Issue - meetings

To approve the capital and revenue budget proposals together with the Capital Strategy, Prudential Indicators, Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and the General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy. (Members should note that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment Regulations 2014, there will be a recorded vote on this item).

The Council debated the capital and revenue budget proposals together with the Capital Strategy, Prudential Indicators, Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy and Business Plans.

It was stated that there was a continuing serious economic context for local government but the Council had delivered another “no cuts to jobs and services” budget, which led the way in housing, house building and the environment. The budget would focus on a diverse programme of continued investment in Broxtowe’s town centre regeneration, council house delivery, parks and open spaces, and an exciting cultural offer, which continued to support financial sustainability, and improve the residents and tenants’ lives.

It was proposed by Councillor P J Owen and seconded by D D Pringle that the following amendment be made to the budget.

“The Council shall –

• Reduce the General Fund revenue budget by £205,600 thereby resulting in a 0% increase for the Broxtowe Borough Council element of the Council Tax (a ‘tax freeze’).
• The cost of the tax freeze be funded by an increase in the Council’s employee savings target from the proposed £800k to up to £1.0m with the remaining shortfall being met by an additional withdrawal from General Fund Reserve balances.

The Council is therefore asked to RESOLVE that:

• Resolution 1 bullet point 2 be amended to read ‘The General Fund revenue budgets as submitted be reduced by £200,000 to allow for the additional employee savings target.”
• Resolution 1 bullet point 4 be amended to read ‘The Council Tax Requirement for 2026/27, including special expenses (but excluding local precepting requirements), be £7,010,792.
• Resolution 1 bullet point 5 be amended to read ‘An amount of £765,934 be withdrawn from the General Fund reserves and an amount of £439,883 be taken from General Fund earmarked reserves in 2026/27.’
• The figures provided in resolutions 2, 3, 4 and 5 be amended accordingly to reflect the reduction in the Broxtowe Borough Council basic Council Tax amount for a band D property from £198.61 to £192.93.”

The debate on the amendment was had. On being put to the meeting the motion was defeated. The vote was recorded and the voting was as follows:

The debate progressed on to the original motion.  It was noted that the proposed budget included the work on Bramcote Leisure Centre. There were concerns about flooding, Local Government Reorganisation and the Housing Regulator’s report. There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103