Agenda item

That the budget as set out in the report be approved, noting that the Thames Valley Police Authority and the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority are still to confirm their final council tax precept requirements and:

Council Tax Resolution – In relation to the Council Tax for 2017/18

(a)   That in pursuance of the powers conferred on the Council as the billing authority for its area by the Local Government Finance Acts (the Acts), the Council Tax for the Slough area for the year ending 31 March 2018 is as specified below and that the Council Tax be levied accordingly.

(b)   That it be noted that at its meeting on 19 December 2016 Cabinet calculated the following Tax Base amounts for the financial year 2017/18 in accordance with Regulations made under sections 31B (3) and 34(4) of the Act:

(i)   41,174.7 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) as the Council Tax Base for the whole of the Slough area for the year 2017/18; and

(ii)   The sums below being the amounts of Council Tax Base for the

Parishes within Slough for 2017/18:

a)   Parish of Britwell      840.7

b)   Parish of Colnbrook with Poyle   1,866.4

c)   Parish of Wexham   1,329.6 

(c)   That the following amounts be now calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with sections 31A to 36 of the Act:

(i)   £406,981,084 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A (2)(a) to (f) of the Act. (Gross Expenditure);

(ii)   £ 354,279,115 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A (3) (a) to (d) of the Act. (Gross Income);

(iii)   £52,701,969 being the amount by which the aggregate at paragraph c(i) above exceeds the aggregate at paragraph c (ii) above calculated by the Council as its council tax requirement for the year as set out in section 31A(4) of the Act. (Council Tax Requirement);

(iv)   £1,279.96 being the amount at paragraph c(iii) above divided by the amount at paragraph b(i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year, including the requirements for Parish precepts.

(v)   That for the year 2017/18 the Council determines in accordance with section 34 (1) of the Act, Total Special Items of £223,349 representing the total of Parish Precepts for that year.

(vi)   £1,274.54 being the amount at paragraph c (iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at paragraph c (v) above by the relevant amounts at paragraph b (i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34 (2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(vii)   Valuation Bands

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at paragraph c (iv) and c (vi) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5 (1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36 (1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

(viii)   That it be noted that for the year 2017/18 the Thames Valley Police Authority precept has been increased by 1.99%.  The following amounts are stated in accordance with section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

These precepts have not been formally proposed or agreed by the Thames Valley Police and may be revised when agreed.

(ix)   That it be noted that for the year 2017/18 the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority has been increased by 1.99% as the following amount in precept issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

These precepts have not been formally proposed or agreed by the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and may be revised when agreed.

(x)   Note that arising from these recommendations, and assuming the major precepts are agreed, the overall Council Tax for Slough Borough Council including the precepting authorities will be as follows:

(xi)   That the Section 151 Officer be and is hereby authorised to give due notice of the said Council Tax in the manner provided by Section 38(2) of the 2012 Act.

(xii)   That the Section 151 Officer be and is hereby authorised when necessary to apply for a summons against any Council Tax payer or non-domestic ratepayer on whom an account for the said tax or rate and arrears has been duly served and who has failed to pay the amounts due to take all subsequent necessary action to recover them promptly.

(xiii)   That the Section 151 Officer be authorised to collect (and disperse from the relevant accounts) the Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate and that whenever the office of the Section 151 Officer is vacant or the holder thereof is for any reason unable to act, the Chief Executive or such other authorised post-holder be authorised to act as before said in his or her stead.

Fees and Charges –

(e)   That the increase in Fees and Charges as outlined in Appendix F to the report for 2017/18 be approved, noting that further consideration would be given to addressing the concerns raised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee regarding the increases in some of the burial and cemetery fees and that a specific ringfenced reserve be set aside for this purpose.

Pay Policy –

(f)   That the Pay Policy outlined in Appendix M to the report be noted for Council approval.

The Leader of the Council introduced a report and appendices detailing the proposed Revenue Budget 2017/18 that set out how the Council would achieve a balanced budget for the coming year.  The Leader stated that the proposed budget, to be recommended to Council on 23^rd February, was balanced, realistic and fit for purpose.  It protected front line Council services despite the continued significant reductions in Government grants.

It was proposed that the level of Council Tax for 2017/18 increase by 4.71% which was comprised of passing on the 3% Adult Social Care precept and 1.71% for the Council to invest in other services.  Commissioners recognised the pressures nationally on social care budgets attributed to historic underfunding and noted that the budget included growth of £1.1m to reflect demographic change and to help meet the increasing demand of people with complex needs.  The savings proposals detailed in Appendix A to the report were reviewed and Commissioners commented on the use of profits from Slough Urban Renewal and the capitalisation of highways maintenance.

