Issue - meetings

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre presented a report setting out proposals for the 2020/21 budget.

 

 

Councillor Andrew Rule proposed an amendment to the budget as follows:

 

“subject to the following:

 

Section 1    Net

  2020/21

  £

 

Proceeds from the sale of shares in wholly owned companies  -3,000,000

 

Ring-fence resources for the following areas:    +3,000,000

·  Children’s Services – Early Years Intervention:

o  Additional support for Supporting Families

Programme (expansion of Government’s Troubled

Families Programme)

o  Funding programme expansion for voluntary and

Community sector

o  Additional back office support for social workers

 

Income from Solar Panel Investment Scheme    -37,500

Reinvested in Energy Improvement Initiatives    +37,500

 

Fleet sponsorship of Council vehicles    -70,000

 

Lamp post commercial advertising    -127,900

 

Reduction in the number of Special Responsibility Positions  -86,190

 

Voluntary Garden Waste – offer citizens a two month extension    -224,548

service to the current garden waste collection scheme for £8.50

 

Reduction in payments to Trade Unions    -49,710

 

Abandon Arrow Communication and cancellation of Neighbourhood  -129,000

Newsletters

 

Bulky waste – citizens offered two free collections per annum, charges  -66,942

of £15 apply for further collections to fund council tax reductions for all

citizens

 

Release uncommitted Area Capital reserves (one off)  -1,046,000

 

Total Net Financial Impact  -1,800,290

 

Section 2

 

It is recommended that reviews of the following area be undertaken:

·  Review of impact on the City Council in the event the Tram Operator fails

·  Review of alternative financing methods to Work Place Parking Levy

·  Audit of availability payments made to operate accurately reflect operational performance

·  Urgent review of waste disposal strategy post 2030

·  Review of parking and traffic enforcement exemptions – NHS City Care staff, Council employed carers, first responders and on duty emergency personnel

·  Assessment of inefficiencies arising from internal charging within City Council

·  Urgent review of parking charges on economy of city centre

·  Review of voluntary and third sector access to youth centres to improve utilisation

·  Review of membership of Companies Governance Committee

·  Review of commercialisation opportunities within Tree Services

·  Area Capital allocation formula

·  Develop a strategy for increasing the mix of affordable homes as a means of increasing the City Council’s Council Tax Base

·  Identify and pursue commercialisation opportunities with other local authorities”

 

In recommendation 2.1 (2) add after “the capital programme to 2024/25”

 

“subject to the following:

 

That a new scheme is added for Solar Panel Investment Scheme (£1.500m in 2020/21 to be funded from borrowing)”

 

It is recommended that a review of the existing capital programme be undertaken to:

·  Reprioritise resources to create additional funds to improve pavements.  Councillors who use Area Capital Fund to improve pavements on main thoroughfares could seek match funding from this fund.

·  Reprioritise to fund repairs to roads across the City.”

 

And amend the following recommendations as indicated:

·  In recommendation 2.1(3) substitute £121,807,454 for £120,007,164

·  In recommendation 2.1(3)(a) substitute £978,080,189 for £977,008,663

·  In recommendation 2.1(3)(b) substitute £856,272,735 for £857,001,499

·  In recommendation 2.1(3)(c) substitute £121,807,454 for £120,007,164

·  In recommendation 2.1(4) substitute £1,808.31 for £1,781.58

 

And amend the following sections as indicated:

·  In section 5.2 substitute  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84