Agenda item

General Fund Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/2021

 (Copy herewith)

Decision:

2.1  Cabinet approved the draft general fund revenue budget 2020/21, as summarised in appendix 1, for public consultation.

 

2.2 Cabinet approved for public consultation the proposed growth and savings options for 2020/21, as set out in appendix 2.

 

2.3 Cabinet approved the proposed council tax increase for 2020/21 of £5.00 per band D property for public consultation, as set out in paragraphs 3.2.13.

 

2.4 Cabinet approved the draft capital strategy, as set out in appendix 3, for public consultation.

 

2.5 Cabinet approved the draft general fund capital programme and financing 2020/21 to 2023/24, as detailed in appendix 4, for public consultation.

 

2.6 Cabinet approved the draft treasury management strategy, as set out in appendix 5, for public consultation.

 

2.7 Cabinet delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with s151 Officer and the Leader, the authority to represent the Borough Council on the Board of the Business Rates Pilot and to agree any allocation of business rates in line with the specified projects approved by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

 

2.8 Cabinet delegated to the Chief Executive and the s151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader, the authority to monitor and track the spending of the agreed £500,000 plus additional agreed £500,000 to the Future Northants programme in line with the Implementation Plan and regularly report back to Cabinet. The proposed £1.4m additional contribution is subject to the forthcoming budget consultation therefore any future delegation on this amount will be subject to the outcomes of the consultation.

Minutes:

 

Councillor Eldred elaborated on his report and highlighted the proposed increase for Council Tax and the envisaged costs of around £1 million for Unitary costs.  He added that temporary accommodation was a key issue and work is taking place getting people out of temporary accommodation into permanent accommodation.

 

Councillor Birch addressed Cabinet and posed a number of questions. She queried whether the proposed charge for the collection of green waste would increase fly-tipping and what the associated cleaning costs would be. She further queried what the administration costs were and whether each household would be charged the same rate for the collection of green waste, irrespective of the size of the gardens.  Councillor Birch asked whether the Cabinet fund of £70,000 would exist for 2020/21 and what this fund had been spent on previously. She added that she was concerned regarding any restructuring of the budget for community and other grants.  In response to Councillor Birch’s queries, she was advised that it was expected that there would be no impact on fly-tipping in relation to the proposed charge for the collection of green waste. An update on grants would be given to CEFAP and it was proposed that Councillors’ empowerment funds would be each reduced by £1,000 to £2,000.

 

Councillor Stone addressed Cabinet conveying her concerns regarding the Environmental Services contract and the proposed increase in costs of 3% for next year’ compared to inflation of 1.5% and forecast inflation for 2020/2021 of 1.9%.   She added that inflation is often written into such contracts.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

2.1  The draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget including charges and rents as detailed in appendices 1 and 4 be approved for public consultation.

 

2.2   The draft HRA Capital Programme and financing, as detailed in appendix 2 be approved for public consultation.

 

2.3   The draft Total Fees proposed for NPH in appendix 3 to deliver the services in scope. Report Title Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget, Rent Setting 2020/21 and Budget Projections 2021/22 to 2023/24 Appendices 4 147 Agenda Item 10 be noted.

 

2.4   A further £500k amount in 2019-20 for buybacks and spot purchases of properties by bringing forward the amount proposed from 2020-21 within the HRA capital programme, as set out at paragraph 3.2.34 be approved.

 

2.5   Up to a further £1.5m of capital spend in addition to the £6m previously approved by Council for the NCC Supported Living Provision property schemes. The total budget of up to £7.5m to be managed by NPH with NBC as part of the revised Capital Programme for 2019-20, as set out at paragraphs 3.2.35-3.2.37, be approved.

 

2.6.  It is noted that the above approval is subject to the completed amended financial appraisal review.

 

2.7   Authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to approve any variations within the £7.5m budget.

 

2.8   Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing, the Head of Housing and Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to approve any variations required to be made to the Management Agreement between Northampton Borough Council and Northampton Partnership Homes dated 5 January 2015 that may be required to implement any Cabinet approvals arising from this report.

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