Agenda and decisions

To receive any announcements from the Mayor and Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive reminded Council of the restrictions applying to voting under Section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992, in respect of Agenda Item 5.

Group Business Managers to submit any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Holroyd-Doveton, K Pinnock and Smaje.

To agree and authorise the Mayor to sign the Minutes of Council held on 16 January 2019.

Approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items of the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of them items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

In regards to Agenda Item 5; (i) A table of granted dispensations was tabled (attached). Further to this, the Monitoring Officer advised that Councillor Donald Firth had also been granted a dispensation in a Council company in which he is a nominee which has a contractual interest with the Council (ii) Councillor Kane declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interest on the grounds that he is in receipt of Single Person Council Tax Discount.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet (Budget), held on 29 January 2019, that;

(i)            General Fund Revenue

-          the draft Revenue Budget 2019-2022 be approved, as attached at Appendix A

-          the forecast levels of statutory and other Council reserves, as set out at Appendix Bii, be noted

-          the strategy for the use of balances and reserves be approved (paragraph 2.15 refers)

-          a further reassessment of reserves requirements be undertaken at year end and reported to Members as part of the 2018-2019 financial outturn and rollover report (paragraph 2.15.20 refers)

-          the Council’s continued participation in the North and West Yorkshire business rates pool for 2019-2020 be noted and that approval be given in principal to the new arrangements for the 2019-2020 pool, as set out at Appendix K, with authority being delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in conjunction with the Service Director (Finance), to finalise the new arrangements with the City Solicitor of Leeds City Council (paragraph 2.4.8 refers)

-          the Flexible Capital Receipts Strategy for 2019-2020 be re-affirmed (Appendix I refers)

-          the Council Tax requirement for 2019-2020 be approved (Appendix I refers)

-          the Council’s Statutory S151 Officer’s positive assurance statement be noted (paragraphs 3.3.1 – 3.3.20 refer)

-          the Council’s Statutory S151 Officer be given delegated authority to amend how the finally approved precepts are recorded in the Council’s revenue budget in line with the final notifications received following decisions by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, the Fire and Rescue Authority and Parish Councils, should these be received after 13 February 2019 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(ii)          Treasury Management

-          the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.15-2.21 refer)

-          the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.22-2.32 refer)

-          the policy for provision of repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision/MPR) be approved (appendix C refers, reflecting the changes in policy outlined in paragraphs 2.33-2.37)

-          the treasury management indicators be approved (Appendix D refers)

-          the Investment Strategy (non-treasury investments) (Appendix E refers) be approved

(iii)         Capital

-          the updated Capital Plan 2018-2024 be approved (Appendix A)

-          the Capital Strategy (including Prudential Indicators), as detailed at Appendix G, be approved

(iv)         Housing Revenue Account

-          the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2019-2022 be approved (appendix A refers)

-          the strategy for the use of the Housing Revenue Account reserves, as set out at paragraph 2.18.4, be approved 

Budget Motion Approved.