Agenda item

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 Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC), were incorrect. It was pointed out that the budget proposed by the PCC had not been rejected, but following scrutiny had been presented in a transparent way, improving on the previous Commissioner’s approach.

Other members spoke against the principle of a PCC, suggesting that the role should be abolished.

Members were also of the view that the balanced budget proposed by the Leader of the Council addressed future pressures on and aspirations of the Council.

The Deputy Leader of the Council expressed the view that the proposal put forward by the Opposition did not take into account the large number of elderly persons living in high tax band properties across the District. However, he felt that the suggestion could be explored further by a Task & Finish Group. Other members spoke in support of the budget recommended by the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said that that the lives of New Forest residents could be improved with greater partnership working. He was satisfied with the proposal that a task and finish group be established, as suggested by the Deputy Leader, to examine his suggestion of inviting residents in Band H properties to make a voluntary contribution, over and above their Council tax, to support local services.

The Leader of the Council commended the budget to the Council.  A recorded vote was taken on the budget recommended by the Cabinet. The outcome was:

Members voting for: 46

Members voting against: 2

Abstentions: 0

Details are shown in Appendix 3 to these minutes.

The motion was carried.

Item 7 – Electoral Review of the District Council

Cllr Ward, as Chairman of the Electoral Review Task & Finish Group, thanked all members of the Task & Finish Group for their contributions. Cllr Ward also thanked the Service Manager, Democratic Services & Member Support and the Electoral Services Team for their hard work and assistance to the Group. Cllr Ward commended the recommendations set out in the Cabinet Report.

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Cabinet dated 8 February 2018 be received and the recommendations be adopted.