Agenda item

(1)       Mr J Davies moved Mr W Hayton seconded that:-

 

(a)       Procedure Rule 1.12(2) be suspended in order that the meeting be extended to 5 pm;

 

(b)       Procedure Rule 1.30 be suspended in order that the Leader be allowed to speak for a maximum of 15 minutes, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Leader of the Labour Group for 10 minutes with the Leader being given a 5 minute right of reply;

 

(c)        Procedure Rule 1.30 be suspended after presentations by Cabinet Members on their portfolios in the period of general debate that follows in order that speeches can be limited to 3 minutes, and

 

(d)       Procedure Rule 1.36 be suspended in order for the mover and seconder of the original motion to be permitted to speak on more than one occasion.

Carried without a vote

 

(2)       Mr P Carter moved Mr J Simmonds seconded a motion to amend the recommendations on pages 32 and 33 of the ‘Blue Book’ and to approve the contents of the 2010-11 Budget and Medium Term Plan 2010-13 and to approve the following proposals:

 

(a)   the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals for 2010-11;

(b)   the Revenue Budget requirement of £943,244,149;

(c)   the Capital Investment proposals of £505,431,000, together with the necessary use of borrowing, revenue, grants, capital receipts, renewals and other earmarked capital funds, external funding and PFI, subject to approval to spend arrangements;

(d)   the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix D of the attached Medium Term Plan;

(e)   the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented in the 2010-11 Budget Book (Draft for County Council) for:

 

• Children, Families and Education;
• Adult Social Services;
• Environment, Highways and Waste;
• Communities;
• Regeneration and Economic Development;
• Public Health & Innovation;
• Localism & Partnerships;
• Corporate Support Services & Performance Management; and
• Finance;

 

Adjusted by:

 

     (i)            Deduct £1.663m from “Asylum Seekers” net cost (Children, Families & Education Portfolio, p9, line 4) to reduce the net cost of Asylum Seekers to £1.337m.

   (ii)            Deduct £0.400m from “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support Services & Performance Management Portfolio, p50, line 1) to reflect net savings from the ending of the contract for Kent TV (£0.500m) with £0.100m retained for running a new Kent Digital service on the ‘kent.gov.uk’ website leaving a total of £350k for the new service.

 (iii)            Add £0.400m to “Contribution to Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p55, line 12) to transfer the net savings from Kent TV to the Economic Downturn Reserve.

 

(f)     that final recommendations in relation to the Schools Budgets and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (CFE);

(g)   a total requirement from Council Tax of £569,448,669 to be raised through precept to meet the 2010-11 budget requirement; and

(h)   a Council Tax as set out below, for the listed property bands:

 

Band
Council Tax for Band at 2.1% increase	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	698.52	814.94	931.36	1,047.78	1,280.62	1,513.46	1,746.30	2,095.56

 

All items above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

(2)       Mrs T Dean moved Mr M Vye seconded that the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

 

(a)   Reduce 2.1% council tax rise to zero. This would reduce the overall funding by £11.691m.

(b)   Deduct £1.337m from “Asylum Seekers” (Children, Families & Education Portfolio, p9, line 4) (Reduce net cost of the Asylum Service to £nil).

(c)   Deduct £0.100m from “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support Services and Performance Management Portfolio, p50, line 1) (do not retain £0.100m for running costs of Kent Digital service on kent.gov.uk).

(d)   Deduct £0.200m from “Kent Department of Public Health” (Public Health and Innovation Portfolio, p43, line 1) (Cease Health Watch).

(e)   Deduct £0.153m from “Corporate Communications” (Corporate Support Services & Performance Management Portfolio, p49, final line) (Remove budget for Around Kent).

(f)     Reduce PR budget by 20%, reducing overall budget by £0.750m.

(g)   Extend over the medium term period the decision by Chief Officers not to receive bonus payments, reducing pay budget by £0.100m.

(h)   Deduct £1.000m from “Modernisation of the Council” (Finance Portfolio, p55, line 5) (Reduce Modernisation of the Council budget by £1.000m by minimising the number of staff redundancies).

(i)     Deduct £0.110m from “Democratic Services Core Service” (Localism & Partnerships Portfolio, p45, line 1) (Reduce the budget for Members’ Allowances by £0.110m).

(j)      Deduct £5.130m from “Kent Highway Services Group” (Environment, Highways & Waste Portfolio, p29, line 1) (Improve the outcomes from existing contract arrangements and reduce overheads).

