Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of members' interests.

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2015 be approved as a correct record and this was agreed.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 20 January 2015 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Will Purvis, Councillor Paul Godier, Councillor Eleanor Scott and Councillor Alistair Thompson.

 

The Lord Mayor thanked all those who had sent gifts and cards of congratulations following the birth of his second son, Dylan Wylie.

 

The Lord Mayor advised that he had written to the family of Major Willis (a member of the Overlord Embroidery Liaison Committee) who had passed away earlier this year, to express his condolences.

The City Solicitor reminded the person making a deputation today that if he did not wish to filmed, photographed or recorded when making his deputation he should indicate, in order that all present who may be intending to film, photograph or record proceedings could accede to his wishes.

 

The City Solicitor advised that the deputation request had been received in respect of agenda item 7 - the Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 from Mr Steve Bonner, vice-chair of Portsmouth Pensioners' Association.

 

Mr Bonner made his deputation speaking against aspects of the capital programme.  The Lord Mayor thanked him for his deputation.

The Lord Mayor advised that he had been notified of the following appointments as circulated in the chamber.

 

Councillor Terry Hall to replace Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson on the Planning Committee.

 

Councillor Julie Swan to replace Councillor Stuart Potter on the Licensing Committee.

 

Councillor Steve Hastings to replace Councillor Colin Galloway on the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee.

 

Councillor Colin Galloway to replace Councillor Steve Hastings as the UKIP opposition spokesperson for the Children & Education portfolio.

 

These were agreed.

It is proposed that the following two items, Capital Programme and the Budget and Tax Setting reports and recommendations, be taken and debated together on the basis that each item impacts on the other and on the understanding that the Capital Programme will be voted on first, followed by the Tax Setting Item.

There was no urgent business.

Cabinet Recommendations - To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet meeting to be held on 5 February (to follow) in respect of the above matter, the report for which is attached.

Minute 10 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20

 

Minute 11 - Portsmouth City Council Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast

 

The Lord Mayor explained that further to the letter of 2 February 2015 previously sent to members, it was proposed that the capital programme and the budget and council tax setting items be taken and debated together on the basis that each item impacts on the other and on the understanding that the capital programme would be voted on first followed by the budget and tax setting item.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Ken Ellcome

 

That the process outlined above be adopted. 

 

Upon being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Ken Ellcome

 

That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 10 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 and Cabinet minute 11 - Portsmouth City Council Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 be approved.

 

These were opposed.

 

Councillor Donna Jones presented the Cabinet's recommendations on the capital programme and budget and council tax setting.  She thanked members of the Conservative, Labour and UKIP groups for their support in creating the budget but also said she respected the Liberal Democrats' decision to present an alternative budget.

 

Members' attention was drawn to a change to the papers following the Cabinet meeting in respect of a change to the description only of the capital scheme set out in Appendix 2 (page 65 of the report) relating to the primary school places expansion.  Following her budget presentation, the Leader commended the proposals to council.

 

As an amendment to the recommendations in relation to Cabinet minutes 10 and 11, it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Hugh Mason

 

That the recommendations set out in Appendix 1 attached to these minutes (Liberal Democrat capital amendment) and the recommendations set out in Appendix 2 attached to these minutes (Liberal Democrat Portsmouth City Council budget and council tax 2015/16 and medium term budget forecast) be adopted.

 

Councillor Vernon-Jackson then spoke to his group's proposed budget amendments and commended them to the council.

 

Councillor Colin Galloway then spoke to the budget presented by the administration which he said he would support and did not propose any amendments.

 

As an amendment to the recommendations in relation to Cabinet minute 11, it was

 

Proposed by Councillor John Ferrett

Seconded by Councillor Aiden Gray

 

That the recommendations set out in Appendix 3 attached to these minutes (Labour budget and council tax 2015/16 and medium term budget forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 amendment) be adopted.

 

Councillor John Ferrett then spoke to his group's proposed budget amendments and commended them to the council.

 

As an amendment to the recommendations in relation to Cabinet minute 10, the Capital Programme, it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Luke Stubbs

Seconded by Councillor Steve Hastings

 

That the recommendation set out in Appendix 4 attached to these minutes be adopted.

 

Following debate, Council adjourned at 4.35pm.

Council resumed at 4.55pm.

 

Following further debate, Council adjourned at 5.20pm.

Council resumed at 5.35pm.

 

As an amendment it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Darren Sanders

Seconded by Councillor Ben Dowling

 

That the recommendations set out in Appendix 5 attached to these minutes (Capital Programme amendment in the name of Councillor Darren Sanders) be adopted.

 

Following debate, the Lord Mayor called upon the Leader of the Council, Councillor Donna Jones to sum up.

 

Councillor Donna Jones (as the original mover of the proposals), agreed to accept the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Luke Stubbs.

 

Councillor Jones said that she did not propose to accept the Liberal Democrat Group or Labour Group amendments and outlined her reasons.

 

The Lord Mayor advised that regulations require all votes on the budget proposals to be dealt with by means of recorded votes.

 

Upon the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson concerning Cabinet Minute 10 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour:

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee  Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Leo Madden	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

The following members voted against

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Frank Jonas
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Donna Jones
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Rob New
Councillor John Ferrett	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor David Horne	Councillor Neill Young

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The Liberal Democrat amendment to the Capital Programme was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the amendment to the Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 standing in the name of Councillor Darren Sanders being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour.

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee  Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Leo Madden	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

The following members voted against the amendment.

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Frank Jonas
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Donna Jones
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Rob New
Councillor John Ferrett	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor David Horne	Councillor Neill Young

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The amendment standing in the name of Councillor Darren Sanders was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the recommendations in Cabinet minute 10 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 incorporating the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Luke Stubbs being put to the vote, the following members were in favour.

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Leo Madden
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Hugh Mason
Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor John Ferrett	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor David Horne	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Frank Jonas	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Donna Jones

 

No members voted against the recommendations and there were no abstentions.

 

The Cabinet recommendations in Cabinet minute 10 incorporating the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Luke Stubbs were therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that

 

It be noted that Cabinet has changed the description only of the Capital Scheme set out in Appendix 2 (page 65 of the report) relating to the Primary School Places Expansion.  The description referring to providing additional places at St. Judes CofE Primary School is to be removed as this is now planned to take place in a subsequent year once additional capital resources become available.

 

1)            The Revised Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 attached as Appendix 1 to the report which includes all additions, deletions and amendments for slippage and re-phasing described in Sections 6 and 8 be approved.

 

2)            The passported Capital Allocations (Ring-fenced Grants) as set out in Section 7 be noted.

 

3)            The Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer be given delegated authority to determine how each source of finance is used to fund the overall Capital Programme and to alter the overall mix of financing, as necessary, to maximise the flexibility of capital resources used and minimise the ongoing costs of borrowing to the Council.

 

4)            The following schemes as described in Section 9 and Appendix 2 (as amended above - see attached) be reflected within the recommended Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2019/20 and be financed from the available corporate capital resources:

 

Recommended New Capital Schemes		Corporate Resources Required £	Total Scheme Value £
Children & Education:
	School Condition Projects (including Vanguard Centre and Mayfield East Playing Field)	3,950,000	3,950,000
	Primary School Places Expansion	11,706,000	11,706,000
	Adaptations to Foster Carers Properties (Grants)	150,000	150,000
Culture, Leisure & Sport:
	Loan Advance for the Fitting Out of The New Theatre Royal	150,000	150,000
Environment & Community Safety:
	Long Curtain Moat Detailed Design	277,000	277,000
Housing:
	Support For Vulnerable People	200,000	1,212,600
	Grosvenor House Refurbishment	100,000	3,188,000
Planning, Regeneration & Economic Development:
	Limberline Road Phase 3 (subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal to be approved by the Head of Finance & S151 Officer)	762,000	4,242,000
	City Centre Public Realm Improvements	500,000	500,000
	District Shopping Centre Improvements	100,000	100,000
	Improvements to Community Facilities (Fratton Area)	100,000	100,000
	Seafront Development	100,000	100,000
Resources:
	Landlord's Maintenance	1,000,000	1,000,000
	Business Intelligence & Electronic Document Management System Requirement Specifications & Implementation of one option	850,000	850,000
	Web Phase 2 & Channel Shift	635,000	635,000
Traffic & Transportation:
	Local Transport Plan 3 (including Eastern Road Waterbridge and Anglesea Road Footbridge)	1,865,000	2,362,900
	Verge Hardening	100,000	100,000
	St. Mary's Road & Milton Road Crossings	60,000	60,000
Total Recommended Sum to be Approved		22,605,000	30,683,500

 

5)            It be noted that the Improvements to Community Facilities (Fratton Area) of £100,000 in recommendation 4) above is available for the community to use to enhance the overall community provision but is conditional upon the scheme demonstrating that it will lead to the City Council realising savings in future years.

 

6)            The following schemes as described in Section 10 and Appendix 2 be approved as Invest To Save Schemes and funded from Prudential Borrowing (subject to the approval of a detailed financial appraisal by the Head of Finance & S.151 Officer) up to the limit shown:

 

	Prudential Borrowing Required £
Demolition of Floating Dock Jetty and Lengthening of Berth 2	16,985,000
Limberline Road Phase 3	3,480,000
Utility Management & Consumption Reduction	1,080,000
Total Recommended Sum to be Approved	21,545,000

 

7)            The Harbour School Fratton located in Penhale Road is declared surplus to requirements and disposed.

 

 

8)            The following Schemes as described in Section 13 be included within the “Reserve List” of Capital Schemes to be considered once additional capital resources are identified.

 

Future Priority Capital Schemes – Not in Priority Order

Early Years School Places

Seafront Improvements

Port Development

Dunsbury Hill Farm Development

Provision of Sites For Student Accommodation

 

9)            As outlined in Section 12 and Appendix 2 the City Council note the use of Portfolio Specific Reserves to fund the following scheme:

 

		Total Portfolio Reserve Funding £
Environment & Community Safety:
	Surface Water Separation	65,000
Total Use of Portfolio Reserves		65,000

 

10)         The City Council note that Prudential Borrowing can only be used as a source of capital finance for Invest to Save Schemes as described in Section 14.

 

11)         The Prudential Indicators described in Section 14 and set out in Appendix 4 be approved.

 

12)         That the existing Capital Scheme for "New & Improved Models of Care" (with funding remaining amounting to £5m) relating to the proposed residential care development at East Lodge Farm be placed on hold pending the following:

 

·           A full site investigation into the feasibility of siting both the Milton and Fratton Harbour Schools plus the proposed "East Lodge" residential care development on the St. James' Site

 

·           A review of the Adult Social Care Accommodation Strategy (which assess the need and supply of care facilities) to fundamentally re-evaluate the type and configuration of care accommodation for the City's future needs.  Further, to then confirm that the St. James' site is an appropriate location for  the accommodation needs identified and that a residential care development on that site has the necessary community infrastructure and facilities available

 

·           A financial appraisal including all land acquisition, build, refurbishment and any other necessary costs demonstrates that the proposals for siting  both the Milton and Fratton Harbour Schools plus any residential care development on the St. James' Site are:

 

(i)     affordable within a capital sum of £8.25m; and

 

(ii)    that the revenue savings associated with providing the "East Lodge" residential care development at the St. James' site make savings of at least £936,000 (which are the savings currently approved and associated with the existing scheme and importantly also factored into the Council's future years' budgets)[1]

13)     That the Council note that the feasibility study (estimated at £20,000) encompassing the whole of the St. James' site is funded from the feasibility studies budget of the Corporate Projects Board

 

14)      In the event that the feasibility study described in recommendation 12) concludes that it is both feasible and affordable to site the Milton and Fratton Harbour Schools plus the "East Lodge" residential care development on the St. James' site within the financial parameters as set out in recommendation 12, then:

 

i) That scheme proceeds in place of the scheme to relocate those schools to the Vanguard Centre as set out in recommendation 4)

 

ii) The Vanguard Centre site is declared surplus to requirements and disposed 

 

 

Upon the Liberal Democrat amendment standing in the name of Councillor Vernon-Jackson on the Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour.

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee  Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Leo Madden	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

The following members voted against the proposal.

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Frank Jonas
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Donna Jones
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Rob New
Councillor John Ferrett	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor David Horne	Councillor Neill Young

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The Liberal Democrat amendment was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the Labour Group amendment standing in the name of Councillor John Ferrett being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour.

 

Councillor Ken Ferrett

Councillor John Ferrett

Councillor Aiden Gray

Councillor David Horne

 

The following members voted against the proposal.

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor Frank Jonas	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Donna Jones	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Leo Madden	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The Labour Group amendment standing in the name of Councillor John Ferrett was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the recommendations in Cabinet minute 11 - Portsmouth City Council Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 being put to the vote, the following members were in favour.

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Frank Jonas
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Donna Jones
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Rob New
Councillor John Ferrett	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Stephen Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor David Horne	Councillor Neill Young

 

The following members were against the recommendations.

 

Councillor Margaret Adair	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Michael Andrewes	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Lynne Stagg
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Les Stevens
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Terry Hall	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee  Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Leo Madden	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The Cabinet recommendations in Cabinet minute 11 - Portsmouth City Council Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 were therefore CARRIED.

 

The Cabinet recommendations in Cabinet minute 11 - Portsmouth City Council Budget and Council Tax 2015/16 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2016/17 to 2018/19 were therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED

(1)          That the following be approved in respect of the Council's Budget:

 

(a)          The revised Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2014/15 and the Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2015/16 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix A)

 

(b)          The Portfolio Cash Limits for the Revised Budget for 2014/15 and Budget for 2015/16 as set out in Sections 7 and 9, respectively

 

(c)          Any underspendings for 2014/15 arising at the year-end outside of those made by Portfolios be transferred to the MTRS Reserve

 

(d)          The Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer be given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to Cash Limits within the overall approved Budget and Budget Forecasts

 

(e)          Managers be authorised to incur routine expenditure against the Cash Limits for 2015/16 as set out in Section 9

 

(f)           That the savings requirement for 2016/17 be set at a minimum on-going sum of £11.0m

 

(g)          Heads of Service be instructed to start planning how the City Council will achieve the savings requirements shown in Section 11 and that this be incorporated into Service Business Plans

 

(h)          The minimum level of Revenue Balances as at 31 March 2016 be set at £6.5m (£6.0m in 2014/15) to reflect the known and expected budget and financial risks to the Council

 

(i)            The Head of Finance & S151 Officer be given delegated authority to complete and authorise the statutory Government Returns for Business Ratesfor 2015/16 and all future years

 

(j)            The Head of Finance & S151 Officer be given delegated authority to approve the Council Tax Base and Collection Fund Estimates for all future years

 

(k)          Members have had regard for the Statement of the Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003 as set out in Section 17.

 

(2)          That the following be noted in respect of the Council's Budget:

 

(a)          The Revenue Forecast and the associated provisional Portfolio Cash Limits for 2016/17 onwards as set out in Section 10 and Appendices B and C, respectively

 

(b)          The estimated Savings Requirement of £31m for the three year period 2016/17 to 2018/19, for financial and service planning purposes, be phased as follows:

 

Financial Year	In Year Target £m	Cumulative Saving £m
2016/17	11.0	11.0
2017/18	10.0	21.0
2018/19	10.0	31.0

 

(c)          The MTRS Reserve held to fund the upfront costs associated with Spend to Save Schemes, Invest to Save Schemes and redundancies holds a relatively modest uncommitted balance of £2.9mand will only be replenished from an approval to the transfer of any underspends at year end

 

(d)          The Non Domestic Rates poundage for 2015/16 will be 49.3p, and 48.0p for small businesses

 

(3)          The advice from the Head of Finance & S151 Officer set out in the approved Budget report to the Council in December 2014 stated that:

 

the minimum savings requirement for 2015/16 is £12.5m (with a Council Tax increase of 1.95%) or £13.1m (with a Council Tax freeze) and anything below that would not be prudent.

 

(4)          That it be noted that at its meeting on 8 January 2015 the Cabinet calculated the amount of 53,277.2 as its Council Tax Base for the financial year 2015/16 [item T in the formula in Section 31 B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)].

 

(5)          That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2015/16 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

	(a)	£512,652,086	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.
	(b)	£450,236,248	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
	(c)	£62,415,838	Being the amount by which the aggregate at 3.5 (a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3.5(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B(1) of the Act.
	(d)	£1,171.53	Being the amount at 3.5(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item 3.4 above (Item T), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

 

(a)  Valuation Bands (Portsmouth City Council)

 

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
	781.02	911.19	1,041.36	1,171.53	1,431.87	1,692.21	1,952.55	2,343.06

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 5(d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings in different valuation bands.

 

(6)          That it be noted that for the financial year 2015/16 the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner is consulting upon the following amounts for the precept to be issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands (Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner)

 

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
	104.89	122.37	139.85	157.33	192.29	227.25	262.22	314.66

 

(7)          That it be noted that for the financial year 2015/16 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority are recommending the following amounts for the precept issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands (Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority)

 

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
	40.92	47.74	54.56	61.38	75.02	88.66	102.30	122.76

 

(8)          That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 5(e), 6 and 7 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the financial year 2015/16 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands (Total Council Tax)

 

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
	926.83	1,081.30	1,235.77	1,390.24	1,699.18	2,008.12	2,317.07	2,780.48

 

(9)          The Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority precepts.

Zhuhai - Friendship Agreement

 

Proposed by Councillor Hugh Mason

Seconded by Councillor Lynne Stagg

 

That the City Council ratifies the Friendship Agreement signed by Cllr Lynne Stagg, the then Lord Mayor, between the City of Portsmouth and the City of Zhuhai, Province of Guangdong, Peoples Republic of China, in March 2014.

 

That the City Council records its appreciation of the work of the Chinese community of Portsmouth in developing the friendship of the two cities to the benefit of the people of both.

Councillor H Mason addressed the Council seeking support to the motion being debated today.

 

It was subsequently

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Aiden Gray

 

That this notice of motion be referred to Cabinet for decision without debate today.

 

Upon being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

There was one question before council.

 

Question No 1 was from Councillor John Ferrett

 

"Could you tell members the number of job centre placements used by the council since the beginning of 2014?"

 

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Donna Jones.

 

The Leader of the Council agreed to send an email to members giving information about the number of workfare placements who are being used by the Council, if any.

 

The Lord Mayor advised that this was the last full council meeting to be attended by Julian Wooster who was leaving to take up a new role.  The Lord Mayor said he would send a letter to him thanking him for the contribution he had made to Portsmouth City Council.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Donna Jones thanked Mr Wooster for the significant contribution he had made to the council on behalf of all members.