Agenda item

(1)       Mr L Ridings moved, Mr P W A Lake seconded that:-

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

(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 Labour Group and the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group for 10 minutes with the Leader being given a 3 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 three 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 N Chard seconded the recommendations contained in the report.

 

(3)       Dr M R Eddy moved Mr D Smyth seconded the following amendment:-

 

(a)       Deduct £0.591m from “Corporate Communications” (Corporate Support & External Affairs Portfolio, p39, line 3) (removal of proposed addition to the budget and a reduction in existing budget)

(b)       Deduct £0.500m expenditure from “Kent Regeneration Fund” (Regeneration & Supporting Independence Portfolio p30, final line) (removal of proposed budget provision)

(c)        Deduct £0.500m from “Workforce Reduction” (Finance Portfolio, p44, line 6) (reduction in provision)

(d)       Deduct £0.202m from “Strategic Management…” (Environment, Highways & Waste Portfolio, p26, line 5) (removal of contribution towards 2009-10 budget)

(e)       Deduct £0.140m from “Strategic Management” (Operations, Resources & Skills (CFE) Portfolio, p6, line 6)

(f)         Deduct £0.125m from “Debt charges” (Finance Portfolio, p44, line 16)

(g)       Deduct £0.016m from “Economic Development Group” (Regeneration & Supporting Independence Portfolio, p30, line 2) (removal of budget for Kent Ambassadors)

The net effect of these amendments would be to reduce the budget requirement by £2.074m which consequentially amend the following recommendations to:

 

34 (b) the Revenue Budget requirement of £854,944,000

34 (h) a total requirement from Council Tax of £534,743,000 to be raised through precept to meet the 2008-09 budget requirement

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

 

Council Tax Band	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	665.28	776.16	887.04	997.92	1,219.68	1,441.44	1,663.20	1,995.84

 

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

 

For - 22

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr L Christie, Mr I Chittenden, Mr G Cowan, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hart, Mr I T N Jones, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T Maddison, Mr J I Muckle, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr R J E Parker, Mr D Smyth, Mr R Truelove and Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain – 2

Mr C Hibberd and Mr M J Harrison.

 

Against – 47

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr A R Bassam, Mr R Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr R B Burgess, Miss S J Carey, Mr C J Capon, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A R Chell, Mr B R Cope, Mr A D Crowther, Mr J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr J A Davies, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr C G Findlay, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr W A Hayton, Mr P M Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr R E King, Mr P W A Lake, Mr C J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr R A Pascoe, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J D Simmonds, Mrs P A Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells and Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(5)       Dr Eddy moved Mr D Smyth seconded as an amendment:-

 

(a)       Deduct £0.300m from “Kent Department of Public Health” (Public Health Portfolio, p38, line 1) (removal of proposed Healthwatch funding);

 

(b)       Add £0.300m to “Grants to Voluntary Organisations” (Children, Families & Educational Achievement Portfolio, p17, line 3).

 

There would be no net effect of these amendments 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.

 

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

 

For – 22

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr L Christie, Mr I Chittenden, Mr G Cowan, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Mr C Hart, Ms A Harrison, Mr I T N Jones, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T Maddison, Mr J I Muckle, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr R J E Parker, Mr D Smyth, Mr R Truelove and Mr M J Vye.

 

Against – 49

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr A R Bassam, Mr R Bliss, Mr D L Brazier, Mr R B Burgess, Mr C J Capon, Miss S J Carey, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A R Chell, Mr B R Cope, Mr A D Crowther, Mr J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr J A Davies, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr C G Findlay, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R W Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P M Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mr R E King, Mr P W A Lake, Mr C J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr R A Pascoe, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J D Simmonds, Mrs P A V Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells and Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(7)       Mr M Vye moved, Mrs T Dean seconded, as an amendment:-

 

(a)       Adds £1.000m of income to “Contribution from Rolling Budget Reserve” (Finance Portfolio, p45, new line) (from Rolling Budget Reserve through utilisation of roll forward of £1.000m from 2007-08 reported under spend on the finance portfolio)

(b)       Adds £0.500m to “PRG and Capital Reserves” income (Finance Portfolio, p45, line 1) (by allocating part of the as yet unallocated but expected to be received revenue PRG in 2008-09)

