Agenda item

(1)       Mr P W A Lake, Chairman of the Council, seconded by Mr J A Davies, Vice-Chairman, proposed 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 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 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 together with the following changes:-

 

(a)       a change to the budget was proposed to reflect an additional one-off spend of £500k from the projected underspend in the current year, 2008-2009.  Of this, £250k was to be earmarked for the planned establishment of a Kent Credit Union, and, following discussions between the Chief Executive, the Citizens Advice Bureaux and District Council colleagues, the remaining £250K to be earmarked for use by Citizen Advice Bureaux; and

 

(b)       this change did not affect the recommendations before the Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of Council Tax.  The detail affecting the Budget Book is set out below.

 

(i)         Deduct £0.500m from “Contribution to/from Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p46, line 2) (increased use of 2008/09 underspend to support the 2009/10 budget)

 

(ii)        Add £0.250m expenditure to “Economic Development including regeneration projects” (Regeneration Portfolio p32, first line)

 

(iii)       Add £0.250m to “All Adults – Assessment & Related” (Adult Social Services Portfolio, p22, last line)

 

The report changes as follows:

Paragraph 17, table 2

 

 

The above changes to the Budget Book were carried without a vote.

 

(3)       Dr M Eddy moved, Mr D Smyth seconded as an amendment that the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

(a)       Increase provision for staff pay by £0.350m to allow for abolition of Kent Scheme Grade 1 pay points 1 – 3, and uplift of all staff previously on pay points 1 – 3 to the bottom pay point of Kent Scheme Grade 2 (pay point 4).

 

(b)       Deduct £0.350m from the pay budget. This will be achieved by targeting a 5% reduction from market premia and the aggregate level of senior executives’ pay. This target will be informed by undertaking a review (incorporating a benchmarking exercise) of the level of market premia currently being paid, and examining those senior executive positions currently attracting salaries above Kent Scheme Pay Point 67 (£70,547) to determine whether these posts and their full reward packages (including salaries, bonuses and other benefits) offer value for money to the council taxpayer in the current economic climate. The results of this review should be reported to the County Council’s Personnel Committee.

 

The proposed amendments at (a) and (b) above will affect most lines in the budget book, however these amendments will not be material to those individual lines.

 

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.

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

For - 23

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Mrs E Green, 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 A R Poole, Mr G Rowe, Mr D Smyth, Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain – 1

Mr J Curwood.

 

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 J R Bullock, Mr R B Burgess, Miss S J Carey, Mr C Capon, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A R Chell, Mr B R Cope, Mr M C Dance, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(5)       Mr G Rowe moved, Mr D Daley seconded as an amendment, that the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:- 

 

An alternative distribution of the £3.721m provision for pay increase be achieved by a flat rate  payment  of £173 per annum (equivalent to £3.33 per week, pro-rated to contracted hours), is proposed for staff on the Kent Scheme Grades.

 

·               The provision for pay increase affects most lines in the budget book. However, this amendment will not materially affect those budget lines, although there would be marginal changes required.

 

·               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.

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

 

For – 13

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr C Hart, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr I T N Jones, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr A R Poole, Mr G Rowe, Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain – 9

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Mrs E Green, Ms A Harrison, Mr T Maddison, Mr R J E Parker, Mr D Smyth.

 

Against – 49

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 J R Bullock, 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 J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(7)       Dr M R Eddy moved, Mr D Smyth seconded as an amendment, that the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:- 

 

(a)       Deduct £0.300m “Kent Department of Public Health” (Public Health Portfolio, p39,
line 1) (Cease Health Watch)

(b)       Deduct £0.400m from the “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support & External Affairs Portfolio, p40, line 13) (Cease Kent TV)

(c)        Deduct £0.500m from “Workforce Reduction” (Finance Portfolio, p45, line 10) (reduction in provision)

(d)       Deduct £0.484m from “Corporate Communications” (Corporate Support & External Affairs Portfolio, p40, line 12) (a cross-directorate review of all staff, spend and activity involved in communications activity is proposed, with the saving initially held against this budget line, but to be re-distributed upon completion of the review)

(e)       Deduct £0.016m from “Economic Development including regeneration projects” (Regeneration Portfolio, p32, line 1)  (removal of budget for Kent Ambassadors)

(f)         Deduct £0.300m from “Local Children’s Service Partnerships” (Operations, Resources & Skills Portfolio, p8, line 1) (Reduce the number of partnerships from 23 to 12)

(g)       Increase “Kent Community Safety Partnership” by £0.300m (Communities Portfolio, p35, line 2) (Increase number of Community Wardens by 9)

(h)        Increase “Youth Services” by £0.500m (Communities Portfolio, p34 line 4) (Restore spending plans to the current level)

(i)         Increase “Supporting Independence” by £0.200m (Communities Portfolio, p35, line 1) (Extend the Kent Apprenticeship Scheme to offer more apprenticeships throughout the County)

(j)         Increase “Libraries, Archives & Museums” by £0.300m (Communities Portfolio, p34, line 7) (Partly re-invest the Library IT saving back into the Library Service)

(k)        Increase “Adult Education Service (Incl. Key Training)” by £0.400m (Communities Portfolio, p34, line 5) (Support for courses and potential students who are not accessing adult education)

(l)         Create £0.300m on “Health Education Promotion” (Public Health Portfolio, p39, new line 2) (Support campaigns to promote responsible attitudes to obesity, teenage pregnancy, smoking, alcoholic drinks etc)

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, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Mrs E Green, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hart, Mr I T N Jones, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T Maddison, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr R J E Parker, Mr A R Poole, Mr G Rowe, Mr D Smyth, Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain - 0

 

Against - 48

Mr M J Angell, Mr A R Bassam, Mr R Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr J R Bullock, 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 J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(9)       Mr I Chittenden moved, Mr M J Vye seconded as an amendment, that the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:- 

 

(a)       Deduct £0.400m from the "Strategic Development Unit" (Corporate Support & External Affairs Portfolio, p40, line 13) (Remove funding for 3rd year of Kent TV )

 

(b)       Increase "Kent Highway Services Group" by £0.250m (Environment, Highways & Waste Portfolio, p28, line 1) (to support additional road safety initiatives to further reduce road casualties in the county of Kent)

 

(c)        Increase "Debt Charges" by £0.150m (Finance Portfolio, p45, line 20) (to pay for additional prudential borrowing in order to increase the capital spend on "Annual Planned Maintenance Programme" in schools by £1.7m (Operations, Resources & Skills (CFE) Portfolio, p10, line 30) 

 

This additional expenditure would require an amendment to the Prudential Indicators set out on page 112 of the Medium Term Plan.

 

(d)       to agree to set aside the County Council policy on targeting repairs on major roads with respect to the additional  Capital maintenance expenditure on road maintenance at line  4 on page  30  of the Budget Book. 

 

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. 

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

For – 6

Mr I Chittenden, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr G Rowe, Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain - 1

Mr J R Bullock.

 

Against - 63

Mrs A D Allen, Mrs C Angell, Mr M J Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr R 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 R Chell, Mr L Christie, Mr B R Cope, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Dr M R Eddy, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mrs E Green, Ms A Harrison, Mr M J Harrison, Mr C Hart, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr I T N Jones, Mr A J King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr T Maddison, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr J I Muckle, Mrs M Newell, Mr W V Newman, Mr M Northey, Mr R J E Parker, Mr R J Parry, Mr A R Poole, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr D Smyth, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

 

(11)     Mr M J Vye moved, Mrs T Dean seconded as an amendment, the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:-

 

(a)       Increase "Early Years & Childcare" by £0.200m (Children, Families & Educational Achievement Portfolio, p15, line 5) (to bring forward the planned increase of 4 Advisors from 2010/11 to 2009/10)

 

(b)       Reduce Conference expenditure by £0.200m (Finance Portfolio, p45, line 1) (A corporate view of all conferences expenditure should take place with a view to achieving a reduction of £0.200m. This saving should be set against the Finance Portfolio pending the outcome of the review.)

 

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.

(12)     The Chairman put to the vote the motion set out in (11) above when the voting was as follows:-

For – 11

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr C Hart, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T Maddison, Mrs M Newell, Mr G Rowe, Mr M J Vye.

 

Abstain - 6

Mr T Birkett, Mrs C Angell, Ms A Harrison, Mr I T N Jones, Mr J I Muckle, Mr A R Poole.

 

Against - 53

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr R Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr J R Bullock, 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 J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Dr M R Eddy, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mrs E Green, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mr R E King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K J Lynes, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr W V Newman, Mr M Northey, Mr R J E Parker, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr D Smyth, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Lost

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

 

For – 49

Mrs A D Allen, Mr M J Angell, Mr R Bliss, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr J R Bullock, 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 J Curwood, Mr M C Dance, Mr K A Ferrin, Mr J B O Fullarton, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr A J King, Mr R E King, Mrs J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr R Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Dr T R Robinson, Mr J D Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Ms B Simpson, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C Wells, Mr F Wood-Brignall.

 

Abstain – 0

 

Against – 22

Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr D S Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mrs E Green, 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 A R Poole, Mr G Rowe, Mr D Smyth, Mr M J Vye.

Carried

(13)     RESOLVED that the contents of the 2009-10 Budget and Medium Term Plan 2009-12 and the following proposals be approved:-

 

(a)       the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals for 2009-10;

 

(b)       the Revenue Budget requirement of £886,470,000;

 

(c)        the Capital Investment proposals of £490,901,000, 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 Dof the attached Medium Term Plan;

 

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

 

·           Operations, Resources and Skills (CFE);

·           Children, Families and Educational Achievement;

·           Adult Social Services;

·           Environment, Highways and Waste;

·           Regeneration;

·           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)       a total requirement from Council Tax of £554,303,636to be raised through precept to meet the 2009-10 budget requirement; and

 

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

Council Tax Band	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	684.18	798.21	912.24	1026.27	1254.33	1482.39	1710.45	2052.54