Agenda and decisions

To receive any announcements from the Mayor and Chief Executive.

Group Business Managers to submit any apologies for absence.

To agree and authorise the Mayor to sign the Minutes of Council held on 13 January 2021.

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

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet (Budget) held on 26 January 2021, that;

(i)            General Revenue Fund

-          the draft Revenue Budget 2021/2022 be approved, as attached at Appendix A

-          the forecast spending and funding plans for the 2022-2026 period, as set out at Appendix A, be noted

-          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 2.13 refers)

-          the Council’s participation in the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool for 2021/22 be noted and that a further report be submitted to Cabinet in March 2021 to   formally agree the new arrangements

-          the 2020/21 Council tax base for the whole of the Kirklees area, and the Council tax bases for the five Parish and Town Councils for 2021/22, (Appendix Gi refers) be approved (as determined at Agenda Item 8 of Budget Cabinet meeting)*

-          the Council Tax requirement for 2021/2022 (Appendix Gii refers)** be approved

-          the Council’s Statutory s151 Officer’s positive assurance statement (paragraphs 3.3.1 - 3.3.19) be noted

-          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 10 February 2021 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(ii)          Treasury Management

-          the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.15 – 2.23 refer)

-          the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.24 – 2.33 refer)

-          the policy for provision of debt (minimum revenue provision) be approved (paragraphs 2.34 – 2.38 and Appendix C refers)

-          that paragraph 2.38 of the treasury management report be amended as follows ‘the Officer recommendation is to maximise the remaining balance of MRP unwind of £49.5m, over the 2020-2024 period to support the Council’s medium term budget strategy’.

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

-          the Investment Strategy (Non Treasury Investments) be approved (Appendix E refers)

(iii)         Capital

-          the updated Capital Plan for 2020-2026 be approved (Appendix A refers)

-          the capital strategy (including Prudential Indicators) be approved (Appendix E refers)

(iv)         Housing Revenue Account

-          the draft HRA budget for 2021/2022 be approved (Appendix A refers)

-          the strategy for the use of HRA reserves be approved (Paragraph 2.15.5 refers)

Explanatory Note:

*the report considering the Council Tax Base was taken as a separate item to Cabinet but will form Appendix Gi in the Budget Council papers

** Appendix G of the Cabinet budget report becomes Appendix Gii in the Budget Council papers

Amendments will be published in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(4) on 3 February 2021.

Budget Motion approved.