The Assistant Director reported that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee had scrutinised the budget papers on 2^nd February 2017 and had recommended that the Cabinet reconsider the proposed increases of up to 20% in some burial and cemetery fees.  The Commissioner for Regulation & Consumer Protection responded that the increases had been previously built into the budget and had followed a benchmarking exercise with neighbouring authorities.  The costs in Slough would generally remain below neighbouring areas and the Commissioner provided the Cabinet with details of comparative rates.  The Chair of Overview & Scrutiny, Councillor Nazir, explained the concerns of the Committee, and the Cabinet gave careful consideration to the points raised.  It was proposed and agreed that further consideration be given to addressing the concerns regarding the increases in some of the burial and cemetery fees and that a specific ring-fenced reserve be set aside for this purpose.

Councillors Anderson, Strutton and Swindlehurst addressed the Cabinet under Rule 30 and made a number of comments on various aspects of the budget including the relative growth and savings in adult social care and the use of the precept; the use of income from Slough Urban Renewal to offset other savings; the impact of the capitalisation of the highways repair budget and the revenue costs of higher borrowing.  The Director of Adult Social Care clarified the position on the adult social care budget within the context of the four year transformation programme.  In response to a question from a Member, specific assurance could not be provided about free transport for service users but the service would work with each person on an individual basis to best meet their needs.  The Assistant Director Finance & Audit responded to the other matters raised before the Leader summarised the discussion.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was agreed that the Revenue Budget 2017/18 be recommended to full Council on 23^rd February 2017, noting that further consideration would be given to address the concerns raised about the fee increases for some burial and cemetery services.

Recommended –

That the budget as set out in the report be approved, noting that the Thames Valley Police Authority and the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority are still to confirm their final council tax precept requirements and:

Council Tax Resolution – In relation to the Council Tax for 2017/18

(a)   That in pursuance of the powers conferred on the Council as the billing authority for its area by the Local Government Finance Acts (the Acts), the Council Tax for the Slough area for the year ending 31 March 2018 is as specified below and that the Council Tax be levied accordingly.

(b)   That it be noted that at its meeting on 19 December 2016 Cabinet calculated the following Tax Base amounts for the financial year 2017/18 in accordance with Regulations made under sections 31B (3) and 34(4) of the Act:

(i)   41,174.7 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) as the Council Tax Base for the whole of the Slough area for the year 2017/18; and

(ii)   The sums below being the amounts of Council Tax Base for the

Parishes within Slough for 2017/18:

a)   Parish of Britwell      840.7

b)   Parish of Colnbrook with Poyle   1,866.4

c)   Parish of Wexham   1,329.6 

(c)   That the following amounts be now calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with sections 31A to 36 of the Act:

(i)   £406,981,084 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A (2)(a) to (f) of the Act. (Gross Expenditure);

(ii)   £ 354,279,115 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A (3) (a) to (d) of the Act. (Gross Income);

(iii)   £52,701,969 being the amount by which the aggregate at paragraph c(i) above exceeds the aggregate at paragraph c (ii) above calculated by the Council as its council tax requirement for the year as set out in section 31A(4) of the Act. (Council Tax Requirement);

(iv)   £1,279.96 being the amount at paragraph c(iii) above divided by the amount at paragraph b(i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year, including the requirements for Parish precepts.

(v)   That for the year 2017/18 the Council determines in accordance with section 34 (1) of the Act, Total Special Items of £223,349 representing the total of Parish Precepts for that year.

(vi)   £1,274.54 being the amount at paragraph c (iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at paragraph c (v) above by the relevant amounts at paragraph b (i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34 (2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(vii)   Valuation Bands

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at paragraph c (iv) and c (vi) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5 (1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36 (1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

(viii)   That it be noted that for the year 2017/18 the Thames Valley Police Authority precept has been increased by 1.99%.  The following amounts are stated in accordance with section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

These precepts had not been formally proposed or agreed by the Thames Valley Police at the time the report was presented.

(ix)   That it be noted that for the year 2017/18 the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority has been increased by 1.99% as the following amount in precept issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

These precepts had not been formally proposed or agreed by the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority at the time the report was presented.

(x)   Note that arising from these recommendations, and assuming the major precepts are agreed, the overall Council Tax for Slough Borough Council including the precepting authorities will be as follows:

(xi)   That the Section 151 Officer be and is hereby authorised to give due notice of the said Council Tax in the manner provided by Section 38(2) of the 2012 Act.

(xii)   That the Section 151 Officer be and is hereby authorised when necessary to apply for a summons against any Council Tax payer or non-domestic ratepayer on whom an account for the said tax or rate and arrears has been duly served and who has failed to pay the amounts due to take all subsequent necessary action to recover them promptly.

(xiii)   That the Section 151 Officer be authorised to collect (and disperse from the relevant accounts) the Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate and that whenever the office of the Section 151 Officer is vacant or the holder thereof is for any reason unable to act, the Chief Executive or such other authorised post-holder be authorised to act as before said in his or her stead.

Fees and Charges –

(e)   That the increase in Fees and Charges as outlined in Appendix F to the report for 2017/18 be approved, noting that further consideration would be given to addressing the concerns raised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee regarding the increases in some of the burial and cemetery fees and that a specific ring-fenced reserve be set aside for this purpose.

Pay Policy –

(f)   That the Pay Policy outlined in Appendix M to the report be noted for Council approval.