Agenda item

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019 - 2024

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote is required for this item.

The Executive will consider this item at its meeting on 25 February 2019 – a copy of the Executive report is therefore attached. An extract of the minutes from the meeting of the Executive will be published as a supplement and circulated in due course.

Minutes:

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Council Procedure Rule 17.4 regarding the content and length of speeches be suspended to allow the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition unlimited time to speak on this item.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, proposed the recommendations contained within the report, subject to the replacement of Appendix A with a revised version which had been published and circulated.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal.

Councillor Hilton Spratt, proposed an amendment by way of an alternative budget which comprised:

· investment in the digital infrastructure of the Council;

· capitalisation on the Government’s changes to the Housing Revenue Account to build more quality homes;

· investment in further managed work spaces;

· the introduction of a ‘pop-in parking’ scheme for the Lincoln Central Car Park on weekends;

· free garden waste collection services under a reformed and renegotiated waste disposal contract;

· up to a 10% increase in public waste bins across the city;

· a reformed management structure across all directorates, with reform to the upper and middle tier of management;

· each reformed directorate to reduce spending by £73,000;

· alignment of future employee wages with the National Living Wage;

· a fundamental review of all Council services in relation to outsourcing.

Councillor Thomas Dyer, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, seconded the amendment.

In voting on the amendment, the amendment was lost.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.7 a recorded vote was taken, the result of which was as follows:

For Against Abstention

Councillor Bodger Councillor Bean

Councillor Briggs Councillor Bilton

Councillor Dyer Councillor Brothwell

Councillor Hills Councillor C Burke

Councillor Reid Councillor S Burke

Councillor Spratt Councillor Bushell

Councillor Strengiel Councillor Ellis

Councillor Weaver Councillor Hanrahan

Councillor Hewson

Councillor J Kirk

Councillor R Kirk

Councillor Mair

Councillor McNulty

Councillor Metcalfe

Councillor Murray

Councillor Nannestad

Councillor Preston

Councillor Smith

Councillor Toofany

Councillor Vaughan

Councillor Woolley

In voting on the original motion it was RESOLVED that the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-2024 and Capital Strategy 2019-2024, including the following specific elements, be approved:

· a council tax Increase of 2.93% for 2019/20;

· a housing rent decrease of 1% for 2019/20;

· the Council being a member of the Lincolnshire Business Rates Pool in 2019/20;

· the General Fund Revenue Forecast 2019/20-2023/24 as shown in Appendix 1 of the report and the main basis on which this budget had been calculated;

· the General Investment Programme 2019/20-2023/24 as shown in Appendix 2 of the report and the main basis on which the programme had been calculated;

· the Housing Revenue Account Forecast 2019/20-2023/24 as shown in Appendix 3 of the report and the main basis on which this budget had been calculated;

· the Housing Investment Programme 2019/20-2023/24 as shown in Appendix 4 of the report and the main basis on which the programme had been calculated.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.7 a recorded vote was taken, the result of which was as follows:

For Against Abstention

Councillor Bean Councillor Bodger

Councillor Bilton Councillor Briggs

Councillor Brothwell Councillor Dyer

Councillor C Burke Councillor Hills

Councillor S Burke Councillor Reid

Councillor Bushell Councillor Spratt

Councillor Ellis Councillor Strengiel

Councillor Hanrahan Councillor Weaver