A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom - https://zoom.us/j/99285205131

Contact: Governance  Email: governance@rutland.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Cross and Harvey.

2.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that these had been circulated prior to the meeting.

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LEADER, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET OR THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE

Minutes:

Councillor Hemsley, as Leader of the Council, announced that Cllr G Brown would be stepping down from his current position on Cabinet from the 23rd March 2021. The Leader thanked Councillor G Brown for his hard work as both Cabinet Member and as Deputy Leader of the Council. 

 

Councillor Hemsley explained he would be holding the portfolio for Planning and that from 24th February 2021, Cllr Payne would be joining Cabinet. From the 1st March 2021, Councillor Stephenson would become Deputy Leader of the Council.

 

The Interim Chief Executive announced that the Government had issued their four step plan which would include the re-opening of schools in March 2021. He further noted that had been increased numbers of Covid in Rutland, the majority of which was down to additional testing in Stocken prison. Community transmission of Covid had decreased in the rest of the population of Rutland.  

 

It was announced that on the 22nd February 2021, the asymptomatic testing site had been launched, which would allow people who need to leave home for work purposes to be tested if they are unable to access testing at work. Staff were thanked for their participation in the planning and delivery of the site.

 

 

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Minutes:

Councillor Baines declared a pecuniary interest in item 7 (Fees and Charges Report) in relation to charges for A-board licences. He explained that when the item was reached he would withdraw from the meeting and the deputy Chairman, Councillor Begy, would Chair the meeting for the duration of the debate and vote of this item.

 

Councillor Stephenson declared a pecuniary interest in item 7 (Fees and Charges Report) in relation to charges for A-board licences.

 

Councillor Oxley declared a pecuniary interest in item 7 (Fees and Charges Report) in relation to Burial Charges.

 

5.

PETITIONS, DEPUTATIONS AND QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

To receive any petitions, deputations or questions received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 28. The total time allowed for this is 30 minutes.  Petitions, deputations and questions will be dealt with in the order in which they are received and any which are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting.

Minutes:

There were none.

6.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

To receive any questions submitted from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 30 and 30A.

Minutes:

There were none.

7.

REPORT FROM THE CABINET pdf icon PDF 438 KB

To receive Report no: 38/2021 from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Fees and Charges

 

At this juncture of the meeting, the Chairman, having declared a pecuniary interest, withdrew from the meeting.

 

Councillor Begy took the Chair.

 

Councillors Stephenson and Oxley also withdrew from the meeting having declared pecuniary interests.

 

Members of the Council considered report no: 05/2021 – Fees and Charges, that had been recommended by Cabinet. Councillor G Brown, as the relevant Cabinet Member, proposed the report and thanked the Chief Finance Officer and Finance Team for their hard work. It was noted that no changes had been made since the items were drafted and debated at the Scrutiny Committees on the 27th and 28th of January 2021 and no recommendations had been from those Committees.

 

Councillor Razzell seconded the report.

 

There voted in favour:

 

Councillors Ainsley, Begy Blanksby, Bool, A Brown, G Brown, Burrows, Coleman, Dale, Fox, Hemsley, Jones, Lowe, Payne, Powell, Razzell, Waller, Walters, Webb, Wilby and Woodley.

 

There who abstained:

Councillor MacCartney

 

The vote being 21 in favour and 1 abstention, the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

a)    That the level of fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendices 1-4 of the report be approved.

 

b)    That it be noted that taxi and private hire vehicle licenses fees would be subject to change based on the outcome of forthcoming consultation through a public notice procedure and be brought back for approval following that consultation.

 

c)    That it be noted that weekly Residential Home Care rates were subject to a separate report.

 

Councillors Baines, Stephenson and Oxley re-joined the meeting with Councillor Baines resuming the Chair.

 

The Chairman explained that the next two items would be voted for en bloc.

 

 

Treasury Management Strategy & Capital Investment Strategy and Revenue and Capital Budget 2021/22.

 

Members of the Council considered report no: 161/2020 – Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Investment Strategy and report no: 34/2021 – Revenue and Capital Budget 2021/22.

