Decisions

The Council considered a report which was presented by Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Housing, which set out the Housing Revenue Account Budget proposals for 2017/18 along with the medium term financial forecast for the next three years.  The account had a budget in order to break even and was targeted to have a working balance of £4 million over the next four years.  Councillor Nightingale informed the Chamber that the key points to note within the report included the following:-

 

·         Housing rents were to decrease by 1% in 2017/18 and in the two years following.  This decrease was a statutory change which was included within the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. 2017/18 was the second of a four year period in which the 1% reduction would be applied.  Whilst the reduction had significantly reduced the resources available within the HRA, Councillor Nightingale assured Members that the Council was confident that this would not reduce their ability to deliver excellent, value for money services to all its tenants.  It did mean that the Council would be limited in the number of new build Council houses that it was able to delivery, but the Council was working with other partners to look at alternative options for housing delivery;

 

·         The average rent in Doncaster would remain the lowest of all South Yorkshire Councils at £70.20 per week;

 

·         All other fees and charges were frozen.  Members noted that this was possible as the Council had invested in all areas across the Housing Service and the charges being frozen were self-funding and were not subsidised by other tenants who did not receive the services.  It was reported that these charges would be kept under review in future years, in order to ensure that they remained at the correct levels; and

 

·         The HRA continued to fund £32 million of investment within the Council Stock during 2017/18, with the main areas of investment being the new build programme, the regeneration of the Bristol Grove area in Wheatley and the continued investment in new energy efficient boilers and heating systems, and new roofs including fascias, gutters and soffits.

 

Following presentation of the Housing Revenue Account Budget proposals, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

 

For – 48

 

The Chair of Council, Councillor David Nevett, the Vice-Chair of Council Councillor George Derx, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones and Councillors Nick Allen, Nigel Ball,

Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Elsie Butler, Bev Chapman,

Phil Cole, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Jessie Credland, Susan Durant, Nuala Fennelly, Neil Gethin, Pat Haith, John Healy, Rachel Hodson,

Charlie Hogarth, Sandra Holland, Mark Houlbrook, R. Allan Jones,

Ken Keegan, Majid Khan, Jane Kidd, Ted Kitchen, Pat Knight,

Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness, John McHale, Bill Mordue,

John Mounsey, Jane Nightingale, Andy Pickering, Andrea Robinson,

Kevin Rodgers, Craig Sahman, Alan Smith, Clive Stone, Austen White,

Sue Wilkinson, Jonathan Wood and Paul Wray.

 

Against – 0

 

Abstain – 0

 

On being put to the meeting, the Housing Revenue Account was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the Housing Revenue Account budget proposals, as detailed within the report, be approved including:-

 

(1)       rents be reduced from 3rd April, 2017 by 1.0%, as detailed in paragraphs 7 to 10, in line with Government policy; this will result in an average weekly rent decrease of £0.71, resulting in an average rent of approximately £70.21 per week and rents will be charged every week of the year;

 

(2)       the budget proposals for the HRA for 2017/18, which are contained in Appendix A, which set a balanced budget for the Housing Revenue Account and maintain a reserve of £4.0m; and

 

(3)       fees and charges as detailed in paragraph 13 of the report.

Prior to Members’ consideration of the report, the Monitoring Officer, Scott Fawcus, reminded Members there was a legal requirement to include in the minutes details of how each Elected Member had voted on decisions relating to the budget and level of Council Tax.  Therefore, items 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 would all be subject to a recorded vote and voting preferences would be documented in the minutes.

 

The Monitoring Officer also reminded Members that and Equality Implications were fundamental in making a decision and it was of utmost importance that Members had fully considered the impact on certain groups and individuals, and had given due regard to any implications of this decision under the Equality Act.

 

The Monitoring Officer also made reference to the Public Sector Equality Duty within todays’s Revenue Budget report and the Housing Revenue Account Budget (HRA).  Equality issues were fundamental to the exercise of the function of a public authority and that it was inevitable that the implementation of some of the budget proposals, would have an impact on services, service users and individuals and groups, particularly those persons with protected characteristics within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.

 

Members were informed that the Revenue Budget included at Appendix M, a list of items which would require the production of detailed Due Regard Assessments before such time as these savings could be implemented. Further reports taking account of individual Due Regard Statements, would be produced and further decision making required by the Executive before those savings could be implemented.

 

In relation to the HRA budget, Members were requested to consider the contents of that Due Regard Statement and their obligations under the Equality Act 2010, to have due regard to the need to:-

 

·         Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimization;

 

·         Advance equality of opportunity; and

 

·         Foster good relations between those with protected characteristics and those without such characteristics. 

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, presented the report to Council, which sought approval of the Budget proposals for 2017/18.