(c)        Adds £0.500m to “Advisory Service Kent – Early Years” (Children, Families and Educational Achievement Portfolio, page 14, line 1) (To advance to 2008/9  the 3 year MTP plan for the appointment of 12 Early Years staff working mainly with the 70 failing Early Years settings to address issues of child poverty and inequality and by taking preventative action now expect to reduce spending in future years - i.e. spend to save proposal. ) 

(d)       Adds £0.540m to “Teenage Pregnancy” (Children Families and Education Portfolio, page 17, line 5) (To roll out across the whole County the successful Shepway programme which has cut teenage pregnancies by 30%, addressing issues of child poverty and inequality and by taking preventative action now expect to reduce spending in future years - i.e. spend to save proposal) 

(e)       Adds £0. 230 m to “Leaving care/16+” (Children, Families and Educational Achievement Portfolio, page 17, line 6) (To address issues of child poverty by improving the living allowance for young people leaving care between the ages of 16 and 21) 

(f)         Adds £0.030m to “Environmental Group” (Environment, Highways and Waste Portfolio, p26, line 4) (To reduce waiting time for processing changes to the definitive footpath map to 12 months as set out in the Countryside Access Improvement Plan K1)

(g)       Adds £0.100m to “Environmental Group” (Environment, Highways and Waste Portfolio, p26, line 4) (Investment to achieve national standard of 75% suitable surfaces on rural footpaths, and respond to growing complaints of footpath obstruction by vegetation owing to longer growing season, by one additional cut per year as set out in the Countryside Access Improvement Plan  M3)

(h)        Adds £0.100m to “Democratic Services”  (Policy and Performance Portfolio, p42, line 5) (To strengthen support to the scrutiny function including Policy Overview Committees and Topic Work by the addition of 2 FTE Resource Officers)

There would be no net effect of these amendments 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.

 

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

 

For – 22

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hart, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr I T N Jones, Mr T Maddison, Mr J I Muckle, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr R J E Parker, Mr D Smyth, Mr R Truelove and Mr M J Vye.

 

Against - 50

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr A R Bassam, Mr R H C Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr R B Burgess, Mr C J Capon, Miss S J Carey, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A Chell, Mr B R Cope, Mr A D Crowther, Mr J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr J A Davies, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr C G Findlay, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R W Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P M Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mr R E King, Mr C J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr R A Pascoe, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mrs E D Rowbotham, Mr J D Simmonds, Mrs P A Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C T Wells, and Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

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

 

For – 49

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr A R Bassam, Mr R H C Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr R B Burgess, Mr C J Capon, Miss S J Carey, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A Chell, Mr B R Cope, Mr A D Crowther, Mr J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr J A Davies, Mr K A Ferrin, MBE; Mr C G Findlay, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R W Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P M Hill, OBE; Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, MBE; Mr R E King, Mr P W A Lake, Mr C J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr R A Pascoe, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J D Simmonds, Mrs P A Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C T Wells, and Mr F Wood-Brignall.

 

Against - 24

Mrs C Angell, Mr T J Birkett, Mr I S Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Ms A Harrison, Mr T Gates, Mr C Hart, Mr I T N Jones, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T A Maddison, Mr J I Muckle, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, DL; Mr R J E Parker, Mrs E D Rowbotham, Mr D Smyth, Mr R Truelove, and Mr M J Vye.

 

(10)     RESOLVED that the contents of the 2008-09 Budget and Medium Term Plan 2008-11 and the following proposals be approved:-

 

(a)       the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals for 2008-09;

(b)       the Revenue Budget requirement of £857,018,000;

(c)        the Capital Investment proposals of £438,466,000, 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 B of the attached Medium Term Plan;

(e)       the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented for:

·          Operation, Resources and Skills (CFE);

·          Children, Families and Educational Achievement;

·           Adult Social Services;

·           Environment, Highways and Waste;

·           Regeneration and Supporting Independence;

·           Communities;

·           Public Health;

·           Corporate Support and External Affairs;

·           Policy and Performance; and

·           Finance;

 

(f)         that final recommendations in relation to the Schools Budgets and Dedicated School Grant (DSG) be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Operations, Resources and Skills (CFE);

 

(g)       to note that all of the above are predicated on satisfactory resolution of the Asylum funding issue;

 

(h)        a total requirement from Council Tax of £536,817,000 to be raised through precept to meet the 2008-09 budget requirement; and

 

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

 

Council Tax Band	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	667.86	779.17	890.48	1001.79	1224.41	1447.03	1669.65	2003.58