To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies were received from Mr Begy, Mr Callaghan, Mr Conde, Mr Cross, Mr Dale, Mr Gale and Mr Mann.

The Chairman confirmed that his engagements had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

There were no announcements from the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Head of Paid Service.

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.

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

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

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

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

To receive any petitions, deputations or questions received from members of

the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 24 which

provides that any petition, deputation or question received shall only be

considered if it relates to an item on the agenda.

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.

1. Mr P Cummings (On behalf of North Luffenham Parish Council)

Tonight you will be considering the FY19/20 Budget in detail. Having attended the excellent Budget Briefing recently, I am aware how taut the Council’s Budget is and how much work has gone into its preparation.

Bearing in mind the significant opposition from within the Council to the submission of an HIF bid in support of the proposed St George’s Barracks Development. Together with the staunch opposition to the scale of the proposed development made by the local Parish Councils through the SGB Advisory Group, the Parish Forum and the Parish Council Liaison Group; and most importantly the concerns of council tax payers of the County, who have expressed their very clear views through the media and indeed in person to the County Council at your last meeting. It is clear that there is a fervent appetite to challenge the County Council every inch of the way, over this development.

It is quite clear that there will be legal challenges to your proposals, especially in respect of the proposed changes to the Draft Local Plan Spatial Strategy, consulted upon in August last year,  which many consider to be fatally flawed and frankly indefensible and will therefore inevitably be subject to strong legal challenge. Can you please confirm the amount of the financial provision which has been made within the budget to fund such challenges and could you confirm that you consider this an appropriate use of the funds provided by Rutland Council Tax Payers.

Response provided by Mr G Brown (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment, Property and Finance):

It would be very disappointing if residents decided to pursue a legal challenge regarding the process around Local Plan and waste both Council Tax payer’s money and those of the residents. Clearly the Council has and will take appropriate advice to ensure that are processes are sound and therefore reducing the risk of such challenges.

It would be more productive for all concerned that the representatives from the community to spend time working with the Council and the MOD to minimise the impact of the development of this brownfield site rather than help lawyers make more money and put even more pressure on stretched Council resources.

I would draw member’s attention to Big Page 135 paragraph 8 where this matter has already been addressed, however for the sake of transparency, the Council has included an additional £160k in its 19/20 to cover costs associated with the development of Local Plan, legal costs and examination. 

The Council also has a legal budget of c£260k which funds legal advice required pertaining to all Council matters.  It also has a further earmarked reserve for legal activities of c£150k which it can draw upon if required alongside over £9 million of General Fund balances.

The Council has not put aside any specific amount for legal challenges relating to the Local Plan but as already mentioned, it has significant resources and reserves it can draw  ...  view the full minutes text for item 637.

To receive any questions submitted from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 24, 30 and 30A. Any question received shall only be considered if it relates to an item on the agenda.

There were no petitions, deputations or questions from members of the public.

To receive Report No. 49/2019 from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination and to note the Key Decisions taken at its meetings held on 15 January 2019 and 19 February 2019.

To approve Cabinet Recommendations to Council for the following reports:

·       Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20

·       Fees and Charges 2019/20

·       Revenue  and Capital Budget 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Plan

Report to follow

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The Chairman reminded members of the mandatory requirement to record votes in relation to the Budget, setting Council Tax and issuing precepts.

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Report No. 49/2019 from the Cabinet was received to consider recommendations of the Cabinet referred to Council for determination and to note the Key Decisions made by Cabinet at its meetings held on 15 January 2019 and 19 February 2019.

Mr Brown introduced and moved the recommendations in the report.  Mr Hemsley seconded the recommendations.

1)    Council NOTED the Key Decisions made by Cabinet since the publication of the agenda for the previous ordinary meeting of the Council on 21 January 2019, as detailed in Appendix A of Report No. 49/2019.

2)    15 January 2019

Decision No. 498

Report No. 5/2019

TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2019/20

During his introduction Mr Brown confirmed that both of the Strategy’s had had only minor changes since last year, as set out in the report.  They had also been through the Council’s Scrutiny process and all member’s queries had been answered. In terms of the Commercial Investment Policy, no investments had been made in line with the policy during the last 12 months and there were no plans or proposals under consideration at this time.  Should any opportunities come forward they would require the approval of Council before they went ahead.

RESOLVED

To APPROVE the Treasury Management Strategy in Appendix 1 of Report No. 5/2019 including the Investment Strategy, Borrowing strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision statement and Capital Expenditure Prudential indicators.

To APPROVE the Capital Investment Strategy in Appendix 2 of Report No. 5/2019.

The above resolution was voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (17)

Mr Arnold, Mr Baines, Mr Bird, Mr Bool, Mr Brown, Ms Burkitt, Mr Foster, Mrs Fox, Mr Hemsley, Mr Lammie, Mr Lowe, Mr Oxley, Mr Parsons, Mrs Stephenson, Miss Waller, Mr Walters, Mr Wilby.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)

3)     15 January 2019

Decision No. 499

Report No. 6/2019

FEES AND CHARGES 2019/20

Mr Brown introduced the report noting that fees and charges were a significant source of income for the Council.  Mr Brown described the approach to increases in fees as detailed in section 2.4 of the report.  The report had been though the councils Scrutiny process. There had been some concern regarding the significant increase in burial fees for leasing a plot for 99 years.  The cemetery had been losing significant sums of money in recent years, on average £30k per annum.  The increase in fees is aimed at moving to a breakeven period over the next three years.  There had also been some media interest in the introduction of a charge for licences for A-Boards.  This charge would enable good street management, the safety of pedestrians and ability to ensure A- Boards were properly sited and of appropriate size, this is particularly important for disabled users and issues had been highlighted by Rutland Access Group.  With regard to parking the Council was introducing a 30 minute  ...  view the full minutes text for item 639.

To receive Report No. 22/2019 that seeks Council’s approval of the calculation and level of Council Tax for 2019/20 in accordance with legislative requirements.

Report No. 22/2019 from the Strategic director for Resources was received to enable the Council to calculate and set the level of Council Tax for 2019/20 in accordance with legislative requirements.

The Leader, Mr Hemsley, moved the recommendations in the report.  Mr Brown seconded the recommendations.

Mr Brown introduced the report and confirmed that work was being done with Sparse on the rural strategy, as there was concern regarding future funding.  Representations had also be made to the Member of Parliament regarding the timing of announcements regarding future funding and the level of funding and also to the Local Government Association.  It was a difficult decision to raise Council Tax to this level, but as described in the reports before Council, there was little choice in the circumstances.

RESOLVED

a)  To APPROVE the formal Council Tax resolution shown at Appendix A;

b)  To NOTE no changes to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTS) for 2019/20; and

c)  To NOTE no changes to the empty homes discounts and long term empty homes premium for 2019/20.

FOR THE MOTION (17)

Mr Arnold, Mr Baines, Mr Bird, Mr Bool, Mr Brown, Ms Burkitt, Mr Foster, Mrs Fox, Mr Hemsley, Mr Lammie, Mr Lowe, Mr Oxley, Mr Parsons, Mrs Stephenson, Miss Waller, Mr Walters, Mr Wilby.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)