Content

Councillor Richard Henry,
Leader of the Council, introduced the proposed 2024/2025 General
Fund Budget and Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29, together
with final proposals for the 2024/25 Council Tax.
 
Prior to his introduction,
Councillor Henry stated that this would be the final Council
meeting attended by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Councillor
Michael Downing and Councillor Graham Lawrence, all of whom he was
aware would not be standing for election on 2 May 2024.  He thanked all three councillors for their
contributions over the years, and paid tribute to Baroness
Taylor’s tireless work and achievements as his predecessor as
Leader of the Council for 16 years.  He
then announced that Ian Gourlay (Senior Democratic Services
Officer) was attending his last Council meeting prior to his
retirement in May 2024.  He thanked Ian
for the support he had given to all Members during his time with
the Council.
 
Councillor Henry, in his introduction, referred to the
following:
-     
the royal visit of King Charles III to the Stevenage
Coptic Church in December 2023;
-     
the challenges and pressures facing the Council,
both financial and in the cost of living;
-     
the financial problems faced nationally by local
authorities, some of whom had issued Section 114 (bankruptcy)
notices;
-     
the National Audit Office evidenced 64.5% reduction
in the Council’s Core Spending Power since 2010/11;
-     
the continuation of the Council’s plans to
identify the means to improve its budgeted position by around
£1Million of savings each year;
-     
the scheme for a re-located Leisure Centre,
incorporating wet and dry leisure facilities;
-     
the continuation of the Council’s innovative
Housing Development Programme;
-     
support for the investment in the ever-growing
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) industries in the
Borough, through the groundbreaking Mission 44 initiative, which
aimed to support local young people to access career opportunities
in these industries.  To help facilitate
this ambition, the Stevenage Works Skills Framework had recently
been approved by the Executive;
-     
the Arts and Culture activities, including the
completion of three murals in underpasses, working in conjunction
with partners.  A further 22 underpasses
were targeted for improvement with 4 lined up for the summer of
2024;
-     
again working with partners and local residents and schools,
anti-graffiti projects relating to art works on electrical cabinets
throughout the town; and
-     
a commitment to retaining a theatre in
Stevenage.
 
Councillor Jeannette Thomas,
Deputy Leader of the Council, then moved the motion, including the
recommendations regarding the General Fund Budget 2024/25 and
Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29 and the formal
Council Tax Resolution, which had been circulated to
Members.
 
Councillor Thomas highlighted
the following points:
 
-     
despite the £1.2Million deficit that was fixed
for 2024/25, she was pleased to be able to present a balanced
budget, without the need to use balances;
-     
this had been achieved in part through the
Transformation Programme, which had realised cost savings of
£331,000 and also through the Co-operative Commercial &
Insourcing Strategy, which had identified income options to secure
the Council an additional £661,000;
-     
the General Fund Budget for 2024/25 would be
£12.788Million.  Current
projections for showed that £638,000 of reserves may need to
be used even after identifying another £1Million worth of
savings;
-     
due to the Council’s financial position, there
was little room for budget growth, although £167,000 of
recommended growth for 2024/25 had been included to fund the switch
from diesel to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for the vehicle
fleet, which would reduce carbon emissions from the vehicles by up
to 90%;
-     
to balance the budget, Council Tax needed to be
increased by 2.99%.  This equated to an
extra £6.18 per year for a Band C property, giving a total
year cost of £212.68 or £4.09 per week; and
-     
the Council was planning to spend £88Million
on its Capital Programme for 2024/25, including £30Million on
building new homes, £34Million on investing in existing
Council homes, and £21Million to continue the flagship
Regeneration Programme.
 
Councillor Henry then formally
seconded the recommendations from the Executive on the General Fund
and Capital Budgets, together with the formal Council Tax
resolution, as set out on the paper circulated to
Members.
 
Councillor Bret Facey
moved and Councillor Phil Bibby seconded
the following amendment:
 
‘That the £66,000 growth bid for the move to HVO
fuel from diesel should not be implemented.  Instead this funding
should be used to support the maintenance of the playgrounds to
ensure that the investment made in playgrounds is maintained and
repairs can be made to our much loved play
equipment.”
 
In moving the
amendment, Councillor Facey advised that a
number of the Play Areas around the Borough were in poor
condition.  Often, pieces of equipment
would be removed and not replaced.  Even
when Play Areas were refurbished, the same process of steady
decline occurred, with limited or no maintenance during that
process.
 
Councillor Facey
stated that the Council was committing around £500,000 of
Capital investment to regenerate the parks over the next two
years.  However, had more investment
been made in the past to allow for regular maintenance then the
equipment in the play areas would have lasted for many more years,
thereby allowing children to have enjoyed them for longer, and
giving the Council a better return on tax
payers’ money.
 
Councillor Facey
explained the amendment was funded by removing half of the money
allocated for switching the Council’s vehicle fleet from
diesel to HVO.  He commented that HVO
did reduce carbon emissions, but did not reduce Nitrogen Dioxide
emissions, which was the major cause of air pollution, smog and acid rain.  Nor
did HVO reduce the particulates generated through exhaust fumes
which contributed towards breathing problems and
asthma.  The amendment would allow the
Council to use the remaining half of the funding to pilot the use
of HVO during 2024/25.
 
Following debate, a recorded
vote (see below) was then taken on the amendment.  The amendment was lost.
 
[ Recorded Vote on amendment:
 
For – Councillors Phil Bibby, Bret
Facey, Alex Farquharson, Chris Howells, Wendy Kerby, Graham
Lawrence, Adam Mitchell and Margaret
Notley - 8
 
Against – Councillors Myla Arceno, Julie
Ashley-Wren, Sandra Barr, Stephen Booth, Lloyd Briscoe, Rob Broom,
Jim Brown, Forhad Chowdhury, Nazmin Chowdhury, Michael Downing,
Richard Henry, Jackie Hollywell, Mason Humberstone, Conor McGrath,
Andy McGuinness, Maureen McKay, Lin Martin-Haugh, Sarah Mead,
Claire Parris, Robin Parker, Ellie Plater, Graham Snell, Simon
Speller, Baroness Taylor, Jeanette Thomas, Carolina Veres, Anne
Wells and Tom Wren - 28
 
Abstentions – 0
 
Not present – Councillors John Duncan,
Mrs Joan Lloyd and Loraine Rossati – 3
]
 
A further debate then took
place on the substantive motion.
 
At the conclusion of the
debate, and in response to an issue raised by a Member during the debate, the Leader of the Council
stated that he would confirm in writing to all Members how progress
on the implementation of the conversion of the vehicle fleet from
diesel to HVO, together with the solar panels on vehicles
initiative, would be reported.
 
A recorded vote* was then taken
on the substantive motion, and it was RESOLVED:
 

1.              
That the following be approved:
 

a.             
the revised working revenue estimates for the year
2023/24 amounting to £13,571,480 and the revenue estimates
for 2024/25 amounting to £12,788,410;

 

b.             
the contribution from balances totalling
£1,191,105 in 2023/24;
 

c.             
the contribution from balances totalling nil in
2024/25.
 

2.              
That it be noted that at its meeting on 13 December
2023 the Executive calculated the amount of 28,579.4 Band D
equivalent properties as its council tax base for the year 2023/24
in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities
(Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under
Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by
Section 74 of the Localism Act 2011.
 

3.              
That the following amounts be calculated by the
Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36
of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by Section 74
of the Localism Act 2011:

 

a.

£87,862,489

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, less the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates
for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d)

b.

£81,024,560

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.

c.

£6,837,929

Being the amount by which the aggregate at 3a above
exceeds the aggregate at 3b above, calculated by the Council in
accordance with Section 31A(4) of the
Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

d.

£239.26

Being the amount at 3c divided by the amount at 2
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

e.

