Agenda item

Please see Appendix T for the Mayor’s Proposed Budget.

A detailed note of the procedure for this meeting is attached as a supplement to these papers.

The Deputy Lord Mayor informed Full Council that following the close of the first budget meeting held on the 15 February the Mayor had exercised his right to take five days to consider the Amended Budget.  On the 22 Februrary, the Mayor had then indicated that he did not wish to accept the Amended Budget and subsequently proposed an ‘Alternative Budget’ for the consideration of Full Council.

The Lord Mayor drew Member’s attention to the published budget procedure to be followed during the meeting.

The Section 151 Officer confirmed that amendments 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9 had been carried at the meeting of the 15 February 2022 leading to an Amended Budget for the consideration of Full Council.

On behalf of Full Council, the Deputy Lord Mayor moved the Amended Budget and it was seconded by Councillor Goulandris. 

Councillors Massey, Stone, Gollop, Brown and Hopkins spoke in the debate, following which, the Mayor responded.

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 18 and Appendix 6.

c)    The categorisation of earmarked reserves and provisions set out in Section 15.

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

e)   The feedback provided by Bristol Schools Forum for Cabinet and Council, consideration in making final decisions on the Dedicated Schools Budget for 2022/23.

f)    The comments of the Chief Finance Officer (s151 Officer) on the robustness of the budget and adequacy of reserves as set out in Section 16.

The Amended Budget recommendations G, H, I, J and K were put to the vote and FELL (27 voting members voting for, 33 against with 1 abstention).

The Mayor moved his Alternative Budget and it was seconded by Councillor Cheney. 

Councillors Pearce, Mack, Weston, Clark, Hopkins, Renhard, Fodor, Geater and Kent spoke in the debate, following which, the Mayor responded.

The Alternative Budget recommendations G, H, I, J and K were put to the vote and were CARRIED (34 voting members voting in favour, 18 against with 8 abstentions).

It was RESOLVED that the Mayor’s Alternative Budget proposals in respect of 2022/23 be approved as set out in the report:

g)    The Bristol City Council levels of Council Tax increase of 2.99%; which includes 1% precept to support Adult Social Care, noting the precepts of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset and the Avon Fire Authority.

h)    The Council’s General Fund net revenue budget for the year 2022/23 as £431.1 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.

i)     The Council’s capital budget and programme for the years 2022/23 – 2031/32, totalling £1,906.1 million (including the incorporation of £32 million of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy funding), as set out in paragraph 13 and detailed in Appendix 2; subject to any budget amendments properly notified to and approved by the Council in line with the Constitution.

j)     The proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2022/23 in Appendix 4, incorporating the Minimum Revenue Provision policy and the prudential indicators and limits.

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

It was RESOLVED that Full Council AGREED: (with 58 members voting in favour, 0 against with 3 abstentions)

l)     The distribution of the 2022/23 Dedicated Schools Grant of £421.5 million as recommended by Cabinet and the Schools Forum, summarised below, and set out in Section 9.

i.     The Schools Block budget set at £304.661 million, after transferring £1.531million of the overall Schools Block to the High Needs Block to support the Education Transformation programme.

ii.    The Growth Fund for established schools expanding in September 2022 be set at £2.0 million (a component of the total Schools Block budget).

iii.   The basis for distributing the funding to mainstream schools be as set out and agreed by Schools Forum.

iv.   The High Needs Block budget be set at £79.745 million, after receiving transfers of £1.531million from Schools Block.

v.    The Early Years Block budget be set at £34.388 million and distributed in line with the arrangements agreed with the Schools Forum, noting income will fluctuate, Page 30 5 according to participation levels.

It was RESOLVED that Full Council AGREED (with 54 members voting in favour, 1 against with 4 abstentions)

m)   A rent increase of 4.1% (CPI plus 1%) with effect from 4 April 2022, applicable to Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwelling and non-dwelling rent.

n)    The HRA Revenue budget of £127.1million for 2022/23 as set out in Section 11.

o)    Authorise the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor, Cabinet member for Finance, Governance, Property and Culture, to set service charges in line with the anticipated and actual cost of running each service. p) The 30 year outline business plan and finance model established within the affordability principles in the capital strategy, noting that this will be subject to annual review and indepth review on a rolling 5-year basis. summarised in Section 11

It was RESOLVED:

q)    The delegation of authority to the Director of Finance after consultation with Deputy Mayor, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance, Property and Culture and the Mayor, to make any necessary technical adjustments that may be required to the budget with transfers to and or from reserves as appropriate.

r)     The delegation of authority to Director of Finance after consultation with Deputy Mayor, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance, Property and Culture and the Mayor to adjust the budget on receipt of the Energy Bill and Council Tax Rebate funding for Bristol and develop and implement the discretionary policy to facilitate the administration of this scheme.