BURNLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL BURNLEY TOWN HALL Wednesday, 25th February 2009 PRESENT MEMBERS Her Worshipful The Mayor (Councillor Ida Carmichael) in the Chair; Councillors Frank Ashworth, Howard Baker, Bill Bennett, Gordon Birtwistle, Justin Birtwistle, Charlie Briggs, Lynne Briggs, Bill Brindle, Charles Bullas, Frank Cant, Julie Cooper, Derek Dawson, Peter Doyle, Gary Frayling, Roger Frost, Jonathan Gilbert, John Harbour, Allen Harris, David Heginbotham, Karen Heseltine, Michael Heys, Anne Kelly, Arif Khan, Wajid Khan, Anthony Lambert, Margaret Lishman, Maureen McCaffrey, Peter McCann, Malik Mohammed, Elizabeth Monk, Darren Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, Martin Smith, Len Starr, Jeff Sumner, David Thomson, Cosima Towneley, Linda White and Sharon Wilkinson. OFFICERS Steve Rumbelow - Chief Executive David Brown - Director of Environment Mick Cartledge - Director of Community Services Nick Aves - Director of Resources Mike Cook - Director of Regeneration and Housing David Wilcock - Head of People and Law Phil Moore - Head of Finance Tom Forshaw - Head of Chief Executive’s Office Ruth Wynn - Democracy Manager Jeremy Richards - Communications Officer David Bristow - Deputy Mayor’s Officer Eric Dickinson Democracy Officer 87. Minutes RESOLVED The Minutes of the meeting of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on the 11th February 2008 were confirmed and signed by the Chair. 88. Mayor’s Communication Her Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Ida Carmichael indicated that she had received a request from Councillor Jonathan Gilbert for permission to address the Council on a matter of condolence. Full Council 25th February 2009 Page 1 of 11 Councillor Jonathan Gilbert addressed the Council on behalf of the Conservative Group to extend condolences, thoughts and prayers to David Cameron MP and his family on the death of their son Ivan. All other Group Leaders also expressed their sympathy and condolence to David Cameron MP and his family. 89. Public Question Time John Rowe addressed the meeting under the Council’s Right to Speak Policy on regeneration in Elevate areas. 90. Revenue and Capital Budgets and Council Tax 2009/10 Consideration was given to the Revenue and Capital Budgets and Council Tax for 2009/10. It was moved by Councillor Margaret Lishman and seconded by Councillor Gordon Birtwistle; “That the Reports submitted for approval together with recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Opportunities Fund 2009/10, Revenue Budget 2009/10, the Statutory Report of the Chief Finance Officer, Capital Investment Programme 2009/14, CIPFA Prudential Code – Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy 2009/10, Repayment of Debt Calculation-Minimum Revenue Provision, Treasury Management Monitoring, Council Tax 2009/10 and the Members Allowance Scheme 2009/10 be approved ” An amendment was proposed by Councillor Sharon Wilkinson and seconded by Councillor Len Starr; That Minute No. 180 (16th February 2009) of the Executive be amended as follows: iii) That a further £303,200 of Area Based Grant be used to fund the work of the Community Engagement & Cohesion Unit and the net budget be reduced accordingly. iv) Set a net budget of £18,061,323 for the financial year 2009/10. ix) Approve a Council Tax (Band D) figure of £240.47 for this Council for the year commencing 1st April 2009 and adopt the statutory resolution to set the full Council Tax for the year. On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be lost. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Howard Baker and seconded by Councillor Julie Cooper; That Minute No. 178 (16th February 2009) of the Executive relating to the Capital Opportunities Fund be amended as follows: Full Council 25th February 2009 Page 2 of 11 5) The budget for the current financial year (2008/09) be reduced by £171,155 to reflect the uncommitted balance on the fund as identified in the report. The additional capital receipts unspent at 31st March 2009 be carried forward into the financial year 2009/10 to finance spending in that year. That Minute No. 181 (16th February 2009) of the Executive relating to the Capital Programme be amended as follows: 5. The additional capital receipts of £171,155 be used to part fund the Green Spaces – Transport & Grounds Maintenance project, thus freeing up £171,155 of revenue reserves That Minute No. 180 (16th February 2009) of the Executive relating to the Revenue Budget be amended as follows: iii) The net Revenue Budget be reduced by £172,630 as follows: • That the additional resources of £171,155 from revenue reserves be used to fund revenue expenditure. • That the budget for Members Allowances be reduced by £1,475 to reflect the additional savings identified in the report at 5(i) on tonight’s agenda iv) Set a net budget of £18,191,893 for the financial year 2009/10. ix) Approve a Council Tax (Band D) figure of £245.55 for this Council for the year commencing 1st April 2009 and adopt the statutory resolution to set the full Council Tax for the year. On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be lost. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Peter Doyle and seconded by Councillor David Heginbotham; That Minute No. 180 (16th February 2009) of the Executive be amended as follows: iii) That the net Revenue Budget be reduced by £124,000 as follows: • That a further six, currently vacant, full-time posts be deleted from the establishment to generate a saving of £171,000. These posts to be identified by Management Team prior to 31st March 2009. • That the assumed saving in the budget for the non-filling of vacant posts be reduced from £375,000 to £328,000 iv) Set a net budget of £18,240,523 for the financial year 2009/10. ix) Approve a Council Tax (Band D) figure of £247.43 for this Council for the year commencing 1st April 2009 and adopt the statutory resolution to set the full Council Tax for the year. Full Council 25th February 2009 Page 3 of 11 On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be lost. RESOLVED (1) That the provision of £50,000 in the Revenue Budget for 2009/10, and £100,000 in the Capital Budget for 2009/10, for the Ward Opportunities Fund scheme be approved; (2) That the approach set out in the Council’s Medium-term Financial Strategy be endorsed; (3) That the approach that has been adopted in developing budget proposals that reflect the Council’s strategic Objectives be endorsed; (4) That approval be given to the proposals for the Revenue Budget for 2009/10 contained in the report subject to the following amendments: Net budget increases: Reduce the income assumed from charges for bulky household waste by £1,500; Reduce the income assumed for Market Hall lettings by £50,000; Net budget decreases: Reduce the costs associated with refuse collection/street cleaning contract by £51,500; (5) That approval be given to the setting of a net budget requirement of £18,364,523 for the financial year 2009/10; (6) That the statutory report issued by the Director of Resources under the Local Government Act, 2003 be received; (7) That Directors/Heads of Service be authorised to progress and finalise any redundancies, early retirements or deletion of vacant posts/restructuring that result; (8) That approval be given to the use of the Modernisation Reserve to meet any one-off costs that arise from (7) above; (9) That approval be given to the establishment of a budget of £2.56M to administer grant received from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund; (10) That approval be given to a Council Tax (Band D) figure of £252.25 for this Council for the year commencing 1st April 2009 and adopt the statutory resolution to set the full Council Tax for the year; (11) That approval be given to the Capital Investment Programme for 2009/14 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report; (12) That approval be given to the resources statement to fund capital schemes as set out in Appendix 2 to the report; (13) That approval be given to the Capital Budget for 2009/10 as set out in Appendix 3 to the report; Full Council 25th February 2009 Page 4 of 11 (14) That a further report be considered on necessary amendments to the programme once the award of Housing Capital Grant and Elevate funding has been finalised; (15) That the prudential indicators as shown in Appendix 1 to the report and the borrowing policy and strategy statement as shown in Appendix 2 to the report be approved; (16) That approval be given to the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statements for 2007/08 and 2008/09 as shown at appendix 1 to the report; (17) That approval be given to the Council’s MRP Statement for 2009/10 as shown at appendix 2 to the report; (18) That approval be given to the revised arrangements for calculating annual repayments of the Council’s borrowing; (19) That approval be given to the revision of the net interest payable budget for 2008/09 to £944,168; (20) That it be noted that the Director of Resources has calculated the figure of 25,735 as the Council Tax base for the year 2009/10 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992; (21) That it be further noted that the following amounts have been calculated as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year 2009/10 for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one of the special items relate: Briercliffe with Extwistle 1,287 Cliviger 916 Habergham Eaves 525 Padiham 3,007 Worsthorne with Hurstwood 1,080 (22) That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2009/10