Agenda item

Council were presented with the Council Tax Resolution 2017/18, and Revenue and Capital Budgets 2017/18.  The Council is bound by Statute to specific timescales for Council Tax setting and is also required to make certain defined resolutions. The recommendations that form the major part of this report are designed to comply with those Statutory Provisions.

 

The recommended resolutions also draw together the Council Tax implications of precepts notified by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent and Town and Community Councils, thereby enabling the County Council to establish its headline Council Tax levels at the various property bands within each Town or Community area.

 

The Cabinet Member for Resources explained that despite a better settlement than anticipated it had been a difficult process in bringing forward a balanced budget.  He thanked all officers involved in the process for their hard work during the deliberations.

 

The Cabinet Member advised of a revised recommendation as follows:

 

2.1       It is recommended that the revenue and capital estimates for the year 2017/18 as attached in Appendix 1 and 2 be approved with the following adjustments:

 

      i.        That charges for Trade waste collections are not increased and the service instead seek to increase the customer base to achieve the income target of £10k.

     ii.        That an additional £300k is added to the Disabled Facilities Grant capital budget, and the consequent costs of borrowing are funded from the headroom in the Treasury revenue budget.

    iii.        That the capital budgets for car parks are added to the overall capital budget as outlined in item 9c on this Council agenda.

 

During Debate the following points were noted:

 

The Leader of the opposition expressed that following a tough few years in local government, thanks should be given to Welsh Government for extra funding, despite cuts from Westminster Government.  He was pleased to note the population projections have changed, meaning a slight increase in funding for Monmouthshire.

 

Concerns were raised regarding school budgets, in that budgets were being cut by circa £700k. It was added that schools themselves, through the schools forum, had raised concerns, recognising the biggest cost base being staff.  The increase in cost of school meals was also questioned.

 

There were long-standing concerns around highways, bus services and street lighting in that the issue of loneliness and isolation with the County.  The Labour Group considers that tackling loneliness and isolation should not just be about social care, but about other Council services. 

 

Explanation was requested regarding a cut in funding of £200k to Chepstow School.

 

The Cabinet Member for Education explained that 36% of the budget, over £50m goes to schools and, as a result, standards have been raised.   We have continued to fund our schools above the Welsh average, being the second highest funder, funding per pupil is £300 more than a neighbouring authority.  With regards to Chepstow School, it was noted that a wonderful job had been done in raising numbers, but this had reduced over the last couple of years, therefore funding has reduced as schools are funded per pupil.

 

The Leader of the Council stated that there remains an absolute commitment to replacing the pool, with enhanced leisure facilities, in Monmouth.  There has been an investment of £2m in highways, a significant increase in DFGs, and the commitment to City Deal.  It was taken as a compliment that there had not been any alternative options for the budget from the opposition.  School funding is a concern, but has been maintained and prioritised due to huge cuts in other areas.

 

An independent Member noted that the 21^st Century School Programme remains on budget due to Council approving an extra £11m borrowing.  The Monmouth Pool requires an extra £6.8m, raising concern of a lack of financial management.

 

An Independent Member highlighted that both Welsh and UK Government were systematically reducing budgets, letting our children down.  She questioned the total income generation needed to balance the books, stating unease of risking tax payers’ money to try to create and income.  Disappointment was expressed that Village Halls are forced to raise funds to try to pay 20% rates, particularly considering volunteers are providing services unable to be provided by the Authority.

 

The Cabinet Member for Communities commended the budget and noted the support for vulnerable people. 

 

A Member referred to his ward and commended the actions of officers of the Council, noting MCC as a listening Council, operating in severe financial constraints.  It was added that we are managing to maintain services rather than close them.  It was thought to be a balanced budget and commended to Council.

 

A Member questioned how well the budget papers were scrutinised by Cabinet, and how well they understood the impact on communities.

 

With regards the comments surrounding Monmouth Pool, the Cabinet Member for Enterprise explained that MCC had not borrowed £11m as suggested, as Welsh Government had provided half of the funding.  He was pleased to note that Councillor Hayward acknowledged the pool would be built.

 

It was expressed that Monmouthshire County Council should have a system whereby all Members are adequately involved in the budget process and can make early, meaningful contributions.

 

The Chair brought the item to a close and upon being put to the vote Council resolved to agree the recommendations:

 

·      That the revenue and capital estimates for the year 2017/18 as attached in Appendix 1 and 2 be approved with the following adjustments:

 

i.   That charges for Trade waste collections are not increased and the service instead seek to increase the customer base to achieve the income target of £10k.

ii.That an additional £300k is added to the Disabled Facilities Grant capital budget, and the consequent costs of borrowing are funded from the headroom in the Treasury revenue budget.

iii.That the capital budgets for car parks are added to the overall capital budget as outlined in item 9c on this Council agenda.

 

·       It be noted that, at its meeting on 15th February 2017, Cabinet calculated the amounts set out below for the year 2017/18 in accordance with sections 32 and 33 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 ("the Act").

For information, sections 32 and 33 of the 1992 Act have been extensively amended by Schedule 12 to the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. Both are further amended by the Local Authorities (Alteration of Requisite Calculations) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (the “2002 regulations”) and The Local Authorities (Alteration of Requisite Calculations) (Wales) Regulations 2013. Section 33 is further amended by the Local Government Reorganisation (Calculation of Basic Amount of Council Tax) (Wales) Order 1996. All necessary legislative and statutory amendments have been taken into account in calculating the following amounts: -

 

(a) 45,537.71 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33 of the Act and The Regulations (as amended by Regulations 1999 no. 2935), as its Council Tax base for the year;

(b) Part of the Council’s Area, being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34 of the Act, as the amounts of its Council Tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of the area to which one or more special items relate:

 

 

·      That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Act and sections 47 and 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended):

 

(a) £148,152,649 being the aggregate of the amounts the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2) (a) to (d) of the Act less the aggregate of the amounts the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32 (3) (a) and (c) of the Act calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year

(b) £91,798,934 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will  be payable for the year into its Council fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant in accordance with Section 33 (3)

(c) £6,000 being the cost to the authority of discretionary non-domestic rate relief anticipated to be granted (under sections 47 and 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 , as amended)

(d) £1,237.65 being the amount at 2.3(a) and 2.3(c) above less the amount at 2.3(b) above, all divided by the amount at 2.2(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year

(e) £2,479,952 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34 of the Act (Town and Community Precepts)

(f) £1,183.19 being the amount at 2.3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 2.3(e) above by the amount at 2.2(a) above calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of the area to which no special item relates.

(g) Part of the Council’s Area, being the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the amounts at 2.2(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of the area to which one or more special items relate:

 

 

(h) The County Council Area, being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 2.3(f) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

 

 

 

(i) Part of the Council’s Area, being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 2.3(g) and 2.3(h) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands: -

 

 

·      That it be noted for the year 2017/18 that the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent has notified the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the dwellings shown above: -

 

 

·      That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 2.3(i) and 2.4 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Act, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2017/18 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below: -

 

 

·      That Mrs J. Robson, Mr M. Howcroft, Miss R. Donovan, Mrs. S. Deacy, Mrs. W. Woods and Mrs. S. Knight be authorised under Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1972 to prosecute and appear on behalf of Monmouthshire County Council in proceedings before a Magistrates Court for the purpose of applying for Liability Orders in respect of Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates.