Agenda item

(1)       The Chairman reminded all Members that any Member of a Local Authority who was liable to pay Council Tax and who had any unpaid Council Tax amount overdue for at least two months, even if there was an arrangement to pay off the arrears, must declare the fact that they are in arrears and must not cast their vote on anything related to KCC’s budget or Council Tax.

 

(2)       He stated that all Members would have received a letter from the Head of Democratic Services, dated 6 February, setting out the process and order of the budget debate at the meeting.  Spare copies were available should any Member require one.

 

(3)       The Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded that:

 

(a)       Procedure Rule 1.12(2) be suspended in order that the meeting be extended to 5.00pm if necessary;

 

(b)       Procedure Rule 1.29 be suspended in order that the Leader be allowed to speak for a maximum of 15 minutes, the seconder of the original motion to speak for up to 5 minutes, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Leader of the Labour Group for 10 minutes each, with the Leader being given a 5 minute right of reply and the Cabinet Members to speak for up to 5 minutes when introducing their individual portfolio proposals; and;

 

(c)        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

 

(3)               The Chairman then invited Mr Wood, Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement, to give a presentation on the various changes to central Government grants insofar as they related to the County Council and other aspects relating to the budget process, including his advice on the level of reserves.

 

(4)               Mr Carter moved, Mr Simmonds seconded the approval of the contents of the attached Budget 2013/14 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/15 (including Council Tax setting for 2013/14) and to approve the following proposals:

 

(a)          the Revenue Budget proposals for 2013/14;

 

(b)          the Annual Revenue Budget requirement of £954.007m;

 

(c)          the Capital Investment proposals of £694.548m over three years, 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 Bof the attached Medium Term Financial Plan;

 

(e)          the revised Treasury Management Strategy as per section 5 of the MTFP

 

(f)            the overall Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented in the white combed version of the Budget Book and Medium Term Financial Plan for:

 

·                Adult Social Care and Public Health;

·                Business Strategy, performance and Health Reform;

·                Customer and Communities;

·                Democracy and Partnerships;

·                Education, Learning and Skills;

·                Environment, Highways and Waste;

·                Finance and Business Support;

·                Regeneration and Economic Development;

·                Specialist Children’s Services

·                Localism & Partnerships;

 

and to delegate responsibility to the portfolio holders to deliver their responsibilities within the overall resources approved by the County Council subject to the outcome of detailed consultation. 

 

(g)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support to make the necessary changes to the approved budget in light of the final grant settlement

 

(h)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support  to make necessary changes to the approved budget in light of fully integrating the Public Health spending into the budget

 

(i)            delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support and Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget for the allocation of Adoption Reform Grant

 

(j)             delegate authority to  the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget following the Education Services Grant

 

(k)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support and Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget for the allocation of terms and conditions and other savings held in the Finance and Business Support portfolio based on recommendations from Corporate Management Team

 

(l)             1% pay award for all Kent Scheme staff

 

(m)        rationalise allowances and enhancements for weekend/out of hours working and overtime to 4/3rds of normal pay subject to justifiable reasons to maintain service delivery or business continuity 

 

(n)          a total requirement from Council Tax of £506,636,022to be raised through precept to meet the 2013/14 budget requirement;

 

and

 

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

 

Band
Council Tax for Band	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

 

(5)               Mrs Dean moved, Mr Vye seconded the following amendment:

 

Note:  The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

Reduce spending on Communications & Consultation Unit by £0.5m (Budget Book page 46 line 138)

 

and

 

Increase spending on mainstream home to school transport (BB page 43 line 99) by re-instating free transport to selective and denominational schools (MTFP (page 84) to ensure no child is denied such schooling through poverty.

 

(6)               Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (5) above, when the voting was as follows:

 

For (6)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye

 

Abstain (1)

 

Mr A Bowles

 

Against (59)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr L Christie, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr G Cowan, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mrs E Green, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr J Tansley, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

Lost

 

(7)       Mr Christie moved, Mr Cowan seconded the following amendment:

 

Note:  The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

Deletepayment to Kent Community Foundation in 2012/13 and increase 2012/13 underspend rolled forward (page 45 line 124) by £1.0m

 

and

 

Add £1.0m to “School Improvement” (Page 43, Line 94) to improve primary school standards.

 

(8)               Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (7) above, when the voting was as follows:

 

For (9)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye

 

Abstain (0)

 

Against (54)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

Lost

 

(9)       Mr Vye moved, Mrs Dean seconded the following amendment:

 

Note:  The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

A.        Reduce spending on Communications and Consultation Unit by £0.3m (BB page 46 line 138)

 

And

 

Increase spending in the voluntary sector to provide preventative support for vulnerable young people (BB page 32 line 33) to reduce the numbers of young people coming into care

 

B.        Draw down £780k from the Economic Downturn Reserve (BB page 45 line 118) from the money previously earmarked for removing streetlight columns

 

and

 

Increase funding for Primary School Improvement (BB page 43 line 94) to increase the numbers of Kent Schools where teaching is good or outstanding.

