The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AB”) sets out the update on budget decisions and Council Tax including new proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2020/21.

Recommended -

That Executive, having considered the Council’s public sector equality duty as set out above:

(a)  Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the new budget proposals for 2020/21 set out at Appendix E to Document AB

(b)  Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed recurrent spending included in the financial estimates as set out in Appendix C and the non recurrent spending plans in Appendix D to Document AB

(c)  Approve for consultation the proposed new capital schemes PCS1 to PCS16 as set out in section 8 of Document AB

(d)  Note the proposed use of reserves as set out in Appendix G to Document AB

(e)  Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in section 9 to Document AB

(f)   Approve for consultation the extension of the Council Tax Support for care leavers aged 22-25 with a discount of 50% on their Council Tax bill from 1 April 2020

(g)  Approve for consultation the extension of transitional support from 1 April 2020 for those households adversely affected by more than £17 per week in respect of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. This transitional support to be reviewed during 2020.

Resolved -

That Executive, having considered the Council’s public sector equality duty as set out above:

(a)  Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the new budget proposals for 2020/21 set out at Appendix E to Document AB

(b)  Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed recurrent spending included in the financial estimates as set out in Appendix C and the non recurrent spending plans in Appendix D to Document AB

(c)  Approve for consultation the proposed new capital schemes PCS1 to PCS16 as set out in section 8 of Document AB

(d)  Note the proposed use of reserves as set out in Appendix G to Document AB

(e)  Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in section 9 to Document AB

(f)   Approve for consultation the extension of the Council Tax Support for care leavers aged 22-25 with a discount of 50% on their Council Tax bill from 1 April 2020

(g)  Approve for consultation the extension of transitional support from 1 April 2020 for those households adversely affected by more than £17 per week in respect of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. This transitional support to be reviewed during 2020.

ACTION: Director of Finance                     (Chris Chapman – 01274 433656)

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AB”) set out the update on budget decisions and Council Tax including new proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2020/21.

An opposition member in attendance at the meeting welcomed the proposed use of £700,000 Public Health funding on on-going investment to support delivery of Health outcomes within and from libraries and asked whether this would result in a halt to reductions in library staff.  He also referred to the Ilkley 20mph zone and the fact that a child had been hit by a car on Grove Road and asked whether there were any plans to extend the 20 mph zone.  The member was thanked for his questions and advised that they would be responded to during the course of the meeting.

A representative of UNITE the Union attended the meeting and questioned why the budget covered a two year period stating that the union’s preference would be for a one year budget.  He was unaware that any consultation had taken place with the Union on the coming budget over the previous months.  He asked where the £21m investment in Children’s Services was to come from.

In response the Leader spoke in favour of a 3 year budget which would give more time to plan, transform and reconfigure services.  She added that in previous years changes had been asked for over a short period which had created issues and noted that all staff would like certainty about their future.

It was noted that on 15 October the Council received a petition in respect of Museums and Libraries and referred the petition to the Executive.  At the Executive on 5 November 2019 the Leader stated that it should be considered as part of the Budget consultation report at the December meeting and the petitioner be advised accordingly.  The December meeting of the Executive having been cancelled the budget report was being considered at this meeting and the petitioners had been invited to the meeting.  No representative of the petitioners attended the meeting. It was noted that the budget consultation would be considered by the Executive in February and that the petitioners would have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

The Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder understood the concerns raised in the petition and referred to the years of austerity since 2010/11.   She emphasised the budget proposal to invest £700,000 from Public Health to support delivery of Health outcomes, support the libraries network and create a sustainable network for the future.  She noted that 700 residents had responded in the engagement process and the proposals would be brought forward at a future date.

The Leader in presenting and tabling the Labour Group’s Budget and Council Tax proposals for 2020/21, stated that between 2011/12 and 2019/20 the Council had taken measures to reduce costs and increase income amounting to £278m and that the authority’s spending power had been reduced by half over that period. She thanked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56