 

Councillor G Brown proposed the reports and noted that the Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Investment Strategy had not changed since Scrutiny had considered and debated the reports.

 

In relation to the budget, it was noted that there was a lot of uncertainty with regards to Local Government finance and many Councils had had to use their reserves to bridge funding gaps. Councillor G Brown elaborated on the consultation responses and noted that 179 members of the public had responded, a significant increase in previous years. It was explained that there had been engagement with other small authorities, in similar financial positions in order to engage their MPs to lobby for a fairer settlement from Government.

 

Councillor Woodley seconded the report.

 

There voted in favour:

 

Councillors Ainsley, Baines, Begy, Bool, A Brown, G Brown, Burrows, Coleman, Dale, Fox, Hemsley, Jones, Lowe, MacCartney, Oxley, Payne, Powell, Razzell, Stephenson, Waller, Walters, Webb, Wilby and Woodley.

 

There who abstained:

Councillor Blanksby

 

The vote being 24 in favour and 1 abstention, the motion was carried

 

RESOLVED:

 

161/2020 – Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Investment Strategy

 

a) That the Treasury Management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

COUNCIL TAX 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 424 KB

Report no: 37/2021

Minutes:

Councillor G Brown proposed report no 37/2021 – Council Tax 2021/22 which enabled the Council to calculate and set the level of Council Tax for 2021/22 in accordance with legislative requirements. He explained that Cabinet fully supported the proposed increase of 2.99% and commented that there were a number of reasons why they had not agreed with the advice from the Chief Finance Officer to increase Council Tax by 4.99%. An increase of 4.99% would significantly impact on residents already affected by the pandemic; to increase it by 4.99% would unduly disadvantage residents with increased financial uncertainty and remove money from the economy at a time when the focus should be rebuilding and recovering post-pandemic.

 

Councillor Hemsley seconded the report.

 

Councillor Waller proposed an amendment to the report to:

 

Approve a council tax increase of 3.99% and amend Appendix A to reflect this’.

 

Councillor Waller stated that like many other Councils, Rutland County Council were beginning to see the long term effect of Government handing down more responsibilities to local authorities whilst reducing funding. She commented that the Government was allowing Councils to increase Council tax by 5% and therefore agreed with the Chief Finance Officer’s recommendation of increasing Council Tax by more than 2.99%.

 

Councillor Burrows seconded the amendment.

 

The Chief Finance Officer circulated an amended appendix outlining the figures relating to the proposed increase in Council Tax of 3.99%.

 

The Chair called for a brief adjournment of the meeting, to allow members sufficient time to read the amended appendix circulated.

 

Members debated the amendment.

 

There voted for the amendment:

 

Councillors Burrows, Jones, MacCartney, Oxley, Powell and Waller.

 

There voted against the amendment:

 

Councillors Ainsley, Baines, Begy, Bool, G Brown, Coleman, Dale, Fox, Hemsley, Lowe, Payne, Razzell, Stephenson, Walters, Wilby and Woodley.

 

There abstained:

Councillors Blanksby, A Brown and Webb.

 

With 6 voting in favour of the amendment, 16 against and 3 abstaining, the amendment to the motion fell.

 

There being no additional amendments proposed, Council debated the substantive motion.

 

Upon a vote on the substantive motion;

 

There voted in favour:

Councillors Ainsley, Baines, Begy, Bool, G Brown, Coleman, Dale, Fox, Hemsley, Lowe, Payne, Razzell, Stephenson, Walters, Wilby and Woodley.

 

There abstained:

 

Councillors Blanksby, A Brown, Burrows, Jones, MacCartney, Oxley, Powell, Waller and Web.

 

There no votes against the motion:

 

With 16 voting in favour and 9 abstentions, the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the formal Council tax resolution shown at Appendix A of the report be approved.

 

2.    That no changes to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTS) for 2021/22 be noted

 

3.    That no changes to the empty homes discount from 2021/22 be noted

 

4.    That no changes to the long term empty homes premium from 2021/22 be noted.