Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Burr, Goodrick and Sanderson, and for late arrival from Councillor Duncan.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 10 December 2015 and the Extraordinary Meetings of Council held on 14 January 2016.

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 10 December 2015 and the Extraordinary Meetings of Council held on 14 January 2016 were presented.

Resolved

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 10 December 2015 and the Extraordinary Meetings of Council held on 14 January 2016 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Note: Councillor Clark requested that his vote for the motion to approve the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 10 December 2015 be recorded.

The Monitoring Officer advised Members that in relation to agenda item 10 (Revenue and Capital Budgets and Setting of Council Tax 2016/2017) all Members had been granted a dispensation to allow them to speak and vote in any debate on the adoption of a budget or the setting of the Council Tax notwithstanding them having any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or any personal and pecuniary interest including those referred to in the Register of Members' Interests, for example, of being a resident of or a land or property owner in the administrative District of Ryedale.

The following interests were declared:

Councillors Val Arnold and Clark declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in agenda item 12 minute 60 (Response to the New Homes Bonus: Sharpening the Incentive - Technical Consultation) as North Yorkshire County Councillors.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         That the Civic Service would take place on 10 April 2016 at Nunnington Church.

There were no questions on notice.

Councillor Cowling, the Leader of the Council, presented the following statement:

"Tonight I am restricting my statement to one topic - our revenue budget for the coming financial year.  When we get to item 10, I shall be moving the first of two motions which arise from the officer recommendation which starts on page 45 of your agenda. You will see that motion 1  says that the recommendations from the Policy & Resources Committee be noted and received by council, and deals with agenda item 10 (i) revised as tabled.  The remainder of that motion is as on page 45 of your agenda.  The second motion deals with item 10  ii - v  on our agenda and contains revised figures, as tabled, to reflect our final settlement.

 As most of you will be aware - our final settlement arrived after the P&R meeting and held some surprises, not least of which is the ability to raise council tax by £5 - the equivalent of 9.5 pence per week for a band D property.

This has been a difficult decision for our  group - given our manifesto commitment to low taxes.  However we felt that we had to balance the need to continue to deliver the services that the residents of Ryedale want against ever decreasing grant support from the government.  We are starting from a low tax base - therefore any % increase, although regrettable, will still result in a relatively low council tax. 

An example of the benefits of our Community Grants, for instance, is that the 120k that we have put into grants over the last 2-3 years has levered in around £735k of additional investment in our community facilities.  In addition, since 2011,  we have attracted investment from the Arts Council  of over 1million pounds into Ryedale.

It would be very easy to say that the task ahead of us for the next 4-5 years is too difficult - that we will just slash services or hand in the keys.  But I do not think that is what the people of Ryedale would expect of us.  We have a brilliant team of officers in RDC who have delivered savings for the district  in the past  and if members have the courage to play their part in the transformation of our council - then I have every confidence that we can manage the next 4-5 years and emerge a better and more efficient council whilst still delivering the services that our taxpayers value. 

I believe that the ability to raise council tax by £5 and the additional Rural Services Delivery Grant that has been awarded over the next two years will ease the pain a little and is some recognition by our government of the scale of ongoing savings that  rural councils have  achieved.  Make no mistake though, there is still a very difficult time ahead."

The following questions were received on the Leader’s Statement:

1.    From Councillor Paul Andrews

"Just on the question of £5 increase. What  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

Annex A and Annex B are attached.  Annex C is to follow.

With reference to Minute No. 59 (Financial Strategy 2016/2017) of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 4 February 2016 (copy attached), Councillor Cowling, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, will move:-

I           Budget 2016/2017

            That the revised revenue estimates for the year 2015/2016 and the revenue estimates for 2016/2017, as submitted in the Council’s Financial Strategy and Revenue Budget 2016/2017 Book be approved (copy enclosed).

II           Council Tax Base

            That it be noted that, in accordance with Minute No. 363(d)/2005 of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 8 December 2005, which was subsequently approved by Council at its meeting on 12 January 2006, Ryedale District Council has (pursuant to Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972) delegated responsibility to adopt the Council Tax base to the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee. The Council calculated the amounts for the year 2016/17, in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended, as set out in Annex A.

III          District/Parish Council Tax Rates

            That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2016/17, in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act):

            (a)       District/Parish Gross Expenditure

                        £28,098,831.00 being the aggregate of the amounts, which the Council estimates for the items, set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

(b)       Income (including Government Grants and Collection Fund Surpluses)

                        £23,475,205.00 being the aggregate of the amounts, which the Council estimates for the items, set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

            (c)        District/Parish Council Tax Requirement

                        £4,623,626.00 being the amount by which the aggregate at Part III(a) above exceeds the aggregate at Part III(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

            (d)       Basic amount of Tax (including Parish Precepts)

                        £220.77 being the amount at Part III(c) above, all divided by the amount at Part II above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

            (e)       Parish Precept and Special Expenses

                        £849,022.00 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

            (f)         Basic Amount of Tax (excluding Parish Precepts)

                        £180.23 being the amount at Part III(d) above less the results given by dividing the amount at Part III(e) above by the amount given at Part II above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

            (g)       Basic Amount of Tax in Parishes/Towns

                        The details for each Parish as shown in Annex B, column headed “Aggregate amount at Band  ...  view the full agenda text for item 85.

The Chairman of Council reported on the procedure to be adopted in considering the above item.

