Agenda item

Ahead of the Supplementary Council Agenda publication, which will follow the Cabinet meeting, the background Cabinet reports relating to this meeting can be viewed on the Council’s website at the following link:-

 

Cabinet – Wednesday 19 February 2025

 

 

PART I – ITEMS RESOLVED BY CABINET

 

There were no items resolved by Cabinet in this report.

 

 

PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

 

Item 1 –  Housing Revenue Account Budget and Housing Public Sector

Capital Expenditure Programme 2025/26

 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness introduced the item and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

 

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

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Armstrong, Blunden, Brand, Clark, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, Cullen, J Davies, S Davies, Dowd, Dunning, Frampton, Glass, Harrison, Hartmann, Hawkins, Haywood, Linford, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Murray, Osborne, Penman, Penny, Poole, Rackham, Reid, Reilly, Richards, Rickman, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, A Wade, M Wade, Ward, Woods and Young.

 

Voting against:- None.

 

Abstaining:- None.

 

The recommendations were carried, 42 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstaining.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That from 07 April 2025, an increase in dwelling rents of 2.7% from the 2024/25 weekly rent level, in accordance with Government guidelines, be agreed;

 

2.     That from 07 April 2025, an increase in garage rents of 2.7% from the 2024/25 weekly rent level be agreed;

 

3.     That from 07 April 2025, an increase in shared ownership property rents of 3.2% from the 2024/25 weekly rent level, in accordance with Government guidelines of RPI +0.5%, be agreed, and that the weekly rent of one additional property sold under previous legislation be increased by 2.7%;

 

4.     That from 07 April 2025 Service Charges will continue to reflect actual charges and following a reduction in window cleaning and utility costs, these respective charges will be reduced;

 

5.     That the HRA budget, as set out in Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report, be agreed; and

 

6.     That a Housing Capital Programme to 2027/28, as set out in Appendix 4 to the Cabinet report, be agreed.

 

Item 2 – Medium Term Financial Plan and Annual Budget 2025/26

 

The Chairman used his discretion to allow the Leader of the Council and the leaders of the opposition groups only to exceed the time limit for speeches, for making their budget speeches.  He highlighted his intention to attempt to facilitate one budget debate on the recommendations from Cabinet and any single alternative proposal, also at his discretion.  However, should more than one amendment be tabled, he indicated that these would be dealt with one at a time, for clarity.

 

The Leader of the Council introduced the item and moved the recommendations as proposed in the report of the Cabinet dated 19 February 2025.  She also made a statement on the budget, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

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 had been circulated to all Members and published as part of the supplementary council agenda.  A copy of the statement made is attached to these minutes.

 

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

 

Cllr Armstrong moved an amendment, to the fees and charges for beach huts, to charge £185 for a transfer of a licence of a beach hut, on the death of the licence holder.  In support of the amendment, Cllr Armstrong considered that the proposed charge within the report of £621.67 was extortionate.  He highlighted that in respect of cemeteries, a fee of £185 was used in the event of the transfer of an Exclusive Right of Burial, and this was far more reasonable.  Cllr J Davies seconded the amendment.

 

The Council’s Section 151 Officer clarified that the impact of the amendment, although a new fee and therefore not straightforward, was likely to be in the region of £3-4k.

 

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

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Armstrong, Brand, Clark, Cullen, J Davies, Harrison, Haywood, Linford, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Rackham, Reilly, Richards, A Wade, M Wade and Woods.

 

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Blunden, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, S Davies, Dunning, Frampton, Glass, Hartmann, Hawkins, Murray, Osborne, Penman, Penny, Poole, Reid, Sleep, Tipp, Tungate and Young.

 

Abstaining:- Cllrs Dowd, Rickman, Thierry and Ward.

 

The amendment was lost, 17 in favour, 21 against, 4 abstaining.

 

The Council further debated the Cabinet’s budget proposals together with the alternative budget, before voting on them.

 

The outcome of the recorded vote on the alternative budget was as follows:-

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Brand, Clark, Cullen, J Davies, Dowd, Harrison, Haywood, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Osborne, Rackham, Reilly, A Wade, M Wade and Woods.

 

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Armstrong, Blunden, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, S Davies, Dunning, Frampton, Glass, Hartmann, Hawkins, Linford, Murray, Penman, Penny, Poole, Reid, Rickman, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate Ward and Young.

 

Abstaining:- Cllr Richards.

 

The alternative budget was lost, 16 in favour, 25 against, 1 abstaining.

 

The outcome of the recorded vote on the budget as outlined in the report of Cabinet, was as follows:-

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Armstrong, Blunden, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, S Davies, Dunning, Frampton, Glass, Hartmann, Hawkins, Linford, Murray, Penman, Penny, Poole, Reid, Rickman, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, Ward and Young.

 

Voting against:- Cllrs Brand, Clark, Cullen, J Davies, Dowd, Harrison, Haywood, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Osborne, A Wade, M Wade and Woods.

 

Abstaining:- Cllrs Rackham, Reilly and Richards.

 

The substantive motion and budget as presented in the report of Cabinet was carried, 25 in favour, 14 against, 3 abstaining.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     The updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and financial strategy, as set out in the Cabinet report and throughout appendices 1-3, be approved;

 

2.     there is a General Fund Net Budget Requirement in 2025/26 of £25.509 million, as set out in appendices 5a - 5d to the Cabinet report;

 

3.     the New Forest District Council Band D Council Tax for 2025/26 shall be £205.77 (paragraph 24);

 

4.     the General Fund Capital Programme for 2025/26 of £19.411 million, as set out in appendix 6 to the Cabinet report be approved;

 

5.     the proposed fees and charges as included at appendix 7 to the Cabinet report be approved; and

 

6.     the principal of utilising up to £1.377 million of the budget equalisation reserve to fund investment in community assets, supporting the future transition to the new unitary authority and town and parish councils, is approved.