Agenda and decisions

To receive any announcements from the Mayor and Chief Executive.

Council received tributes to Members who would be retiring from service at the forthoming local elections, namely Councillors D Firth, Gregg, McGuin, Mather, Reynolds and Stephen.

Group Business Managers to submit any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were recived on behalf of Councillors Bamford, A U Pinnock and K Pinnock.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Meeting held on 7 February 2024.

Approved as a correct record.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

A list of granted dispensations was tabled. No further interests were declared.

To consider (i) the adjustment of the allocation of seats pursuant to the formation of Kirklees Community Independents Group and (ii) the appointment of the Chair of Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

RESOLVED –

1)    That the allocation of seats to groups and to independent councillors be in accordance with the schedule as attached an Appendix A of the report.

2)    That the finalisation of the allocation of seats on the Committees and Panels set out at Appendix A be delegated to the Group Business Managers andto advise the Acting Head of Governance on the allocation of the places accordingly.

3)    That any changes to joint authorities or outside bodies be delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Group Business Managers and to advise the Acting Head of Governance on the membership accordingly.

4)    That Cllr Hannah McKerchar be appointmented to the position of Chair of Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Panel for the remainder of the municipal year.

To consider the 2024/2025 Council Plan and the adoption of the document as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.

Contact: Stephen Bonnell – Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning

RESOLVED – That the 2024/2025 Council Plan be approved and incorporated within the Council’s Policy Framework.

1)    To consider the recommendations of Budget Cabinet, held on 13 February 2024 that:

(i)             General Fund Revenue

-       the draft Revenue Budget for 2024-2025, as attached at Appendix F, be approved

-       the forecast spending and funding plans for the 2024-2027 period, as set out at Appendix F, be noted

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

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

-       the Council’s participation in the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool for 2024-2025 be noted and that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and Service Director (Finance), in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member (Finance), to agree the governance arrangements for 2024-2025, to be approved by the Business Rates Joint Committee (paragraph 2.20 refers)

-       it be noted that discussions regarding the uplifts on the rates paid to external providers for demand-led activities are ongoing, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Adults and Health) to agree the final uplifts to rates for 2024-2025 (paragraph 2.4.3 refers)

-       approval be given to the Council’s flexible capital receipts policy for 2024-2025 (paragraph 2.8 and Appendix E refer)

-       approval be given to the Council Tax requirement for 2024-2025 (Appendix N refers)

-       the Council’s Statutory 151 Officer’s positive assurance statement as to the robustness of the forecasts and estimates and adequacy of financial reserves be noted (paragraph 2.21 refers)

-       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 6 March 2023 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(ii)            Treasury Management

-       the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.16 to 2.29 refer)  

-       the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.30 to 2.38 and Appendices A and B refer)

-       the policy for provision of repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision) be approved (paragraphs 2.39 to 2.41, Appendix C refer)

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

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

(iii)          Capital

-       the updated Capital Plan 2023-2032 be approved (Appendix Kiii refers)

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

(iv)          Housing Revenue Account

-       the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2024-2025 be approved (Appendix L refers)

-       the strategy for the use of the Housing Revenue Account reserves be approved (Appendix L refers)

2)    To consider the recommendations of Cabinet, held on 20 February 2024 that, in relation to Council Tax provisions within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in regard to long term empty properties and second homes, it be agreed;

(i)             That the qualifying period for the long term empty property premium in Council Tax be reduced to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7:

RESOLVED – (BUDGET MOTION APPROVED)

1)    That the Budget Motion be approved;

(i)             General Fund Revenue

-       the draft Revenue Budget for 2024-2025, as attached at Appendix F, be approved

-       the forecast spending and funding plans for the 2024-2027 period, as set out at Appendix F, be noted

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

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

-       the Council’s participation in the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool for 2024-2025 be noted and that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and Service Director (Finance), in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member (Finance), to agree the governance arrangements for 2024-2025, to be approved by the Business Rates Joint Committee (paragraph 2.20 refers)

-       it be noted that discussions regarding the uplifts on the rates paid to external providers for demand-led activities are ongoing, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Adults and Health) to agree the final uplifts to rates for 2024-2025 (paragraph 2.4.3 refers)

-       approval be given to the Council’s flexible capital receipts policy for 2024-2025 (paragraph 2.8 and Appendix E refer)

-       approval be given to the Council Tax requirement for 2024-2025 (Appendix N refers)

-       the Council’s Statutory 151 Officer’s positive assurance statement as to the robustness of the forecasts and estimates and adequacy of financial reserves be noted (paragraph 2.21 refers)

-       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 6 March 2023 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(ii)            Treasury Management

-       the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.16 to 2.29 refer)  

-       the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.30 to 2.38 and Appendices A and B refer)

-       the policy for provision of repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision) be approved (paragraphs 2.39 to 2.41, Appendix C refer)

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

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

(iii)          Capital

-       the updated Capital Plan 2023-2032 be approved (Appendix Kiii refers)

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

(iv)          Housing Revenue Account

-       the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2024-2025 be approved (Appendix L refers)

-       the strategy for the use of the Housing Revenue Account reserves be approved (Appendix L refers)

2)    That in relation to Council Tax provisions within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in regard to long term empty properties and second homes, it be agreed;

(i)             That the qualifying period for the long term empty property premium in Council Tax be reduced to one year, effective from 1 April 2024

(ii)            That approval be given to  ...  view the full decision text for item 7: