Agenda and minutes

Councillor Palethorpe declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 in so far as his wife was a Parish Councillor for Billing

Councillor Hill declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 in so far as his wife was a Parish Councillor for Wootton and East Hunsbury.

The following Councillors declared personal interests in Item 9 - in so far as the discussion may refer to the Parish Council Precepts;

Councillor Bottwood declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Upton

Councillor Hadland declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Duston.

Councillor Eldred declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Wootton and East Hunsbury

Councillor Nunn declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Wootton and East Hunsbury

Councillor Caswell declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Duston.

Councillor Patel declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Wootton and East Hunsbury

Councillor Golby declared a personal interest in Item 9 - Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 as a Member of the Parish Council for Duston

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 January 2013.

Subject to the following amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on the 21^st January 2013 were agreed and signed by the Mayor:

Delete in Item 1, Declarations of Interest – “Councillor Capstick declared a Personal interest in item 17 (iii) in so far as it referred to Northampton Credit Union, of which she was a member.”

Apologies were received from Councillor Strachan and Councillor Flavell.

The Mayor commented that the Mayoress had taken part in a fundraising fire -walk for the Cynthia Spencer Hospice and announced that an excess of £58,000 had been pledged to the charity and congratulated the Mayoress for her achievements. The Mayor announced that there was to be another fundraising event on the 23^rd March 2013 when a Male Voice Choir would be in attendance. He informed Council that he had attended the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Deco centre and a number of Chinese students had been invited on a tour of the Mayor’s Parlour.

The Mayor proposed from the Chair “That Council procedural rules be suspended so as to allow amendments to be proposed and seconded in respect of Item 9 – Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16 and Item 11 - HRA Budget, Rent Setting 2013/14 and Budget Projections 2014/15 and 2015/16 and that for the duration of the meeting, proposers and seconders and in replying, speeches would not exceed 10 minutes and that no other speech would exceed 5 minutes”.

 Council agreed the proposal.

Mr J Socha commented that the National Landlords Association wanted to have a simplified approach to the renewal fees of Houses of Multiple Occupation, specifically Student Property. He commented that members of the NLA would like to see the renewal fee set at a similar rate as other authorities – Northampton being more expensive. He commented that £700 per new application and per the renewal of the licence was set too high and asked that there be a decrease of 25 per cent for completing it online as the building of the new university accommodation could have a detrimental effect on the activities of legitimate and legal landlords.  

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Councillor Mackintosh submitted a report which set out the Council’s Corporate Plan 2013 -2015 (2013 update).

Councillor Caswell seconded the adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the attached draft Corporate Plan be approved

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.

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report that set out the Treasury Management Policy Statement, the Treasury Management Practices (TMP’s) and TMP Schedules for 2013 -14, the Treasury Management Strategy for 2013-14 and other associated treasury management information for 2013-14. Councillor Mackintosh seconded adoption of the report.

Councillors thanked the Director of Resources and Officers for their efforts and hard work.

RESOLV ED: 1. That the following be approved:

a)    The Treasury Management Policy Statement at Appendix C of the attached Cabinet report

b)    The Treasury Management Practices (TMPs) Main Principles at Appendix D of the attached Cabinet report

c)    The TMP Schedules for 2013-14 at Appendix E of the attached Cabinet report

d)    The Treasury Management Strategy for 2013-14 at Appendix F of the attached Cabinet report, incorporating:

(i) The Capital Financing and Borrowing Strategy for 2013-14 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) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.

·         The Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2013-14 as required by the Local Government Act 2003.

(ii) The Investment Strategy for 2013-14 as required by the CLG revised Guidance on Local Government Investments issued in 2010.

That  Chief Finance Officer, and the Director of Finance and Support, in  consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, be authorised to make any temporary changes needed to the Council’s borrowing and investment strategy to enable the authority to meet its obligations.

2.   That the following be noted:

a)    Adherence to the Council’s policy on reserves and balances (paragraph 3.2.13 of the attached Cabinet report).

b)    Compliance with the requirement under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to produce a balanced budget (paragraph 3.2.14 & 3.2.15 of the attached Cabinet report).

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report  that presented the Council’s  proposed Capital Programme for 2013-14 and outlined the capital Programme Funding proposals for  2013 -14 and future years. Councillor Mackintosh seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED: 1. That the following be approved:

a)    The capital programme for 2013-14, including future year commitments, as set out in Appendix A.

b)    The capital financing principles to be applied in 2013-14, as set out in the approved Capital Strategy and attached as Appendix C.

c)    The proposed financing of the capital programme for 2012-13 and future years, as set out at paragraphs 3.2.11 and Appendix B.

d)    That  the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Portfolio Holder be authorised to update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators report and Treasury Strategy report, prior to Council for any capital programme changes that impact on these.

e)    That Cabinet be authorised, once the programme has been set, to approve new capital schemes and variations to existing schemes during 2013-14, subject to the funding being available and the schemes being in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Council

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report that set the outcome of the consultation process on the 2013/14 General Fund budget and the final formula grant settlement for 2013/13 and sought Council’s approval of the Cabinet’s proposals for the 2013/14 to 2015/16 General Fund budgets, the level of Council Tax increase for 2013/14 and indicative levels for 2014/15 – 2015/16.