Valuation Bands

 

 

A

£ 
159.51

 

B

£ 
186.09

 

C

£ 
212.68

 

D

£ 
239.26

 

E

£ 
292.43

 

F

£ 
345.60

 

G

£ 
398.77

 

H

£ 
478.52

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at
3d. 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 D, calculated by the
Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the
amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of
categories of dwellings listed in different valuation
bands.

4.   a.     That it be noted that for the
year 2024/25 Hertfordshire County Council have stated the following
amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with
Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of
the categories of the dwellings shown below:

 

             
Valuation Bands

 

            
Basic Amount         
Adult Social                   
2023/24

          
Of Council Tax        Care
Charge             
Council Tax

 

A                  
£ 961.58              
£ 162.25               
£ 1,123.83

 

B               
£ 1,121.84              
£ 189.30               
£ 1,311.14

 

C               
£ 1,282.11              
£ 216.34               
£ 1,498.45

 

D               
£ 1,442.37              
£ 243.38               
£ 1,685.75

 

E               
£ 1,762.90              
£ 297.46               
£ 2,060.36

 

F               
£ 2,083.42              
£ 351.55               
£ 2,434.97

 

G              
£ 2,403.95              
£ 405.63               
£ 2,809.58

 

H               
£ 2,884.74              
£ 486.76               
£ 3,371.50

 
 

b.               
That it be noted that for the year 2024/25
Hertfordshire Police Authority have stated the following amounts in
precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of
the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and amended by Section 27 of
the Police and Magistrates’ Court Act 1994, for each of the
categories of the dwellings shown below:
 
Valuation Bands
 
      A                 
£ 167.33
 
B                 
£ 195.22
 
C                 
£ 223.11
 
D                 
£ 251.00
 
E                 
£ 306.78
 
F                 
£ 362.56
 
G                
£ 418.33
 

H                 
£ 502.00
 

5.                     
That, having calculated the aggregate in each case
of the amounts at 3e. and 4a. and b. above, the Council in
accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act
1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts for council
tax for the year 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings
shown below:
Valuation Bands
 
A                 
£1,450.67
 
B                 
£1,692.45
 
C                 
£1,934.24
 
D                 
£2,176.01
 
E                 
£2,659.57
 
F                 
£3,143.13
 
G                 
£3,626.68
 
H                 
£4,352.02
 

6.          To
determine in accordance with Section 52ZB Local Government Finance
Act 1992 that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for
2024/25 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved by
the Secretary of State under Section 52ZC having calculated the
aggregate in each case of the amounts at 3e.

7.              
That the 2023/24 revised net expenditure for the
General Fund of £13,571,480, as set out in Paragraph 4.10.1
of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report, be
approved.

8.              
That the draft General Fund Budget for 2024/25 of
£12,788,410, with no contribution from balances and a Band D
Council Tax of £239.26 (assuming a 2.99% increase), and as
summarised in Appendix G to the General Fund and Council Tax
Setting report, be approved.

9.              
That the updated position on the General Fund Medium
Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), as summarised in Section 4.12 of
the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report, be
noted.

10.          
That the minimum level of General Fund reserves of
£3,537,794, in line with the 2024/25 risk assessment of
balances, as shown at Appendix C to the General Fund and Council
Tax Setting report, be approved.

11.          
That the contingency sum of £400,000 within
which the Executive can approve supplementary estimates, be
approved for 2024/25 (reflecting the level of balances available
above the minimum amount).

12.          
That the 2024/25 Balancing the Budget options, as
set out in Section 4.7 and Appendix A of the General Fund and
Council Tax Setting report, totalling £1,223,852 and
£95,603 for the General Fund and HRA respectively, be
approved.

13.          
That the events options, as set out in Paragraph
4.7.4 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report, be
approved for 2024/25.

14.          
That the Growth options included in Section 4.8 of
the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report, be approved for
inclusion in the 2024/25 General Fund (£167,120) and HRA
(£47,625) budgets.

