Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

Council is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022.

The minutes of the meeting on 14 December 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Council will receive the minutes of the Freeman and Alderman Councils which took place on 14 December 2022.

The minutes of the meetings of the Freeman and Alderman Councils on 16 November 2022 and 14 December 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Mayor gave a brief résumé of his engagements including visits to food banks and the Mayor’s Charity Tea Party.  He also summarised his duties at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations.

25 January 2023

Members’ Allowances

The Panel discussed Members’ allowances to recommend for the financial year 2023/24.  It was noted that an increase of 5% for the employee pay award had been set aside in the budget, and it was agreed that Councillors be awarded the same.

There followed a debate about the Business Manager Roles that had been removed from the scheme of Members’ allowances in September.  It had been considered that there was a lack of evidence for the usefulness of the roles. However, the feedback from Councillors cross party had been that the Business Managers were essential in organising attendance at Committees and mentoring new Councillors.  It was agreed that there should be two Business Managers, one for the administration and one for the opposition.  It was also agreed that the allowance for the role should be £315 per annum.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that there should be a 5% increase in Member’s allowances at an increased cost of £14,302 per annum and that the two Business Managers role be reinstated with an allowance of £315 each per annum.

25 January 2023

Pay award and review of allowances

Members considered the 5% pay award for the financial year 2023/24, that have been recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, who had also recommended that the two Business Manager Roles be reinstated at an allowance of £315 per annum, as they had an essential role organising attendance at Committees and mentoring new Councillors. 

It was proposed by Councillor M Radulovic MBE and seconded by Councillor T Hallam that the matter of the increase in Member’s Allowances be considered at a future meeting to allow the new Council to determine the award.  On being put to the meeting the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that there be a 5% increase in Member’s Allowances be considered at a future meeting to allow the new Council to determine the award and that the two Business Managers roles be reinstated with an allowance of £315 each per annum.

20 December 2022

Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/24

Members considered the arrangements to operate the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/24. The level of Local Council Tax Support Scheme had risen slightly in 2020/21 as a result of the pandemic. However, the last and current year was showing a reducing spend. It was noted that any alterations to the scheme would have to go through a formal consultation process. The scheme was incorporated within the Council Tax Base calculation.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme remains in place for 2023/24.

Reason

Under section 13A (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council as billing authority must make a localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme in accordance with Schedule 1A to the Act. Each financial year the Council must consider whether to revise its scheme, or to replace it with another scheme.

20 December 2022

Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/24

Members considered the arrangements to operate the Local Council Tax Support Schemer 2023/24.

          RESOLVED that the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme remains in place for 2023/24.

To enable Council approval for the Pay Policy statement for 2023/24

Consideration was given to the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 which set out the Council’s policies relating to the remuneration of its officers, including the relationship between the levels of pay to senior and junior officers.

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 be approved.

Since the meeting of Council on 14 December 2022, it has become necessary to change the following 3 polling places:

*If agreement is not forthcoming from Via, an alternative site will need to be identified for part of BCT2 and the Chief Executive, as Returning Officer, will be asked to approve the alternative polling place for the elections on 4 May 2023 under delegated powers.  The situation in BCT2 will be reviewed for future elections.

Council is asked to RESOLVE that the amendments to the designation of polling places be approved.

Consideration was given to proposed changes to three polling places within the Borough.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the designation of polling places be approved.

The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 state that it is the responsibility of the individual Local Authority as to which body considers appeals regarding the making, cancellation or recovery of discretionary housing payments. At Broxtowe, this has been undertaken by the Discretionary Housing Payments Panel, although over recent years the Panel has met so infrequently that Council voted to remove payments for Panel members in 2022. It is necessary to retain a body to undertake these functions and it is considered that transferring the responsibilities to the Licensing and Appeals Committee and creating panels as necessary will allow for a greater pool of Councillors to consider the appeals. Furthermore, this will bring the procedure in line with other appeals considered by members.

Council is asked to RESOLVE that the responsibilities for the Discretionary Housing Payments Panel be transferred to the Licensing and Appeals Committee.

The Council debated changes to the Constitution that would allow the Licensing and Appeals Committee to consider appeals regarding Discretionary Housing Payments, with Panels to be convened as requires, bringing this policy into line with other appeals considered by members.

RESOLVED that the responsibilities for the Discretionary Housing Payments Panel be transferred to the Licensing and Appeals Committee.

The Local Government Act 1972 states that when a Councillor fails to attend any meeting for six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, then, subject to certain exceptions, they cease to be a Member of the authority, unless the Council accepts a reason for the failure to attend before the six months expires. Councillor Eileen Atherton is currently unable to attend Council meetings and in the circumstances, it is put before Members to consider a dispensation under Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the period of six months from 1 March 2023 before which forfeiture applies.

Council is asked to CONSIDER a dispensation for Councillor Eileen Atherton for a period of six months from the date of this meeting and RESOLVE accordingly.

The Local Government Act 1972 stated that when a Councillor fails to attend any meeting for six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, then, subject to certain exceptions, they cease to be a Member of the  authority, unless the Council accepts a reason for the failure to attend before the six months expires. It is put before Members to consider a dispensation under Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the period of six months from 1 March 2023 before which forfeiture applies.

RESOLVED that Councillor E H Atherton be granted a dispensation under 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the period of six months from 1 March 2023.

Councillor M Radulovic MBE offered his sincerest thanks to all Councillors and Officers who assisted in preparing the budget.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor R I Jackson and seconded by Councillor M J Crow:

Establish a cross party staff vacancy member reference panel to deliver a saving of £180,000 from current new and long-term vacant posts noting that the current new and senior vacant posts total £448,208 including on costs.

The debate on the amendment focussed on the performance of the previous administration, that the proposal would not mean redundancies, and would balance the books without a Council Tax rise, against the pressure that was put on Officers by vacant posts being deleted. 

On being put to the meeting the motion fell.  The vote was recorded and the voting was as follows:

The Council debated the substantive motion with particular reference to it being a no cuts budget and that the Council was set on a course of sustainable progress.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was required. The voting was as follows

RESOLVED that:

1.         The recommendations arising from the Cabinet meeting of 7 February 2023 as set out below be approved and adopted.

·            The Housing Revenue Account budget as submitted be approved.

·            The General Fund revenue budgets as submitted be approved.

·            The capital submissions and priorities within them be approved and the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to arrange the financing of the capital programme as necessary.

·            An amount of £25,000 be provided for a General Contingency in 2023/24.

·            The Council Tax Requirement for 2023/24 including special expenses (but excluding local precepting requirements) be £6,372,250.

·            An amount of £1,190,742 be withdrawn from the General Fund reserves in 2023/24 to include:

a)         £938,181 from General Fund balances.

b)         £252,561 from the General Fund earmarked reserves.

·            The Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2025/26 be approved.

·            The Minimum Revenue Provision policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.