Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet dated:-

·        1 February 2023; and

·        15 February 2023.

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 A Wade had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on the Annual Budget 2023/24, as an employee of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 1 February 2023 and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Andrews seconded the motion.

Paragraph 6 – Community Grants (Minute No 70)

Cllr A Wade highlighted that Hythe and Dibden Parish Council was a recipient of a grant, noting that some Members were also Parish Councillors.  This matter had been determined by the Cabinet for inclusion in the overall budget proposals.

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 15 February 2023 and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Andrews seconded the motion.

Paragraph 3 – Housing Services Rent Setting and Service Charge Policy (Minute No 80)

One Member encouraged the Council to consider reflecting on proposed rent and service charges, in light of cost of living challenges.  The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness recognised the difficult balance the Council had to achieve in ensuring that the ring-fenced housing revenue account budgets were appropriately funded to meet the priorities and requirements for maintenance and improvements in particular, whilst charging in an affordable way for tenants.  The support of the Tenant Involvement Group for the levels of rent and service charges was noted.

Paragraph 4 – Housing Revenue Account Budget and the Housing Public Sector Capital Expenditure Programme for 2023/24 (Minute No 81)

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

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Blunden, Carpenter, Cerasoli, Clarke, Cleary, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Dunning, Frampton, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, E Heron, J Heron, Hoare, Hopkins, Kidd, Lane, Levitt, McEvoy, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Russell, Sevier, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

Voting against:- Cllrs Cullen, J Davies, Delemare, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Abstaining:- Cllrs Dowd, Duke and Kangarani.

The motion was carried, 37 in favour, 7 against, 3 abstaining.

Paragraph 5 – Medium Term Financial Plan and Annual Budget 2023/24 (Minute No 82)

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 15 February 2023, 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 J Davies 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 Cullen, J Davies, Delemare, Dowd, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

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

Abstaining:- Cllr Frampton.

The amendment and alternative budget was lost, 9 in favour, 36 against, 1 abstaining.

The substantive motion of the budget as outlined in the report of the Cabinet dated 15 February 2023 was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

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

Voting against:- Cllrs Cullen, J Davies, Delemare, Dowd, Kangarani, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

Abstaining:- Cllr Frampton.

The substantive motion was carried, 36 in favour, 9 against, 1 abstaining.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.