Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet meeting held on 8 February (to follow), the report for which is attached.

 

 

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

The following minute was approved unopposed:

 

Minute 4 - Council Tax Discounts

 

The following minutes were opposed:

 

Minute 5 - Portsmouth City Council - Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20

Minute 6 - Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2020/21

 

The Lord Mayor explained that further to the letter of 1 February 2016 concerning procedure at the meeting previously sent to members, the Lord Mayor 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 Budget and Council Tax item will be voted on first, followed by the Capital Programme.

 

This was agreed.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 5 - Portsmouth City Council - Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20 and Cabinet minute 6 - Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2020/21 be approved.

 

Councillor Donna Jones presented the Cabinet's recommendations on the Budget and Council Tax setting and the Capital Programme which had been produced by the Conservative group, in consultation with the UKIP and Labour groups and commended the budget to council.  The Leader wished to place on record her thanks to:

 

·         Councillors Julie Swan and Stuart Potter in relation to libraries, particularly for their support in developing plans for the Paulsgrove area of the city.

·         Councillor Stuart Potter for his work ensuring that RNLI volunteers will get free parking at the seafront when responding to a call out.

·         The government for protecting police budgets

·         Collette Hill and her team and Councillor Rob New for work relating to the Clean City Team.

·         Chris Ward, Julian Pike, cabinet members and to the leaders of the UKIP and Labour groups for their work on the budget.

 

Following her budget presentation, the Leader commended the proposals to council.

 

As an amendment to the recommendations in relation to Cabinet minutes 5 and 6, 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 Portsmouth City Council - Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20) and the recommendations set out in Appendix 2 attached to these minutes (Liberal Democrat Capital amendment) be adopted.  Councillor Vernon-Jackson then spoke to his group's proposed budget amendments and commended them to the council.

 

Councillor Colin Galloway next spoke to the budget presented by the administration which he said it was acceptable under the restraints imposed by an unrepresentative central government.  His Group did not propose any amendments.

 

As an amendment to the recommendations in relation to Cabinet minute 5, it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Aiden Gray

Seconded by Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury

 

That the recommendations set out in Appendix 3 attached to these minutes (Labour Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20) be adopted.  Councillor Aiden Gray, Deputy Labour Group Leader then spoke to his group's proposed budget amendments and commended them to the council.

 

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

 

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

 

Upon the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson on the Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20 being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour:

 

Councillor David Ashmore	Councillor Will Purvis
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Suzy Horton	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

The following members voted against:

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Jennie Brent	Councillor Gemma New
Councillor Ryan Brent	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Scott Harris	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Steve Hastings	Councillor David Tompkins
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor Donna Jones	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Ian Lyon

 

The following members abstained:

 

Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury

Councillor Aiden Gray

 

The Liberal Democrat amendment was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the Labour group amendment standing in the name of Councillor Aiden Gray being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour:

 

Councillor David Ashmore	Councillor Lee Hunt
Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury	Councillor Hugh Mason
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Will Purvis
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Suzy Horton	Councillor Rob Wood

 

The following members voted against:

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Jennie Brent	Councillor Gemma New
Councillor Ryan Brent	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Scott Harris	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Steve Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor David Tompkins
Councillor Frank Jonas	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor Donna Jones	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Ian Lyon

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The Labour group amendment standing in the name of Councillor Aiden Gray was therefore LOST.

 

Upon the recommendations in Cabinet minute 5 - Portsmouth City Council - Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20 being put to the vote, the following members were in favour:

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Ian Lyon
Councillor Jennie Brent	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ryan Brent	Councillor Gemma New
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Scott Harris	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Steve Hastings	Councillor David Tompkins
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor Frank Jonas	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Donna Jones

 

The following members voted against the proposals:

 

Councillor David Ashmore	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Will Purvis
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Suzy Horton	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Hugh Mason	Councillor Rob Wood

 

The following members abstained:

 

Councillor Aiden Gray

Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury

 

The Cabinet recommendations in Cabinet minute 5 - Portsmouth City Council - Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 and Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20 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 2015/16 and the Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2016/17 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix A)

 

(b)          The Portfolio Cash Limits for the Revised Budget for 2015/16 and Budget for 2016/17 as set out in Sections 7 and 9, respectively

 

(c)          That the "clawback" requirement for overspendings be waived for 2015/16 for both the Education & Children's Portfolio and the Health & Social Care Portfolio given the scale of those overspendings and also that their Portfolio Cash Limits were set in the knowledge of the financial risks contained therein which were fully provided for within the Council's contingency provision

 

(d)          That £1.5m be transferred to the Revenue Reserve for Capital to supplement the resources available for the Capital Programme in order to ensure the Council can properly meet its statutory responsibilities including School Places, Sea Defences and Roads Maintenance

 

(e)          That £1.5m be transferred to the MTRS Reserve to restore it to a level sufficient to enable the Council to pursue both Spend to Save schemes, Invest to Save schemes and fund redundancy costs, all aimed at facilitating the Council's savings strategy

 

(f)           That £1,686,600 is carried forward from 2015/16 to 2016/17 in respect of contingent items that were expected to arise in 2015/16 but are now expected to occur in 2016/17

 

(g)          Any further underspendings for 2015/16 arising at the year-end outside of those made by Portfolios be transferred to Capital Resources in order to provide funding for known future commitments such as Secondary School Places, Sea Defences and the enabling transport infrastructure necessary for the City's development and growth which have, as yet, insufficient funding

 

(h)          The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to Cash Limits within the overall approved Budget and Budget Forecasts

 

(i)            That the level of Council Tax be increased by 1.99% for general purposes in accordance with the referendum threshold[1] for 2016/17 announced by Government (as calculated in recommendation 3.4 (d))

 

(j)            That the level of Council Tax be increased by a further 2.0% beyond the referendum threshold (as calculated in recommendation (4)d) to take advantage of the flexibility offered by Government to implement a "Social Care Precept"; and that in accordance with the conditions of that flexibility, the full amount of the associated sum generated of £1,254,400 is passported direct to Adult Social Care

 

(k)          Managers be authorised to incur routine expenditure against the Cash Limits for 2016/17 as set out in Section 9

 

(l)            That the savings requirement for 2017/18 be set at a minimum on-going sum of £9.0m

 

(m)         That the S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to make transfers to and from reserves in order to ensure that they are maintained as necessary and in particular, adjusted when reserves are no longer required or need to be replenished

 

(n)          Directors 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

 

(o)          The minimum level of Revenue Balances as at 31 March 2017 be set at £7.0m (£6.5m in 2015/16) to reflect the known and expected budget and financial risks to the Council

 

(p)          Members have had regard for the Statement of the 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 Estimates 2016/17 as set out in Appendix A provide full funding for the Domestic Violence Service in 2016/17 ensuring that the service remains intact.  A sum of £50,000 funded from additional income arising from the Council's Property Investment Portfolio has been identified to mitigate the overall reduction of £180,000 to the Service in future years. Discussions with Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner's Office will take place after the May elections with the intent to secure a contribution for the remaining £130,000

 

(b)          The Revenue Estimates 2016/17 as set out in Appendix A have been prepared on the basis that the 2% tax increase for the "Social Care Precept" (amounting to £1,254,400) is passported to Adult Social Care in order to provide for otherwise unfunded budget pressures including the cost of the new National Living Wage

 

(c)          In the event that the additional flexibility of the "Social Care Precept" and associated 2% tax increase (amounting to £1,254,400) is not taken, then equivalent savings will need to be identified

 

(d)          In general, any reduction from the 3.99% Council Tax increase proposed will require additional savings of £627,200 for each 1% reduction in order for the Budget 2016/17 to be approved

 

(e)          The Revenue Forecast and the associated provisional Portfolio Cash Limits for 2017/18 onwards as set out in Section 10 and Appendix B

 

(f)           The estimated Savings Requirement of £24m for the three year period 2017/18 to 2019/20, for financial and service planning purposes, be phased as follows:

 

Financial Year	In Year Savings Requirement £m	Cumulative Saving £m
2017/18	9.0	9.0
2018/19	8.0	17.0
2019/20	7.0	24.0

 

(g)          The MTRS Reserve held to fund the upfront costs associated with Spend to Save Schemes, Invest to Save Schemes and redundancies will hold a relatively modest uncommitted balance of £2.4m [2]and will only be replenished from an approval to the transfer of any underspends, contributions from the Revenue Budget or transfers from other reserves which may no longer be required

 

(h)          The Council Tax element of the Collection Fund for 2015/16 is estimated to be a deficit of £269,000 which is shared between the City Council (84%), Police & Crime Commissioner (11%) and the Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority (4%)

 

(i)            The Business Rate element of the Collection Fund for 2015/16 is estimated to be a deficit of £635,828 which is shared between the City Council (49%), the Government (50%) and the Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority (1%)

 

(j)            The Non Domestic Rates poundage for 2016/17 will be 49.7p, and 48.4p for small businesses

 

(k)          The Business Rate income[3]for 2016/17 (excluding "Top Up") based on the estimated Business Rate element of the Collection Fund deficit as at March 2016, the Non Domestic Rates poundage for 2016/17 and estimated rateable values for 2016/17 has been set at £39,581,127

 

(3)       That the S.151 Officer has determined that the Council Tax base for the financial year 2016/17 will be 53,538.8 [item T in the formula in Section 31 B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)].

 

(4)       That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2016/17 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

(a)	£478,280,306	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.
(b)	£413,052,380	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
(c)	£65,227,926	Being the amount by which the aggregate at 3.4 (a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3.4(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)	£1,218.33	Being the amount at 3.4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item 3.3 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.

 

(e)          Valuation Bands (Portsmouth City Council)

 

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
812.22	947.59	1,082.96	1,218.33	1,489.07	1,759.81	2,030.55	2,436.66

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (4)(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.

 

(5)       That it be noted that for the financial year 2016/17 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
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
106.97	124.80	142.63	160.46	196.12	231.78	267.43	320.92

 

(6)       That it be noted that for the financial year 2016/17 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
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
41.73	48.69	55.64	62.60	76.51	90.42	104.33	125.20

 

(7)       That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (4)e, (5) and (6) 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 2016/17 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Bands (Total Council Tax)

 

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
960.92	1,121.08	1,281.23	1,441.39	1,761.70	2,082.01	2,402.31	2,882.78

 

(8)       The S.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.

 

Upon the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson concerning Cabinet minute 6 - Capital Programme 2015/16 - 2020/21 being put to the vote, the following members voted in favour:

 

Councillor David Ashmore	Councillor Will Purvis
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Suzy Horton	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Rob Wood
Councillor Hugh Mason

 

The following members voted against the proposal:

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Ian Lyon
Councillor Jennie Brent	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Ryan Brent	Councillor Gemma New
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Scott Harris	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Steve Hastings	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor David Tompkins
Councillor Donna Jones	Councillor Steve Wemyss
	Councillor Neill Young

 

The following members abstained:

 

Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury

Councillor Aiden Gray

 

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

 

Upon the recommendations in Cabinet minute 6 - Capital Programme 2015/16 - 2020/21 being put to the vote, the following members were in favour:

 

Councillor Simon Bosher	Councillor Donna Jones
Councillor Jennie Brent	Councillor Ian Lyon
Councillor Ryan Brent	Councillor Lee Mason
Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury	Councillor Gemma New
Councillor Alicia Denny	Councillor Rob New
Councillor Ken Ellcome	Councillor Sandra Stockdale
Councillor Ken Ferrett	Councillor Luke Stubbs
Councillor Colin Galloway	Councillor Julie Swan
Councillor Aiden Gray	Councillor Linda Symes
Councillor Scott Harris	Councillor David Tompkins
Councillor Steve Hastings	Councillor Steve Wemyss
Councillor Hannah Hockaday	Councillor Neill Young
Councillor Frank Jonas

 

The following members voted against:

 

Councillor David Ashmore	Councillor Stuart Potter
Councillor Ben Dowling	Councillor Will Purvis
Councillor Margaret Foster	Councillor Darren Sanders
Councillor David Fuller	Councillor Phil Smith
Councillor Suzy Horton	Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Councillor Lee Hunt	Councillor Matthew Winnington
Councillor Hugh Mason	Councillor Rob Wood

 

There were no abstentions.

 

The proposal to approve the Cabinet recommendations referred to in minute 6 was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED

 

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

 

1)         The Revised Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2020/21 attached as Appendix 1 which includes all additions, deletions and amendments for slippage and rephrasing described in Sections 6 and 8 be approved

 

2)         The S.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

 

3)         That the S.151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council be given delegated authority to release capital resources held back for any contingent items that might arise, and also for any match funding requirements that may be required of the City Council in order to secure additional external capital funding (e.g. bids for funding from Government or the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership)

 

4)         The following schemes as described in Section 9 and Appendix 2 be reflected within the recommended Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2020/21 and be financed from the available corporate capital resources:

 

Recommended New Capital Schemes		Corporate Resources Required £	Total Scheme Value £
Children & Education
	School Conditions Project	725,000	750,000
	Special Education Needs - Building Alterations	1,200,000	3,200,000
	Secondary School Places Expansion 2016/17 - 2018/19 (Phase 1)	1,500,000	1,500,000
	Secondary School Places Expansion 2019/20 - 20/21 (Phase 2)	1,800,000	1,800,000
Culture & Leisure
	Round Tower Improvement Works	80,000	80,000
Environment & Community Safety
	Southsea Coastal Flood Defence	1,250,000	82,063,000
Health & Social Care
	Refurbishment of Hilsea Lodge Annexe	140,000	140,000
	Reconfiguration of Corben Lodge	1,150,000	1,150,000
Housing
	New Green & Clean Rest Areas	67,000	67,000
PRED
	Public Realm Improvement By The Hard	300,000	300,000
	Guildhall Investment (Match funding)	300,000	300,000
Resources
	Landlord's Maintenance	1,100,000	1,100,000
	Utilities' Management	983,000	1,233,000
Traffic & Transportation
	LTP3	353,000	353,000
	Traffic Signal Upgrade Packages	910,000	910,000
	Eastern Road Waterbridge	1,060,000	1,800,000
Total Recommended Sum to be Approved		12,918,000	96,746,000

 

5)         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 S.151 Officer) up to the limit shown:

 

	Prudential Borrowing Required £
Eastern Road New Build	1,723,000
Purchase of New Depot	2,200,000
Commercial Property Acquisition	60,000,000
Purchase of Linkspans Berths 3 and 4	8,700,000
Utilities' Management	250,000
Photovoltaic Cell Investment Fund	1,950,000
Total Recommended Sum to be Approved	74,823,000

 

6)         As described in Section 10, early years borrowing costs relating to the above schemes totalling £73,900 in 2016/17 and £179,900 in 2017/18 be funded from the MTRS reserve

 

7)         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

Secondary School Places 2018/19 to 2020/21

Special Educational Needs Re-modelling

School Condition (roofs, boilers, electrics, windows etc.)

Sea Defences

Enabling Transport Infrastructure match funding - City development

City Promotion & Inward Investment schemes

Landlords Repairs & Maintenance

Local Transport Plan - Road safety and traffic improvement schemes

 

8)         The Prudential Indicators described in Section 14 and set out in Appendix 3 be approved.

 

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

 

1)            That the capital resources proposed to be allocated include £1.5m of funding from Revenue as recommended in the "Budget and Council Tax 2016/17 & Medium Term Budget Forecast 2017/18 to 2019/20" report contained elsewhere on the agenda. In the event that this funding is not approved, schemes with Corporate Capital Resources amounting to £1.5m will be required to be removed from the new schemes starting in 2016/17 detailed in Appendix 2

 

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

 

3)            As outlined in Section 12 and Appendix 2 the use of The Parking Reserve to fund the refurbishment of Isambard Brunel Car Park at a cost of £450,000

 

4)            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.

The purpose of the report by the Director of Community and Communication  is to ask Council to approve changes to Portsmouth City Council's "Council Tax Policy for Second Homes, Long Term Empty Properties and determining discounts for certain dwellings" for implementation on 1 April 2016 (attached as appendix 1).

 

RECOMMENDED

 

That Cabinet agree and recommend to Council

 

(1) To continue the current policy of 0% council tax discounts on second homes

(2)   To continue the current policy of giving 40% council tax discounts for 12 months for empty and unfurnished properties undergoing major repair

(3)   To amend the first phase of the empty homes period to reduce the council tax discount from 100% to 0% with effect from 1 April 2016.

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1) To continue the current policy of 0% council tax discounts on second homes

(2)  To continue the current policy of giving 40% council tax discounts for 12 months for empty and unfurnished properties undergoing major repair

(3)  To amend the first phase of the empty homes period to reduce the council tax discount from 100% to 0% with effect from 1 April 2016.

 

(NB as these are recommendations to Council these are not subject to call-in)

Louise Wilders, Director of Community & Communication, presented her report which requests a change to the policy on empty properties from 1 April 2016.  This policy had had staffing implications and it was hoped that properties would become empty for shorter periods of time.  Councillor Lee Mason, as the Cabinet Member for Resources, supported this move towards 12 month rather than 11 month rental contracts.

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1) To continue the current policy of 0% council tax discounts on second homes

(2)  To continue the current policy of giving 40% council tax discounts for 12 months for empty and unfurnished properties undergoing major repair

(3)  To amend the first phase of the empty homes period to reduce the council tax discount from 100% to 0% with effect from 1 April 2016.