Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council in relation to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/24 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25 to 2026/27.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Finance and Resources introduced the report and moved the recommendation. Councillor Smith seconded the motion.

During the debate the following points were raised:

• Following a query relating to the cost of enforcement action, Members were informed that the Council will make application to court for recovery of any costs, however the applications are means tested and the decision on whether to award costs would come down to the defendant’s ability to pay.
• It was confirmed that the budget for planning includes the leadership post.
• It was recognised that there is scrutiny on everything that is spent within the Council.
• Following a query regarding the Cemetery Lodge, it was noted that the Cabinet is due to consider a paper in March.

RESOLVED

Council

(1)  APPROVED the revenue budget for 2023/24 for General and Special Expenses as set out in Appendix B and summarised in section 4.5 of the report at Appendix 1 resulting in an overall council tax increase of 2.99%, with the individual council tax levels being as set out in paragraph 4.5.5 of the report at Appendix 1;

(2)  APPROVED that the council continues to disregard 100% of any war widows (widowers)/war disablement scheme/armed forces compensation scheme payments in any benefits assessment.

(3)  APPROVED any underspend on general expenses at 31 March 2023 be used to increase the current level of the working balance in order to move closer to the target level of £1m and any overspend be met by reducing the budgeted transfer to the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve with any further shortfall being met from the Corporate Priorities Reserve in order to maintain the current level at £850k;

(4)  APPROVED that the general expenses working balance be increased to the £1m level recommended by the LGA in 2023/24 by transferring £150k from the Corporate Priorities Reserve;

(5)  APPROVED any surplus/deficit for Special Expenses Melton Mowbray be transferred to/from the Special Expenses Reserve thereby bringing the actual working balance back to the target;

(6)  NOTED the changes made to the risk categorisation of budgets as set out in paragraph 4.8.1 of the report at Appendix 1 and Appendix E.

The above resolution was considered through a recorded vote as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (22)

Atherton, Bindloss, Carter, Chandler, Child, Cumbers, de Burle, Douglas, Evans, Faulkner, Freer, Glancy, Graham, Hewson, Higgins, Holmes, Illingworth, Lumley, Pritchett, Smith, Webster, Wilkinson.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)

At 8:09pm, following the conclusion of this item, Councillor Child left the meeting and did not return.