15.          
That the pressures identified in Sections 4.2 and
4.9 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report be
noted.

16.          
That the use of £200,000 of Business Rates in
the base budget be approved, and that any gains secured above that
sum be only used once realised and be ring fenced to maintain the
Council’s financial resilience.

17.              
That the use of the “pooling gains” of
£220,000, as set out the Paragraph 4.4.9 of the General Fund
and Council Tax Setting report, be noted.

18.          
That the comments from Overview and Scrutiny, as set
out in Section 4.16 of the General Fund and Council Tax Setting
report, be noted.

19.          
That the Equalities Impact Assessment, appended to
the General Fund and Council Tax Setting report in Appendix D, be
noted.

20.              
That key partners and other stakeholders be
consulted and their views considered as
part of the 2024/25 General Fundbudget
setting process.

21.          
That the revised General Fund Capital Budget for
2024/25 of £33.6Million, as set out in Appendix B to the
Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be approved.

22.          
That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital
Budget for 2024/25 of £54.9Million, as set out in Appendix C
to the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be
approved.

23.          
That the updated forecast of resources 2024/25, as
detailed in Section 4.4 (General Fund) and Section 4.10 (HRA) of
the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be
approved.

24.          
That the General Fund Capital Budget re-profiling of
£2.6Million from 2023/24 to future years, as set out in
Paragraph 4.1.4 of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report,
be approved.

25.          
That the General Fund Capital Budget savings, as set
out in Paragraphs 4.1.3 and 4.1.5 of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 -
2028/29 report, be approved.

26.          
That the approach to resourcing the General Fund
Capital Programme, as outlined in Paragraph 4.4 of the Capital
Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be approved.

27.          
That the General Fund growth bids identified for
inclusion in the Capital Strategy, as set out in Paragraph and in
Appendix A of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be
approved.

28.          
That the HRA budget increases identified for
inclusion in the Capital Strategy, as set out in Section 4.9 and in
Appendix C of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be
approved.

29.          
That the approach to resourcing the HRA Fund Capital
Programme, as outlined in Paragraph 4.10 of the Capital Strategy
2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be approved.

30.          
That the HRA Capital Budget re-profiling of
£1.45Million from 2023/24 to future years, as set out in
Paragraph 4.9.3 of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report,
be approved.

31.          
That the HRA growth bid (IT - £21,000)
identified for inclusion in the Capital Strategy, as set out in
Paragraph 4.9.4 of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report,
be approved.

32.          
That the 2024/25 de-minimis expenditure limit, as
set out in section 4.11 of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29
report, be increased from £7,500 to £9,999.

33.          
That up to £500,000 of any revenue surplus in
any year can be allocated to the Capital reserve to support capital
expenditure be approved.
34.     That the
comments from Overview and Scrutiny, as set out in Paragraph 4.13.4
of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 - 2028/29 report, be
noted.
 
[ *Recorded Vote on Substantive motion:
 
For – Councillors Myla Arceno, Julie
Ashley-Wren, Sandra Barr, Stephen Booth, Lloyd Briscoe, Rob Broom,
Jim Brown, Forhad Chowdhury, Nazmin Chowdhury, Michael Downing,
Richard Henry, Jackie Hollywell, Mason Humberstone, Conor McGrath,
Andy McGuinness, Maureen McKay, Lin Martin-Haugh, Sarah Mead, Robin
Parker, Claire Parris, Ellie Plater, Graham Snell, Simon Speller,
Baroness Taylor, Jeannette Thomas, Carolina Veres, Anne Wells and
Tom Wren - 28
 
Against – Councillors Phil Bibby, Bret
Facey, Alex Farquharson, Chris Howells, Wendy Kerby, Graham
Lawrence, Adam Mitchell and Margaret
Notley - 8
 
Abstentions – 0
 
Not present – Councillors John Duncan,
Mrs Joan Lloyd and Loraine Rossati – 3
]