Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Viv McCrossen, Councillor Ron McCrossen and Councillor Paul Feeney.

Councillor Wilkinson declared an interest in Item 5 as he stated that he was disproportionately affected by the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and would be abstaining from the vote.

Report of the Service Manager Democratic Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager Democratic Services which presented the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for the next financial year.

A proposition was moved by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Payne.

In accordance with Standing Order 17.03, the proposition was put to a named vote as follows:

For the motion:

Councillors Adams, Peter Barnes, Sandra Barnes, Barnfather, Bosworth, Boyle, Brooks, Clarke, Clunie, Collis, Creamer, Elliott, David Ellis, Rachael Ellis, Roxanne Ellis, Fox, Gibbons, Greensmith, Gregory, Hollingsworth, Hope, Keneally, Lawrence, Miller, Murray, Najuk, Paling, Parr, Payne, Scroggie, Martin Smith, Sam Smith, Thomas, Truscott, Wheeler.

Against the motion:

Councillors Ellwood and Towsey-Hinton.

Abstentions:

Councillor Wilkinson.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Thank the Independent Remuneration Panel for its work and accept the recommendations made and therefore agree that:

a.            the basic allowance payable to all Members’ from 1 April 2020 should be increased in line with the pay award made to local government senior management (once it is known);

b.            the Special Responsibility Allowances should be increased in line with any pay award made to local government senior management with the exception of the roles of Main Opposition Group Leader, Minority Opposition Group Leader, and Business Managers which will be introduced or amended as detailed in paragraph 3.6 of the Panel’s report;

c.            the Members’ Allowances Scheme should be updated to reflect that Members travelling and subsistence payments are made in line with the rate applicable to NJC employees;

d.            the list of approved duties, detailed at Appendix 3 to the report, is incorporated into Schedule 2 to the Members’ Allowances Scheme;

e.            the hourly rate claimable for the Childcare and Independent Carer’s Allowance should be set at a maximum rate equivalent to the “real living wage” and subject to the conditions set out in recommendation 5 of the Panel’s report.

2)    Consequently, agree the schedule of members’ allowances for 2020/21 as attached at Appendix 2 to the report, is incorporated into Schedule 1 to the Members’ Allowances Scheme, noting that these will be adjusted once the pay award is known;

3)    Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make appropriate amendments to Part 6 of the Constitution to reflect any changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme agreed.

A proposition was moved by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Payne in the following terms:

That:

1.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2020, that the Prudential and Treasury Indicators and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21, which includes the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, the Borrowing Strategy, and the Annual Investment Strategy, set out at pages 17 to 57 of the Council agenda, be approved.

2.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2020, that the Capital Programme for 2020/21 to 2022/23 set out at page 89 of the Council agenda and the Capital Investment Strategy 2020/21 to 2024/25 set out at pages 69 to 87 of the Council agenda be approved.

3.         In accordance with the recommendation of Cabinet on 13 February 2020, that the financial threshold above which decisions will be regarded as Key Decisions be set at £0.5 million for 2020/21, and that the detailed budget for 2020/21 included at pages 131 to 171 of the Council agenda be approved.

4.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2020, that the Gedling Plan 2020-2023 included at pages 191 to 210 of the Council agenda, and which sets out the priorities, objectives and actions, be approved.

5.         That the sum of £1,156,000 be taken from General Fund Balances in 2020/21 in order to support General Fund revenue expenditure in that year.

6.         That it be noted that the Portfolio holder for Resources and Reputation and Deputy Leader of the Council determined on 16 January 2020 (D927), the following amounts for the year 2020/21 in accordance with regulations made under section 31(B) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

(a)  37,387.44 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as its council tax base for the year. (The Council Tax base for the whole district)

 (b)

being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in/ those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. (The Council Tax base for each parish)

7.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 in accordance with sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

(a)       £43,330,530 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act. (Effectively gross expenditure including parish precepts, and transfers to reserves)

(b)       £36,307,400 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.