Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet dated 7 February 2018.

The recommendations was agreed.

Cllr Kendal disclosed a pecuniary interest in item 1 of the report of the Cabinet dated 8 February, on the grounds that the area in question was visible from his home. There was no discussion on this item.

The Leader of the Council, as Chairman of the Cabinet, presented the report of the meeting held on 8 February 2018.

Item 3 – Members Allowances 2018/19 – 2022/23 – Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group referred to the increase in the number of Cabinet members from 6 to 8 shortly after the Independent Remuneration Panel had met.  He requested that the Panel be asked to review the special responsibility allowance for Portfolio Holders, as, in his view, the workload of the Cabinet was being shared between more individuals leading to greater costs in members’ allowances. He had sought clarification from the independent author of the report, Dr Hall, who had confirmed that the recommendation before members had been based upon the Cabinet structure at the time of the review (namely 6 Portfolio Holders).  Cllr Harrison felt the additional cost of the increase in Cabinet Portfolio Holders (approximately £20,000) was hard to justify.

The Deputy Leader, in disagreeing with this view, stated that the workload of the Leader and other Cabinet members had increased substantially, in light of key legislation (such as the Homelessness Reduction Act) and other external pressures, which underlined the need for additional Cabinet posts.

Item 5 – The Medium Term Financial Plan – Setting the Budget for 2018/19

The Chairman moved that Standing Order 47.6 be suspended to allow the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition to exceed the time limit for making their speeches. The motion was seconded and carried.

The Chairman ruled that in accordance with Standing Order 47.11, she would allow more than one amendment to be proposed and discussed at the same time.

The Leader of the Council made a statement on the Administration’s proposed budget supported by visual aids, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. He also showed a promotional film made by Creative England, which highlighted the District’s special characteristics and unique area as a filming location.

The Deputy Leader of the Council seconded the recommendation.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group then made the statement attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes, and proposed the following: -

That this authority, when sending out council tax bills, includes an invitation to residents living in Band H properties to pay a voluntary additional sum of £100, £250 or £500 which the council will use to support programmes that maintain and improve public services, especially those that have most impact on the poorest, most vulnerable members of our community.

Cllr Wade seconded.

Members discussed the Cabinet’s budget proposals together with the Liberal Democrats’ proposal.

Some members expressed the view that the Liberal Democrat Leader had not researched the contents of his speech, as some statements, particularly his comments pertaining to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53