Agenda item

(Copy herewith)

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 to the outcome of the financial risk assessment and remaining at this level over the medium term be confirmed.

9.    That Council does not increase the Council Tax for its own purposes, that is, excluding county, police, and parish precepts.