Agenda and minutes

The Council is asked to note any apologies for absence received from Members.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Codling, Fairley, Miles, Placey, Porter, G L Stephenson and Turner.

The Council is asked to approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the full Council held on Tuesday 24 January 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 24 January 2023 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

The Monitoring Officer reminded Members that the Section 151 Officer and herself had circulated their annual joint guidance and advice on a number of matters relating to interests and voting on the annual budget and setting of Council Tax and, especially, the requirements of section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Monitoring Officer also reminded Members that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 made it mandatory for councils to hold recorded votes at budget meetings.  The Council’s Constitution reflected this requirement in that Council Procedure Rule 19.4 stated that:

“A recorded vote is mandatory on any decision relating to the budget or Council Tax.  This includes not only on the substantive budget motions agreeing the budget and setting Council taxes, but also on any amendments proposed at the meeting.”

The Council is asked to note any announcements made by the Chairman of the Council.

Harwich 1953 Flood Memorial

The Chairman reported that he had attended an emotional Church Service followed by a ceremony to open the superb new memorial gardens, which had been beautifully created, and put together, and which would continue to mature in time. He extended his thanks to:-

The Mayor of Harwich, Councillor Ivan Henderson;

Councillor Maria Fowler – who had played an integral role in organising the event; and

TDC’s Open Space Team – who had created the new Garden.

Pride of Tendring Awards Evening – Thursday 9 February 2023

The Chairman informed Council that this had been a successful event with 18 awards given out to individuals and organisations that do so much good work for the residents of the District. He stated that it had been a great night, with very positive feedback, and which had included a video message of support from Johnny Mercer MP, Minister of State for Armed Forces Veterans. The Chairman recorded his thanks to:-

TDC Members – for their participation in this event;

TDC staff, especially the Princes Theatre team for their brilliant work in organising the event;

County Councillor Alan Goggin – for his brilliant job as compere;

Councillor Jeff Bray – for his fabulous work as Auctioneer, which had helped raise, on the night, £2,500 for the Chairman’s Charities (the RNLI and veterans groups in the District); and the

Event Sponsors.

The Council is asked to note any announcements made by the Chief Executive.

There were no announcements made by the Chief Executive on this occasion.

The Council is asked to note any statements made by the Leader of the Council. 

Councillors may then ask questions of the Leader on his statements.

There were no statements made by the Leader of the Council on this occasion.

The Council is asked to note any statements made by Members of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holders).

Councillors may then ask questions of the Portfolio Holders on their statements.

There were no statements made by members of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holders) on this occasion.

To present to Council the Executive’s General Fund budget proposals for 2023/24.

Further to Minute 101 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 January 2023, the Council considered the Executive’s General Fund budget and Council Tax proposals for 2023/24.

It was reported that the information and recommendations set out in the report reflected the financial forecast considered by Cabinet on 27 January 2023, along with a limited number of subsequent changes.  

Council was informed that the limited number of changes required were set out in Appendices A and B along with further comments within the main body of the report, which together resulted in a revised deficit position for the year of £1.528m (reduced from £2.487mthat was presented to Cabinet on 27 January 2023).

Members were made aware that, in line with the approach set out in previous reports, the revised deficit of £1.528m would be funded via refocusing existing budgets / reserves long with a limited number of changes to income budgets.

Council was cognisant that, although the deficit had reduced since Cabinet’s meeting on 27 January 2023, the deficit remained significant against the context of the Council’s overall net budget. However, it did provide additional flexibility in terms of developing the required framework in which to identify the necessary savings to support an on-going financially sustainable position over the next few years.

Given the impact of the various changes to the forecast across the remaining forecast period and reflecting the sensitivity analysis included within Appendix B, it remained prudent to continue the approach of transferring the remaining balance of funding of £2.576m, as set out within Appendix A to the Forecast Risk Fund.

Members were reminded that, as recommended by Cabinet on 27 January 2023, the Executive’s budget proposals set out a Band D Council Tax of £188.11 in 2023/24, an increase of 3% (£5.47), with a Council Tax requirement of £9.603m.

Taking into account the changes to the budget required since Cabinet had met on 27 January 2023, the total net General Fund revenue budget for 2023/24 was £14.142m along with a General Fund capital programme totalling £0.827m.

Council was advised that the budget recommended by Cabinet for approval by Council included only the District and Parish elements of the Council Tax rather than those from the major precepting authorities. The formal approval of the ‘full’ Council Tax levy for the year, including the precepts from Essex County Council and the Police and Fire Commissioner for Essex, was delegated to the Human Resources and Council Tax Committee which was due to meet later on during February 2023.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Stock OBE) made the following budget statement:-

“When I stand here every February to introduce the budget, which seems to be an occasion that comes around quicker and quicker each year, it is always worthwhile briefly looking back over the last twelve months before we look to the year that lies ahead.

With the benefit of hindsight, standing here last year now seems reminiscent of the same time in 2020 before COVID 19  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

To present to Council the Executive’s Housing Revenue Account budget proposals for 2023/24.

Further to Minute 103 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 January 2023, the Council considered the Executive’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2023/24.

Members were aware that the information and recommendations set out in the report reflected the Executive’s HRA budget proposals, which had been approved for submission to Council at their meeting held on 27 January 2023.

Council was notified that there had been only a very limited number of changes since Cabinet on 27 January 2023, which had been reflected in Appendices A to E as necessary. The outcome being a marginally reduced deficit of £0.280m in 2023/24 compared with the figure of £0.296m reported to Cabinet in January.

It was reported that for 2023/24, the Executive’s budget proposals set out an increase in dwelling rents of 7% along with a total HRA expenditure budget of £15.546mand a capital programme totalling £7.978m. The 7% increase in dwelling rents resulted in an average weekly rent of £93.68 in 2023/24. (£87.55 in 2022/23)

Members were informed that the proposed budget reflected the continued repayment of debt, with the total level of existing debt falling to £33.949m at the end of 2023/24.

Council was advised that the HRA general balance was forecast to total £3.770m at the end of 2023/24, which retained a strong financial position against which the associated HRA 30 year Business Plan could continue to be delivered / developed.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Stock OBE) made the following budget statement:-

“In following on from the various issues that I highlighted as part of introducing the General Fund budget earlier, the Housing Revenue Account (the HRA) is as equally affected by the various issues that we saw unfold during the past 12 months. The HRA 30-year business plan has therefore been updated to reflect such issues in 2023/24 and beyond.

We want to remain a decent landlord to our tenants across the stock of over 3,000 homes as we want to ensure that they continue to live in safe, comfortable and quality housing.

To me this requires a decent housing management service, a decent repairs service and being able to undertake major investment in a timely manner, such as installing new kitchens and bathrooms, replacing windows and doors and the renewal of other significant fixtures.

The business plan and budget that we are considering tonight has all of these things at its core and over £7.5 million has been made available for investment in the homes of our tenants in 2023/24.

Similarly to the increase in council tax, there have been some equally tough decisions in terms of the proposed rent increase in 2023/24.

The annual increase in rents is usually tied to inflation as defined by the Consumer Price Index (the CPI), with the rules governing annual rent increases allowing Councils to increase rents by CPI plus 1% each year.  Given that CPI is currently at a 40-year record high, the Government has effectively ‘capped’ the rent increase to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

The Council will consider any urgent matters submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2(viii).

There were no urgent matters for Council to debate on this occasion.