Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members.

The recommendations as detailed within the report were moved by Councillor N J Rushton and seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

The Chair referred to an amendment to the motion, which had been circulated in the additional papers.  He invited Councillor S Lambeth to put forward his amendment.

Councillor S Lambeth outlined the amendment to the budget as detailed in the additional papers and it was seconded by Councillor S Sheahan.

A full and lengthy debate was held both in support and against the proposed amendment before the Chair put it to the vote.  A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The amendment was declared LOST.

The Chair referred Members to the substantive motion as set out in the agenda.

A further debate was held which received support for the budget, however there was some opposition to the development of Stenson Square in 2024/25, the running costs for retaining the old Council Offices and the budget saving in relation to Age UK.  Following discussion on Land at Nottingham Road, Ashby identified in the report for potential workspace which caused some Members confusion, it was clarified that it was very early stages and had been identified for future development only.

The Chair put the substantive motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)       The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25 be approved as summarised in section 2 of the report.  Including the in increase of the District Council’s share of Council Tax in 2024/25 by 2.75 percent.

2)       The General Fund Revenue Indicative Budget for 2025/26 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be noted.

3)       The General Fund Fees and Charges approved by cabinet on 31 January 2024 at appendix 3 be noted.

4)       The proposed General Fund Capital Programme for 2024/25 at appendix 4 and planned financing as set out in section 3 of the report be approved.

5)       The remaining elements of the General Fund Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2028/29 be noted.

6)       The Special Expenses Revenue Budget for 2024/25 at appendix 6 and summarised in section 4 of the report be approved.  Including setting the special expense Band D Council Tax at the levels detailed in table 4 of this report and the revised Special Expenses Policy as how in appendix 10.

7)       The continuation of NWLDC in the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Rates Pool in 2024/25.

8)       The drawdown from reserves to fund the one-off budget proposals as detailed in the General Fund Budget Summary 2024/25 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be approved.

9)       The contribution to reserves as detailed in the General Fund Budget summary 2024/25 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be approved.

10)   The responsibility to spend £500,000 from the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) reserve on the Transformation Programme be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer) and the relevant Portfolio Holder.