of the request made at the previous meeting for Council to be requested to reconsider that the income from the garden waste scheme paid by Hinckley residents be allocated for use by the Hinckley Area Committee to enable a scheme similar to the Developing Communities Fund which used income from the garden waste scheme from across the borough but could only be granted to parished areas. It was agreed that this would be best submitted as a motion to Council and the Democratic Services Officer agreed to draft this.

RESOLVED –

(i)            The £25,000 subsidy from the special expenses budget towards car parking in Hinckley Town Centre be withdrawn;

(ii)           The Hinckley Community Initiative Fund be reinstated for 2017/18 with a budget of £10,000;

(iii)          A motion be put to Council in relation to the receipt of income to the special expenses area budget from the garden waste scheme by residents in Hinckley.