(k)   Increase “Contribution from Reserves” by £2.811m (Finance Portfolio, p55, line 12) (Increase the use of the Economic Downturn Reserve).

 

Items (f) and (g) would affect a number of budget lines throughout the budget book, but not materially.

 

All items above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

AFFECTING THE REPORT, BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

 

The recommendations set out in para 35 (b) will be amended to read as follows:-

The revenue budget requirement of £931,553,000

The recommendations set out in para 35 (g) be amended to read as follows:-

A total requirement from Council Tax of £557,758,000 to be raised through precept to meet the 2010-11 budget requirement; and

The recommendations set out in para 35 (h) be amended to read as follows:-

 

A Council Tax as set out below, for the listed property bands:

 

Band
Council Tax for Band at 0.0% increase	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	684.18	798.21	912.24	1,026.27	1,254.33	1,482.39	1,710.45	2,052.54

 

(3)       The Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (2) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 7

Mr I Chittenden, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Robertson, Mr T Prater and Mr M Vye.

 

Abstain – 3

Mr B Cope, Mrs E Green and Mr W Hayton.

 

Against – 63

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mr L Christie, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr G Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr R Lees, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells,  Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

Lost

 

(4)       Mr L Christie moved Mrs E Green seconded that the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE MEDIUM TERM PLAN

Amend Medium Term Plan – Page 6 – Para 1.22.

 

Add new paragraph at end to read:

 

“Recognising the limitations of two-tier working and collaboration we will positively pursue the prospect of Unitary Authorities in Kent, both because of the potential significant efficiency savings and the transparent accountable democracy such Authorities can provide.”

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

There is no impact on the budget book.

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

There would be no net effect of this amendment on the overall budget proposed and consequently no amendments to the existing other recommendations before Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of council tax.

 

(5)       The Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (4) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 2

Mr L Christie and Mrs E Green.

 

Abstain – 8

Mr I Chittenden, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr W Hayton, Mr G Koowaree, Mr T Prater, Mr M Robertson, Mr M Vye.

 

Against – 62

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske,  Mr A Crowther,  Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite,  Mrs J Law,  Mr R Lees, Mr P Lake, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed,  Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

Lost

 

 (6)      Mr L Christie moved Mrs E Green seconded that the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

 

(a)       Deduct £0.640m from the pay budget. This to be achieved by savings from all staff earning £100,000 or more per annum. This target will be informed by undertaking a review of whether these posts and the full reward packages offer value for money to the council tax payers in the current economic climate.

 

(b)       Increase provision for staff pay by £0.640mto increase the pay bill by 1% for all those earning less than £18k per annum (fte) on the Kent Scheme Grades, plus those on the affected Kent Scheme pay scale, subject to negotiations with the representative bodies for these grades. The £0.640m excludes the costs of schools’ staff, which would be met from the increase in the Dedicated Schools Grant.

 

The proposed amendments at (a) and (b) above would affect most lines in the Budget Book. However these amounts will not be material to those individual lines.

 

The proposed amendments would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

 

There would be no net effect of this amendment on the overall budget proposed and consequently no amendments to the existing other recommendations before Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of council tax.

 

(7)       The Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (6) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 9

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Lees, Mr M Robertson and Mr M Vye.

 

Abstain – 2

Mr W Hayton and Mr T Prater.

 

Against – 55

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell,  Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mrs J Law, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh,  Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds,  Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

Lost

 

(8)       Mr L Christie moved Mrs E Green seconded that the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

 

(a)       Deduct £0.200m from “Kent Department of Public Health” (Public Health and Innovation Portfolio, p43, line 1) (Cease Health Watch).

 

(b)       Increase Older people: Other Services by £0.200m (Kent Adult Social Services Portfolio, p21, line 5) (Additional support to Citizens Advice Bureaux).

 

The proposed amendments at (a) and (b) above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

There would be no net effect of this amendment on the overall budget proposed and consequently no amendments to the existing other recommendations before Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of council tax.

 

(9)       The Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (8) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 9

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr T Prater, Mr M Robertson and Mr M Vye.

 

Abstain – 1

Mr W Hayton.

 

Against – 62

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr R Lees, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

Lost

 

(10)     Mr L Christie moved Mrs E Green seconded the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

 

(a)       Deduct £0.100m from the “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support Services and Performance Management Portfolio, p50, line 1) (do not retain £0.100m for running costs of Kent Digital service on kent.gov.uk).