 

(10)     Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (9) above, when the voting was as follows:

 

For (9)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye,

 

Abstain (1)

 

Mr K Smith

 

Against (54)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

Lost

 

(11)     Mr Chittenden moved, Mr Bird seconded the following amendment:

 

Note:  The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

Draw down £420k from the Economic Downturn Reserve (BB page 45 line 118) from the money previously earmarked for removing streetlight columns as a result of proposed selective switch-off (not now being used due to revised proposal to remove fuses rather than the columns themselves)

 

and

 

Increase member highway grants (BB page 18 line 6) by £5k per member (increasing grant to £30k for 2013/14) to ensure reduced highways funding is focussed on meeting local priorities

 

(12)          Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (11) above.  The vote did not print out due to a technical fault but the Chairman announced that the vote, according to the voting screen, was lost.

 

(13)          Mr Cowan moved, Mr Christie seconded the following amendment:

 

Note:  The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

Delete £0.4m from “Planning & Transport Policy” (Page 40, Line 79) through not employing consultants to undertake work which subsequently proves abortive e.g. the dualling of the A21;

 

and

 

£0.6m from waste management budget (Page 44, Lines 104 to 112) by reducing planned waste tonnage by 8,000 tonnes.

 

Add £1.0m to “General Maintenance and emergency response” (Page 38 Line 65) to increase expenditure on pavement maintenance.

 

(14)          During the debate, it was moved and seconded that the question of the Amendment be put, the Chairman put it to a vote and the vote was as follows:

 

For (49)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr P Carter, Mr I Chittenden, Mrs P Cole,Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst,Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr M Vye, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

 

Abstain (2)

 

Mr R Bird, Mrs T Dean

 

Against (11)

 

Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cooke, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs E Green, Mr C Hibberd, Mr J Kite, Mr G Koowaree, Mr C Smith

Carried

 

(15)          As the procedural motion that the question be put was carried, the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (13) above, when the voting was as follows:

 

For (9)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye

 

Abstain (0)

 

Against (54)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

Lost

 

(16)     Mrs Dean moved, Mrs Green seconded the following amendment:

 

Note: The page references are drawn from the “Draft for County Council – white combed” edition of the Budget Book 2013/14

 

Recommend to the County Council when it gives formal consideration to the Members' Allowances Scheme for the period May 2013 to May 2017 and taking into account the views of the Independent Remuneration Panel, to remove Special Responsibility Allowance for Locality Board chairs for Tonbridge & Malling and Thanet reducing spend on Democratic and Members by £14k (BB page 47 line 139) and increase spend on elderly domiciliary care to enable two further older people to be cared for at home.

 

(17)     Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (16) above, when the voting was as follows:

 

For (9)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye,

 

Abstain (0)

 

Against (53)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

Lost

 

(18)     The Chairman stated that the period of time for amendments had expired and, therefore, the remaining amendments could not be considered.

 

(19)     The Chairman put to the vote the original Motion as set out in (4) above when the voting was as follows:

 

For (52)

 

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr R Bayford, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr M Northey, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mrs C Waters, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe

 

Abstain (0)

 

Against (9)

 

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye

Carried

 

(20)     RESOLVED that the County Council approve the following:

 

(a)         the Revenue Budget proposals for 2013/14;

 

(b)         the Annual Revenue Budget requirement of £954.007m;

 

(c)         the Capital Investment proposals of £694.548m over three years, 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 Bof the attached Medium Term Financial Plan;

 

(e)         the revised Treasury Management Strategy as per section 5 of the MTFP;

 

(f)           the overall Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented in the white combed version of the Budget Book and Medium Term Financial Plan for:

 

·                Adult Social Care and Public Health;

·                Business Strategy, performance and Health Reform;

·                Customer and Communities;

·                Democracy and Partnerships;

·                Education, Learning and Skills;

·                Environment, Highways and Waste;

·                Finance and Business Support;

·                Regeneration and Economic Development;

·                Specialist Children’s Services

·                Localism & Partnerships;

 

and to delegate responsibility to the portfolio holders to deliver their responsibilities within the overall resources approved by the County Council subject to the outcome of detailed consultation. 

 

(g)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support to make the necessary changes to the approved budget in light of the final grant settlement

 

(h)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support  to make necessary changes to the approved budget in light of fully integrating the Public Health spending into the budget

 

(i)            delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support and Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget for the allocation of Adoption Reform Grant

 

(j)             delegate authority to  the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget following the Education Services Grant

 

(k)          delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support and Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform to agree the necessary changes to the approved budget for the allocation of terms and conditions and other savings held in the Finance and Business Support portfolio based on recommendations from Corporate Management Team

 

(l)             1% pay award for all Kent Scheme staff

 

(m)        rationalise allowances and enhancements for weekend/out of hours working and overtime to 4/3rds of normal pay subject to justifiable reasons to maintain service delivery or business continuity 

 

(n)          a total requirement from Council Tax of £506,636,022to be raised through precept to meet the 2013/14 budget requirement;

 

and

 

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

 

Band
Council Tax for Band	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