Councillor Mackintosh seconded the adoption of the report.

Councillor Palethorpe moved and Councillor Wire DL seconded:

“That the Northampton Labour Group propose the following amendments to the general fund budget, as tabled”;

Upon a requisition for a recorded vote:

There voted for the amendment Councillors Aziz, Beardsworth, Begun, Capstick, I Choudary, N Choudary, Davies, Eales, Glynane, Gowen, Marriott, Mason, Mennell, Meredith, Palethorpe, Stone and Wire DL.

There voted against the amendment Councillors Ansell, Bottwood, Caswell, Duncan, Eldred, Ford, Golby, Hadland, Hallam, Hibbert, Hill, King, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Mackintosh, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sergeant and Yates.

There abstained the Mayor.

The amendment was lost.

RESOLVED:  1. That the feedback from consultation with the public, organisations and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, be considered and welcomed (detailed at Appendices 1a to 1c of the attached Cabinet report).

2.    That the Council’s representations on the provisional formula grant settlement be noted (Appendix 2 of the attached Cabinet report).

3.    That the risks detailed in the Chief Finance Officer’s statement on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of the reserves (Appendix 8 of the attached Cabinet report) be acknowledged.

4.    That the draft Fees and Charges set out in Appendix 9 (of the attached Cabinet report) be approved.

5.    That the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement all budget options and restructures.

6.    That  the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Lead Cabinet Member be authorised to transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

7.    That a General Fund budget for 2013/14 of £27.14m (excluding parishes), be approved (detailed in Appendices 4, 5, 6a and 6b of the attached Cabinet report) for its own purposes.

8.    That the reserves strategy of protecting balances wherever possible to allow the option of supporting future years’ budgets, aiming for a minimum level of unallocated general fund balances of £3.1m for 2013/14 having regard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report that set out the final precept determinations from the major precepting authorities (Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commisionner), parish councils and the budget setting decision of the Council at Item 9 above.

Councillor Mackinosth seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report that sought approval of the HRA forecasts for 2014/15 and 2015/16, rent increase service charges and other charges for 2013/14 and provided a brief update on the ongoing work of the HRA.

Councillor Markham seconded the report.

Councillor Palethorpe moved and Councillor Mason seconded:

“The Northampton Borough Labour Group proposes that £300,000 from the HRA Reserves be earmarked to provide environmental improvements on the council’s estates.

“The Northampton Labour Group propose that £250,000 from the £1m allocated to improve Sheltered Housing should be ‘ring fenced’ to provide security intercom systems for elderly and vulnerable residents living in the Councils Sheltered Housing”

Upon a vote the amendment was lost:

RESOLVED: 1. That the following be approved:

a)    An average rent increase of 4.41% per dwelling, in line with the Government’s rent restructuring Policy, convergence in 2015/16, to take effect from 1 April 2013.

b)    The service charges listed in Appendix 5.

2.  That the feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be welcomed (detailed at Appendix 1).

3   That the changes to the proposed budget (detailed at Appendix 2), in light of the consultation responses and equalities issues be agreed.

4   That the HRA budget for 2013/14 of £53.4m expenditure (including options) be approved (detailed in Appendix 3).

5   That the issues and risks detailed in the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of the reserves (Appendix 6) be acknowledged.

6   That Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer and Support be authorised to implement all budget options and restructures.

7   That the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the lead Cabinet Member for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and lead Cabinet Member be authorised to:

¬  transfer monies from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

¬  update the budget tables and Appendices, prior to Council should any further changes be necessary

¬  update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators report and Treasury Strategy report, prior to Council for any budget changes that impact on these.

8   That the reserves strategy of protecting balances wherever possible to allow the option of supporting future years budgets, aiming for a minimum level of unallocated HRA reserves of £5.0m at the end of 2013/14 having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment and remaining at this level over the medium term and in line with the 30 year Business Plan be approved.

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Councillor Bottwood submitted a report that set out the background to the prudential indicators, proposed prudential indicators for 2013 -14 and the following years and a commentary to support the individual prudential indicators (Appendix A of the appended Cabinet report).

Councillor Mackintosh seconded adoption of the report.

RESOLVED:  1.That the prudential indicators required under the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (2011 edition) as set out at paragraph 3.2.3 of the attached Cabinet report be approved.

2.  That the Chief Finance Officer be authorised 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 set out at paragraphs 3.2.3 (g) and (h) of the attached Cabinet report.

None.