Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet dated:-

·         2 February 2022; and

·         16 February 2022 (to follow).

All Members of the Council had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on matters concerning the Members’ Allowances Scheme, Annual Budget and Council Tax.

Cllr Thorne had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Housing Public Sector Capital Expenditure Programme 2022/23.

Cllr A Wade had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on the Annual Budget 2022/23.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 February 2022 and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

The Leader of the Council then presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 February 2022 and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

Paragraph 1 – Report on Proposed Climate Change and Nature Emergency Action Plan and the role the Council will play going forward (Minute No 64)

The Leader of the Opposition welcomed the introduction of the action plan and strategy, which included specific investment in dedicated officer resources to drive the Council’s ambitions forward on sustainability.

Paragraph 3 – Housing Revenue Account and Housing Public Sector Capital Expenditure Programme 2022/23 (Minute No 66)

Cllr J Davies moved an amendment to the recommendations, to remove recommendation (b), which stated that, from 03 April 2022, an increase in rents of 4.1% from the 2021/22 weekly rent level, in accordance with Government guidelines, be agreed.  Cllr A Wade seconded the amendment.

The Council debated the amendment, and the impact this would have on the proposals contained within the Cabinet report.

The amendment was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

Voting for:- Cllrs Brand, Brunsdon, Clark, J Davies, Delemare, Harrison, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bennison, Carpenter, Cerasoli, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Duke, Dunning, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, E Heron, J Heron, Hoare, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Sevier, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

Abstaining:- Cllrs Dowd and Frampton.

The amendment was lost, 11 in favour, 39 against, 2 abstaining.

The substantive motion of the Housing Revenue Account Budget as outlined in the report of the Cabinet dated 16 February 2022 was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bennison, Carpenter, Cerasoli, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Duke, Dunning, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, E Heron, J Heron, Hoare, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Sevier, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

Voting against:- Cllrs Brand, Brunsdon, Clark, J Davies, Delemare, Dowd, Harrison, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Abstaining:- Cllr Frampton.

The substantive motion was carried, 39 in favour, 12 against, 1 abstaining.

Paragraph 4 – Medium Term Financial Plan and Annual Budget 2022/23

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 budget speeches.  The motion was seconded by the Vice-Chairman and carried.

The Leader of the Council made a statement on the budget as proposed in the report of the Cabinet dated 16 February 2022, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group made a statement and moved an amendment in the form of an alternative budget.  Cllr Clark seconded the amendment. A copy of the alternative budget and statement is attached to these minutes.

The Council debated the Cabinet’s budget proposals together with the alternative budget.

The alternative budget was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

Voting for:- Cllrs Brand, Brunsdon, Clark, Delemare, Dowd, Frampton, Harrison, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bennison, Carpenter, Cerasoli, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Duke, Dunning, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, E Heron, J Heron, Hoare, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Sevier, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

Abstaining:- None.

The amendment and alternative budget was lost, 12 in favour, 39 against, none abstaining.

The substantive motion of the budget as outlined in the report of the Cabinet dated 16 February 2022 was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bennison, Carpenter, Cerasoli, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Duke, Dunning, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, E Heron, J Heron, Hoare, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Sevier, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

Voting against:- Cllrs Brand, Brunsdon, Clark, Delemare, Dowd, Frampton, Harrison, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Abstaining:- Cllr Delemare.

The substantive motion was carried, 39 in favour, 11 against, 1 abstaining.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.