It was proposed that the item be dealt with in two separate parts:

(a)    Firstly, consideration of the recommendations in Minute 59 of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 4 February 2016 and the recommendations in the s151 Officer's report, together with item 10 revised paragraph roman numeral I (as tabled) relating to the Council’s revenue budget;

(b)    Secondly, item 10 revised paragraphs roman numerals II to V (as tabled) relating to the requisite calculations and the setting of Council Tax.

It was moved by Councillor Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold that Minute No. 59 (Financial Strategy 2016/2017) of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 4 February 2016 be noted and received by Council, that Council adopt the recommendations in the s151 Officer's report and that Council approve item 10 revised paragraph roman numeral I (as tabled) relating to the Council’s revenue budget.

Upon being put to the vote the substantive motion was then carried.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Joy Andrews, Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Bailey, Clark, Cleary, Cowling, Cussons, Farnell, Frank, Gardiner, Hope, Jainu-Deen, Jowitt, Keal, Maud, Oxley, Potter, Raper, Shields, Thornton, Wainwright and Windress.

Against

Councillor Paul Andrews.

Abstentions

Councillor Ives.

It was moved by Councillor Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold that item 10 revised paragraphs roman numerals II to V (as tabled) relating to the requisite calculations and the setting of Council Tax be approved and adopted.

Upon being put to the vote the substantive motion was then carried.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Bailey, Clark, Cleary, Cowling, Cussons, Duncan, Farnell, Frank, Gardiner, Hope, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Jowitt, Keal, Maud, Oxley, Potter, Raper, Shields, Thornton, Wainwright and Windress.

Against

None.

Abstentions

None.

Resolved

(A)       That Minute No. 59 (Financial Strategy 2016/2017) of the Policy and          Resources Committee held on 4 February 2016 be noted and received           by Council.

(B)       That Council adopt the recommendations in the s151 Officer's report          and thereby:

(i)           approve the Council’s Financial Strategy, as amended within this report, which includes:

a.            Savings/additional income totalling £584k (Financial Strategy Appendix A)

b.            Growth Pressures totalling £410k (Financial Strategy Appendix A)

c.            The Prudential Indicators (Financial Strategy Appendix B)

d.            The revised capital programme (Financial Strategy Appendix D)

e.            The Pay Policy 2016/2017 (Financial Strategy Appendix E)

(ii)       approve a revenue budget for 2016/2017 of £6,412,605 which represents a 2.82% increase in the Ryedale District Council Tax, increasing the Band D charge from £176.72 to £181.71 (note that totalCouncil Tax, including the County Council, Fire and Police is covered within the separate Council Tax setting report to Full Council) and to reduce the amount of New Homes Bonus required to balance the revenue budget for 2016/17 by £104,522 and to reflect these changes in the medium term revenue forecast;

(iii)      approve the special expenses amounting to £35,100;

(iv)         note the financial projection for 2016/17  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

The Finance Manager (s151) submitted a report (previously circulated) which considered the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy and set the Prudential Indicators for 2016/17.

It was moved by Councillor Wainwright and seconded by Councillor Acomb that the following recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, set out in minute 70 from the meeting on 28 January 2016, be approved and adopted.

That Council be recommended that:

(i) Members receive the report;

(ii) The Treasury Management and Investment Strategies be noted and approved by the Council;

(iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement be approved by the Council and;

(iv) That the Prudential Indicators in the report be approved by the Council.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That:

          (i) Members receive the report;

(ii) The Treasury Management and Investment Strategies be noted and approved by the Council;

(iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement be approved by the Council and;

(iv) That the Prudential Indicators in the report be approved by the Council.

Voting Record

27 For

0 Against

0 Abstentions

Policy and Resources Committee – 4 February 2016

Minute 60 - Response to the New Homes Bonus: Sharpening the Incentive - Technical Consultation

Policy and Resources Committee – 4 February 2016

Minute 60 - Response to the New Homes Bonus: Sharpening the Incentive - Technical Consultation

It was moved by Councillor Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold that the following recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee be approved and adopted.

That Council be recommended to approve:

(i)To agree the response to the consultation attached at Annex A and Band delegate authority to the Finance Manager (s151) in consultation with the Chairman of Policy and Resources to make any alterations, if necessary, prior to submission by the 10 March 2017.

Councillor Paul Andrews moved and Councillor Jowitt seconded the following amendment:

"The Council should include in its representation the following:

'The government is asked to include in all future payments of New Homes Bonus an amount equivalent to the cost of increasing the capacity of all highways, drainage and sewerage infrastructure in the settlement of which the development is to take place, so as to ensure that the existing highways, drainage and sewerage networks do not become over capacity.' "

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Voting Record

3 For

18 Against

6 Abstentions

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That Council agree the response to the consultation attached at Annex A and Band delegate authority to the Finance Manager (s151) in consultation with the Chairman of Policy and Resources to make any alterations, if necessary, prior to submission by the 10 March 2017.

Voting Record

23 For

0 Against

4 Abstentions

Members considered vacancies on outside bodies for filling following the resignation of former councillor Phil Evans.

            Resolved:

            That the following appointments be made to the vacancies on          outside bodies:

·  Ryedale Community Transport – Ryecat Project – substitute - no appointment made

·  North Yorkshire, City of York and East Riding Strategic Housing Board - substitute - Councillor Steve Arnold

·  Coast, Wolds, Wetlands and Waterways LEADER Local Action Group – representative - Councillor Oxley

·  Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board – substitute - Councillor Potter

·  Community & Police Consultation Groups - Malton Rural East - representative - Councillor Cleary

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 7.58pm.