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 8 December 2021.

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.

To consider the report.

Contact: James Anderson, Head of Accountancy

RESOLVED - That Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited be asked to carry out Auditor duties on behalf of the Council and nominate a proposed external auditor to the Council and in due course, for the 2023-2028 period.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet (Budget), held on 1 February 2022, that;

(i)             General Fund Revenue

-       the draft Revenue Budget for 2022-2023, as attached at Appendix A, be approved

-       the forecast spending and funding plans for the 2023-2027 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 (paragraph 2.13 refers) be approved

-       the Council’s participation in the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool for 2022/2023 be noted, and that it also be noted that a further report will be submitted to Cabinet in March 2022 for formal agreement of the new arrangements

-       approval be given to the 2022-2023 Council taxbase for the whole Kirklees area, and the Council taxbases for the five Parish and Town Councils for 2022-2023 (Appendix Fi refers)

-       approval be given to the Council Tax requirement for 2022-2023 (Appendix Fii, budget motion refers)

-       the Council’s Statutory s151 Officer’s positive assurance statement as to the robustness of the forecasts and estimates and adequacy of financial reserves be noted (paragraphs 3.3.1 to 3.3.15 refer)

-       authority be delegated to the Council’s statutory s151 Officer 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 West Yorkshire Mayor Police and Crime Commissioner, the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Parish Councils, should these be received after 16 February 2022 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(i)             Treasury Management

-       the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.15 to 2.25 refer)  

-       the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.26 to 2.34, Appendices A and B refer)

-       the policy for provision of repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision) be approved (paragraphs 2.35 to 2.39, Appendix C refer)

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

-       the investment strategy (non treasury investments) be approved (Appendix E refers)

(ii)            Capital

-       the updated Capital Plan 2021-2027 be approved (Appendix A refers)

-       the Capital Strategy (including prudential indicators) be approved (Appendix E refers)

(iii)          Housing Revenue Account

-       the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022-2023 be approved (Appendix A refers)

-       the strategy for the use of the Housing Revenue Account reserves be approved (paragraph 2.15.6 refers)

Amendments will be published in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19 (4) on 9 February 2022.

RESOLVED – Budget Motion approved.