Agenda item

The Full Council considered a report setting out the Mayor’s 2021-2022 budget recommendations. 

 

The Lord Mayor drew member’s attention to the budget procedure to be followed.

 

At this point, on the motion of the Lord Mayor, it was

RESOLVED

That the relevant standing orders (policy and budget framework procedure rules) be suspended, noting that the procedure to be followed at this meeting is at variance with the Council’s standing orders.

 

The Mayor introduced the budget report.

 

Councillor Cheney, Deputy Mayor for Finance, Governance and Performance seconded the report.

 

The leaders of each party group, Cllrs Hickman, Weston, Combley and Hopkins each responded to the budget proposals.

 

Councillor Clarke presented comments on behalf of the Resources Scrutiny Commission and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The Mayor responded to the points raised.

 

Full Council then considered and debated each of the proposed budget amendments as follows:

 

Liberal Democrat Group Budget Amendment

Revenue - Increased budget for Children’s Play Park Repairs, investment in SEND support through intervention and improvement team aimed at improving inclusion, increase in Capital Financing to pay for additional SEND school places, reduction in PR department, merged Mayor’s Office and Executive Office, removal of Mayor’s Fund.

Capital - Deliver more special places through support of Schools Expansion and SEND strategy, invest in additional sports and leisure facilities to deliver East Bristol Pool. Investment in Children’s Play facilities, investment in Safer Neighbourhoods, create a new Cycle fund to improve cycle network, investment in Parks to improve standards. Assign funding from the capital contingency fund, capital finance raised through additional borrowing.

 

Councillor Kent moved the amendment, seconded by Councillor Hopkins.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote on both elements of the amendment, the amendment was LOST.

Vote 1 - 30 members voting for, 34 against and 1 abstention.

 

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned for fifteen minutes.

 

Labour Group Budget Amendment

Increased Waste and Litter Enforcement Officers with income from fixed penalty notices.

 

Councillor Don Alexander moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Pickersgill.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED.

Vote 2 – 65 members voting for, none against and no abstentions.

 

Green Budget Amendment (HRA)

Increased HRA revenue available for increased 5 year capital programme, increased new Council House building and accelerate programme of improvement works on HRA stock, increased council rents by inflation +1%.

 

Councillor Denyer moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Bowden-Jones.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Vote 3 – 19 members voting for, 42 against and 4 abstentions.

 

Green Budget Amendment (Resources)

Reallocate one off expenditure by reduced spend on developing strategy/asset management plan, additional £250k to develop and update strategic outline case for a workplace parking levy.

 

Councillor Thomas moved the motion, seconded by Councillor O’Rourke.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Vote 4 – 18 members voting for, 45 against and 2 absentions.

 

Green Budget Amendment (Capital)

Reallocate the strategic CIL previously allocated to the Arena, create a strategic capital fund for Growth and Regeneration to spend on Parks and Green Spaces, create a strategic capital fund for Growth and Regeneration to spend on Transport.

 

Councillor Fodor moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Hance.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Vote 5 – 18 members voting for, 46 against and 1 absention.

 

Conservative Budget Amendment (Revenue)

MRP revenue saving arising from slippage in borrowing in Capital programme, reduction in funding for Mayor’s Office with view to merge with Executive Office, reduction in PR & Consultation (including social media monitoring), removal of parking charges at Blaise Estate and Oldbury Court, reduce bulky-item household collection charge, SEND support for investment in intervention and improvement team, support in provision for youth activities, one off allocation of funds for education, signposting and awareness of defibrillators.

 

Councillor Smith moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Radford.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Vote 6 – 20 members voting for, 44 against and 1 abstention.

 

Conservative Budget Amendment (Capital)

Use or repurpose currently unallocated strategic CIL receipts, specific allocation of presently undefined strategic CIL funding, provide additional mitigation measures in respect of CPNN, increase spending on provision of outdoor equipment/facilities, reduce Corporate Contingencies, additional Spend on enhancement/repair schemes in parks, new prefabricated housing scheme to accelerate delivery of key worker homes.

 

Councillor Hiscott moved the amendment, seconded by Councillor Quartley.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Vote 7 – 20 members voting for, 44 against and 1 abstention.

 

At the conclusion of the Full Council’s consideration of, and voting on the individual budget amendments, the Lord Mayor clarified (under section 7 of the prodedure) that the Labour Group Amendment no.2 had been CARRIED.

 

On the motion of the Lord Mayor, the Full Council noted the Section 151 Officer’s statement regarding the robustness of the budget estimates.

 

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned for ten minutes.

 

On the meeting being reconvened, there was then (under section 8 of the procedure) a general debate on the budget proposals.

 

At the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor responded to the debate and to the Full Council’s earlier consideration of the budget amendments.  The Mayor indicated at this point that he was minded to accept an amended budget i.e incorporating the Labour Group amendment.

 

On the motion of the Lord Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor, the Full Council then RESOLVED that Full Council NOTED:

 

a)      The report from the Scrutiny Budget Task and Finish Group.

b)     The budget consultation process that was followed and feedback as outlined in Section 17 and Appendix 6.

c)      The categorisation of earmarked reserves and provisions set out in Section 16.

d)     That the consultation feedback and equality impact assessments relevance checks have been taken into consideration and have informed the final budget proposals.

e)      The feedback provided by the Schools Forum at Cabinet and Council, for their consideration in making final decisions on the Schools Budget for 2021/22.

f)       The uncertainty around COVID response spend, COVID income loss and central government COVID funding levels for the full impact 2021/22 and beyond, and that the estimates provided could be subject to significant change over the medium term.

g)      The comments of the Chief Finance Officer (s151 Officer) on the robustness of the Budget and adequacy of reserves as set out in Section 15.

h)     The Council’s Ethical Investment Policy and Strategy is due for revision during 2021/22, which will be expended to incorporate Equitable Policy for Investment in addressing racial and other economic inequalities in the city.

i)        The delegation of authority to the Director of Finance after consultation with the Deputy Mayor, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance and the Mayor, to make any necessary technical adjustments or adjustments to the figures upon receipt of the final Local Government Finance Settlement, West of England Combined Authority Budget and Department for Education funding clarifications; with transfers to and or from reserves as appropriate.

 

RESOLVED that Full Council AGREED: (with 33 members voting in favour, 32 against with no absentions)

 

j)     The Bristol City Council levels of Council Tax increase of 4.99%; which includes 3% precept to support Adult Social Care, noting the precepts of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset and the Avon Fire Authority,

k)    The Council’s General Fund net revenue budget for the year 2021/22 as £424.1 million and expenditure allocations as set out in Appendix 1; subject to any budget amendments properly notified to and approved by the Council in line with the Constitution.

l)     The temporary movement in general reserves of up to £3.9 million to mitigate the forecasted year end emergent pressures in the People directorate as outlined in Section 5 Current Revenue Budget.

m)   Agree the Council’s capital budget for the years 2021/22 - 2025/26, totalling £890.1 million as set out in paragraph 13 and detailed in Appendix 2.

n)    The proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 in Appendix 4, incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision policy and the prudential indicators and limits.

o)    To approve the Strategy for the Flexible use of Capital Receipts as set out in Appendix 5.

p)    Delegation of authority to Cabinet, via a subsequent report to agree the detailed Public Health Budget and movement in the ring-fenced Public Health reserve upon receipt of the final grant allocation for 2021/22 and budget proposals from the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Communities, Equalities & Public Health and Director of Finance.

q)    the calculations for determining the Council Tax requirement for the year 2021/22 as outlined in Appendix 8 and in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

RESOLVED that Full Council AGREED: (with 45 members voting for, 1 against with 19 absentions)

 

r) The distribution of the 2021/22 Dedicated Schools Grant of £404.7 million as recommended by Cabinet and the Schools Forum and set out in section 9

 

RESOLVED that Full Council AGREED: (with 33 members voting for, 20 against with 12 abstentions)

 

s)         No increase to dwelling rents for 2021/22 for existing tenants

t)         The 1-year Revenue budget for 2021/22 and 5-year Capital Programme 2021/22 – 2025/26, as detailed in Appendix 2, noting there is no additional borrowing requirement before 2024/25.

u)         An in-year draw-down from the HRA General Reserve to fund planned HIP works carried forward from 2020/21 due to Covid restrictions.

v)         Approve the delayed draw-down in 2021/22 from general fund reserve, of an agreed 2020/21 budget amendment (£100k) which was previously approved by Full Council Feb 2020, due to delays during the pandemic. This reserve was set aside to finance training for Housing and Landlord Services that would provide in-house skills to retrofit energy efficiency measures to council homes.

w)        Authorise the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance, to set service charges in line with the anticipated and actual cost of delivery.