Agenda and minutes

Councillors J Conroy, R Conroy and De Cruz declared personal interests in Item 10 “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2009/10 and Budget Projections 20010/11 and 20011/12” as housing tenants.

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meetings of the Council held on 8 December 2008 (herewith) and 19 January 2009 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meetings of Council held on 8 December 2008 and 19 January 2009 were signed by the Mayor.

Apologies were received from Councillors S Chaudhury and Duncan.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, congratulated Councillor S Chaudhury and his wife on the recent birth of their son.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Golby to his first meeting of the Council.

The Mayor proposed that Council Procedural Rules be suspended so as not to place time limits on speakers’ contributions during discussion of the meeting’s Agenda.  This proposal was agreed by the Council.

None.

Report of Chief Executive

Councillor Woods submitted a report that set out the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2009/12 subject to the final detail on targets being agreed.  Councillor Glynane seconded the recommendation.

RESOLVED: (1) That the draft Corporate Plan attached to the report be approved subject to the addition of detailed targets arising from the Service Planning process.

                        (2) That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council be authorised to finalise the Corporate Plan and associated action plan in line with the Budget decisions, Service Plans and any other consequent changes.

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Mildren submitted a report that set out the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2009/10 to 2011/12, presented the proposed Capital Programme for 2009/10 and Outline Proposals for 2010/11 to 2011/12 and outlined the Capital Programme Funding Proposals for 2009/10 and future years.  Councillor Perkins seconded the recommendation.

RESOLVED: (1) That the Capital Strategy for 2009/10 to 2011/12 as set out in Annex A of the Report to Cabinet be approved.

                        (2) That the Capital Programme for 2009/10 including future year commitments as set out in Annex B to the Cabinet Report be approved.

                        (3) That the capital financing principles to be applied in 2009/10 as set out in the Capital Strategy (Annex A to the Cabinet Report) be approved.

                        (4) That the proposed financing of the Capital Programme for 2009/10 and future years as set out at paragraph 3.2.10 and Annex C of the Cabinet Report be approved.

                        (5) That Cabinet be authorised once the programme has been set to approve new capital schemes and variations to existing schemes during 2009/10 subject to the funding being available and the schemes being in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Council.

                        (6) That the contribution of each new scheme in the 2009/10 Capital Programme to the Council’s Corporate Priorities for 2009/12 as set out in Annex D of the Cabinet Report be noted.

                        (7) That the Outline Bids for Future Years as set out in Annex E of the Cabinet Report be noted.

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Woods submitted a report, which set out the outcome of the consultation process on the 2009/10 General Fund Budget and the Final Formula Grant Settlement for 2009/10 and which sought approval for the 2009/10 General Fund Budget and Council Tax increase for 2009/10 and Indicative Budgets and Council Tax increases for 2010/11 and 2011/12 as recommended by Cabinet.  Councillor Woods also circulated an Addendum that set out an amendment to the Budget Report as a result of and since the Cabinet meeting on 19 February 2009.  Councillor Mildren seconded the recommendation as amended. 

Councillor Clarke proposed and Councillor Capstick seconded:

“That this Council amends its 2009/10 Revenue Budget as follows:

The Council debated the amendment.

Upon a request for a recorded vote:

There voted for the amendment; Councillors Capstick, I Choudary, Clarke, Davies, C Lill, J Lill, Mason, Reeve and Scott.

There voted against the amendment Councillors Beardsworth, Church, Collins, J Conroy, R Conroy, Crake, De Cruz, Garlick, Glynane, Golby, Hawkins, B Hoare, Hollis, Lane, I Markham, Matthews, Meredith, Mildren, Palethorpe, Perkins, Simpson, Taylor, P D Varnsverry, P M Varnsverry, Wilson, Woods and Yates.

There abstained; the Mayor and Councillors Caswell, Edwards, Hill, Larratt and Malpas.

The amendment was lost.

Councillor Hadland proposed and Councillor Palethorpe seconded:

“(1)   To invest a total of £145,000 from the actions below to maintain the current level of funded Neighbourhood Wardens at fifteen.

(2)    Reduce the Councillor allowances back to the pre-1 April 2008 level to provide a saving of £98,000.

(3)    Fund the remaining balance of £47,000 from General Reserves.”

The amendment was debated by the Council.

On a request for a recorded vote:

There voted for the amendment Councillors Capstick, Caswell, I Choudary, Clarke, Davies, Edwards, Golby, Hadland, Hill, Lane, Larratt, C Lill, J Lill, Malpas, Mason, Palethorpe, Reeve and Scott.

There voted against the amendment Councillors Beardsworth, Church, Collins, J Conroy, R Conroy, Crake, De Cruz, Garlick, Glynane, Hawkins, B Hoare, Hollis, I Markham, Matthews, Meredith, Mildren, Perkins, Simpson, Taylor, P D Varnsvery, P M Varnsverry, Wilson, Woods and Yates.

There abstained; the Mayor.

The amendment was lost.

RESOLVED: (1) That the feedback from consultation with the public, organisations and the Overview & Scrutiny Committees, be considered and welcomed (detailed at Annexes 1 and 2 of the report).

                        (2) That the Council’s representations on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Mildren submitted a report that set out the final precept determinations from Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police Authority and Northampton Borough Council.  Councillor Perkins seconded the motion.

RESOLVED: Northampton Borough Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council” in this resolution) calculated the following amounts for the year 2009/10 in accordance with various regulations and resolves for the financial year 2009/10 to:

                        1. Set the General Fund Budget Requirement for the Council at £33,197,629 calculated as follows:

                        2. Note that, arising from the decision of the Council at this meeting and decision taken by Parish Councils, the amount of Special Items included in the Budget Requirement set out at (1) above is £1,910,589 calculated as follows:

                        3. Note that (in accordance with regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 – “the Act”) the Council has calculated the following amounts:

                        a) £66,166 being the Council Tax Base (in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992) and the Local Authorities (calculation of tax base) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 and (No2) Regulations 2003) for the year.

                         b)That the sums shown in Annex B Schedule A column (2) being the amounts of Council Tax Base for dwellings in those parts of the area set out in column (1) of the schedule to which one or more special items relate.

                        4. Set the following amounts in accordance with sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Mildren submitted a report that sought approval to the overall HRA budget for 2009/10 and forecasts for 2010/11 and 2011/12, the approval of the HRA rent increases and other charges for 2009/10, to approve the medium term planning option submitted in Annex D of the report and to provide an update on the ongoing work on the direction of the HRA.  Councillor Beardsworth seconded the recommendations.

RESOLVED: (1) That the average rent increase of 5.65% per dwelling per week be approved in line with the Government’s rent restructuring regime, convergence in 2023/24, to take effect from 1 April 2009.

                        (2) That the Medium Term Planning options at Annex D of the report and the revised contributions to/from working balances be approved.

                        (3) That the HRA budget for 2009/10 set out in Annex A of the report be approved and the indicative budgets for 2010/11 and 2011/12 be noted.

                        (4) That Warden and Call Care charges (including Eleanore House) be increased by 2% in line with Northampton Supporting People (as shown in Annex C of the report).

                        (5) That the heating service charges be increased by 5.00% (as shown in Annex C of the report).

                        (6) That garage charges be increased by 5.00% (as shown in Annex C of the report).

                        (7) That the feedback from consultation through the Overview & Scrutiny Committees be welcomed (detailed at Annex E of the report) and noted.

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Mildren submitted a report that set out the Council’s range of Prudential Indicators for 2009/10 to 2011/12 in accordance with the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  Councillor Perkins seconded the recommendation. 

RESOLVED: (1) That approval be given to the Prudential Indicators required under the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities as set out in paragraph 3.2.2 of the report to Cabinet.

                        (2) That in line with the guidance notes to the Prudential Code issued by CIPFA, approval be given to the delegation of authority to the Section 151 Officer to make adjustments between the “borrowing” and “other long term liabilities” categories within the overall total of the indicators for the operational boundary and the authorised limit for external debt as shown at paragraph 3.2.2 (G) and (H). 

Report of Director of Finance and Support

Councillor Mildren submitted a report that set out a Treasury Management Policy Statement Practices and Schedules for 2009/10 and the Treasury Strategy for 2009/10.  Councillor Perkins seconded the recommendations:

RESOLVED: (1) That the Treasury Management Policy Statement be approved.

                        (2) That the Treasury Management Practices (TMPs) and TMP Schedules for 2009/10 be approved.

                        (3) That approval be given to the Treasury Strategy for 2009/10, incorporating:

                        (i) The Capital Financing and Borrowing Strategy for 2009/10 including:

•       The Council’s policy on the making of Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) for the repayment of debt, as required by the Local Authorities (Capital Finance & Accounting) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2008.

•       The Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2009/10 as required by the Local Government Act 2003.

                        (ii) The Investment Strategy for 2009/10 as required by the DCLG (formerly ODPM) Guidance on Local Government Investments issued in 2004.

                        (4) That the proposed Debt Financing Budget 2009/10 to 2010/11 (paragraph 3.2.15 and Annex D of the Cabinet report) be noted.

                        (5) That adherence to the Council’s policy on reserves and balances (paragraph 3.2.16 of the Cabinet report) be noted.

                        (6) That compliance with the requirement under the Local Government Act 2003 to produce a balanced budget (paragraph 3.2.17 of the Cabinet report) be noted.

None.