 

(b)       Deduct £0.400m from the “Contribution to Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p55, line12) (do not transfer savings from Kent TV to the Economic Downturn Reserve).

 

(c)        Increase “Supporting Independence” by £0.500m (Communities Portfolio, p34, line 1) (Set up a pilot scheme to pay employers to provide apprenticeships for vulnerable young people).

 

The proposed amendments at (a) to (c) above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

 

There would be no net effect of this amendment on the overall budget proposed and consequently no amendments to the existing other recommendations before Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of council tax.

 

(11)     Mr Christie with the permission of his seconder, withdrew his amendment following a commitment given by the Leader that he would ask Officers to have a serious look at identifying one-off monies from the 2009/10 underspend or Performance Reward Grant income to provide additional funding for supporting apprenticeships for vulnerable young people.

 

(12)     Mr L Christie moved Mrs E Green seconded the recommendations set out in paragraph 36 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET BOOK

 

(a)       Reduce Council Tax rise to 1.86%. This would reduce the overall funding by £1.337m.

 

(b)       Draw down £1.337m from the Economic Downturn Reserve to fund the reduction in Council Tax

 

The proposed amendments at (a) and (b) above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.

 

AFFECTING THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND COUNCIL TAX

 

The recommendations set out in para 36 (b) will be amended to read as follows:

 

The revenue budget requirement of £941,907,000

 

The recommendations set out in para 36 (g) be amended to read as follows:-

 

A total requirement from Council Tax of £568,112,000 to be raised through precept to meet the 2010-11 budget requirement; and

the recommendations set out in para 36 (h) be amended to read as follows:-

 

A Council Tax as set out below, for the listed property bands:

 

Band
Council Tax for Band at  1.86% increase	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	696.90	813.05	929.20	1,045.35	1,277.65	1,509.95	1,742.25	2,090.70

 

(13)     The Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (12) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 9

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr T Prater, Mr M Robertson and Mr M Vye.

 

Abstain – 1

Mr W Hayton

 

Against – 63

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank,  Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne,  Mr E Hotson,  Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr R King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mrs J Law, Mr R Lees, Mr P Lake, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

Lost

 

(14)     The Chairman put to the vote the Motion as set out in (1) above when the voting was as follows:-

 

For – 63

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mr M Dance,  Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr R King,  Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr R Lees, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning,  Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham and Mr A Willicombe.

 

Abstain – 1

Mr W Hayton.

 

Against – 9

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr T Prater, Mr M Robertson and Mr M Vye.

Carried

 

(15)     RESOLVED that the contents of the 2010-11 Budget and Medium Term Plan 2010-13 and the following proposals be approved:

 

(a)the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals for 2010-11;

(b)the Revenue Budget requirement of £943,244,149;

(c)  the Capital Investment proposals of £505,431,000, together with the necessary use of borrowing, revenue, grants, capital receipts, renewals and other earmarked capital funds, external funding and PFI, subject to approval to spend arrangements;

(d) the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix D of the attached Medium Term Plan;

(e) the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented in the 2010-11 Budget Book (Draft for County Council) for:

 

• Children, Families and Education;
• Adult Social Services;
• Environment, Highways and Waste;
• Communities;
• Regeneration and Economic Development;
• Public Health & Innovation;
• Localism & Partnerships;
• Corporate Support Services & Performance Management; and
• Finance;

 

Adjusted by:

(b)   Deduct £1.663m from “Asylum Seekers” net cost (Children, Families & Education Portfolio, p9, line 4) to reduce the net cost of Asylum Seekers to £1.337m.

(c)   Deduct £0.400m from “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support Services & Performance Management Portfolio, p50, line 1) to reflect net savings from the ending of the contract for Kent TV (£0.500m) with £0.100m retained for running a new Kent Digital service on the ‘kent.gov.uk’ website leaving a total of £350k for the new service.

(d)   Add £0.400m to “Contribution to Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p55, line 12) to transfer the net savings from Kent TV to the Economic Downturn Reserve.

 

(f)   that final recommendations in relation to the Schools Budgets and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (CFE);

(g)a total requirement from Council Tax of £569,448,669 to be raised through precept to meet the 2010-11 budget requirement; and

(h)   a Council Tax as set out below, for the listed property bands:

 

Band
Council Tax for Band at 2.1% increase	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	698.52	814.94	931.36	1,047.78	1,280.62	1,513.46	1,746.30	2,095.56

 

All items above would have consequential amendments to the Medium Term Plan and Budget Book.