 

The Mayor stated that as everyone in the Chamber was aware, the Council was facing difficult financial times.  Local Authority funding continued to face brutal annual cuts from Central Government which favoured wealthy areas over less affluent Towns and Cities, like Doncaster.  However, this would not let the perpetual cuts drag Doncaster down and the Mayor assured the Chamber that this would not limit the Council’s ambitions for the Borough and its people.  The budget proposals therefore continued to deliver the Mayor’s priority of ensuring the Council was able to:-

 

·         provide efficient and effective public services, whilst

 

·         investing in the future of the Borough and its residents.

 

More specifically, the Council was succeeding in its aims to:-

 

·         Increase jobs, apprenticeships and grow our economy – including more well paid, high skilled jobs;

 

·         Deliver homes that met the needs of everyone;

 

·         Raise education standards and increase opportunities;

 

·         Deliver vital services for children and vulnerable residents, and

 

·         Support Doncaster’s communities and keep them clean, green and safe.

 

Members were informed that the Council had already made great progress including:-

 

·         An 11 year high in employment figures with more than 9000 new jobs since 2013 and more than 1000 new apprentices;

 

·         The most homes built for 15 years, nearly 1200 in 2015/16 with something for everyone - including new Council Houses, bungalows and our Extra Care facilities for older people, being developed across the Borough;

 

·         GCSE results going up in Doncaster, bucking the national trend, with an increase in the number of Schools rated good or better. Our new National College for High Speed Rail opens later this year and our Education Commission which we will receive a report on today, is setting out the future for education in our Borough;

 

·         A new Children’s Trust to safeguard young people and an Adults Transformation Programme to improve Adult Care services giving people the choice, independence and care they require, whilst ensuring services are sustainable and fit for the future as our population ages; and

 

·         More enforcement against people who did not respect our Borough, with thousands of fines issued against litter louts.

 

The Mayor referred to the current difficult times and the need to live within our means, and that to meet the Council’s goals, it must modernise and improve services, and deliver value for money.  Therefore, the Council intended to continue its successful schemes, such as the new energy efficient street lights, and delivering a Council structure which was reducing management costs.

 

The Mayor promised to support residents with the cost of living where possible; thousands of people and households had benefitted from schemes including the Big Power Switch, new solar panels and by installing insulation in Council housing.

 

It was reported that in this budget, the Council had minimised the increase in fees and charges and aimed to keep them in line with inflation.  Some charges had also been frozen including the cost of school meals and rents at the market, and charges for children’s burials and cremations had also been abolished.

 

It was reported that the Council had worked hard over the last three years to deliver its goals whilst minimising the impact of the draconian austerity measures; this had given the Council a solid foundation to build on.

 

However, the Mayor was extremely disappointed at the Government's complete failure to deal with the national funding problems facing Adult Social Care and the Health Service.  Their answer, which was to underfund vital services and yet increase the financial burden on local taxpayers, was ‘outrageous’ as it placed a strain on to those who could least afford it, through a regressive tax system that benefited wealthy areas over places like Doncaster and South Yorkshire.  Unfortunately, Government policy on Local Authority funding meant that Council Tax rises were inevitable in order to sustain vital services.

 

The Mayor stated that through the Council’s careful planning and prudent approach over the last three years, the Council had managed to limit the proposed rise in Doncaster this year to 3.99%.   This meant Council Tax in Doncaster would remain one of the lowest in the Country amongst Metropolitan and Unitary Authorities, but the Mayor was deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister had forced these costs on to people who can least afford them.

 

The Mayor therefore pointed out that the Council’s only course of action was to grow its way out of the situation which would be referred to within the Capital Programme.

 

In conclusion, the Mayor stated that the good news is that in Doncaster, the Council was delivering on that agenda and the promises she had made, the Mayor’s approach was paying dividends for Doncaster.  The Mayor thanked all of the staff, partners and colleagues in this Chamber, who had helped the Council to deliver these successes, in often difficult circumstances.  This proposal continued the Council’s prudent and effective, but ambitious, approach to delivering services and supporting the Borough.

 

The Mayor encouraged all colleagues to support this budget.

 

Following the Mayor’s presentation of the Revenue Budget proposals, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

 

For – 42

 

The Chair of Council, Councillor David Nevett, the Vice-Chair of Council Councillor George Derx, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones and Councillors Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Elsie Butler, Bev Chapman, Phil Cole, John Cooke, Jessie Credland, Susan Durant, Nuala Fennelly, Neil Gethin, Sean Gibbons, Pat Haith, John Healy, Rachel Hodson, Charlie Hogarth, Sandra Holland, Mark Houlbrook, Ken Keegan, Majid Khan, Jane Kidd, Ted Kitchen, Pat Knight, Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness, John McHale, Bill Mordue, John Mounsey, Jane Nightingale, Andy Pickering, Andrea Robinson, Kevin Rodgers, Craig Sahman, Clive Stone, Austen White, Sue Wilkinson and Paul Wray.

 

Against – 1

 

Councillor Jonathan Wood.

 

Abstain – 5

 

Councillors Nick Allen, Jane Cox, Steve Cox,R. Allan Jones and Alan Smith.

 

On being put to the meeting, the Mayor’s Revenue Budget was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget proposals for 2017/18, as detailed within the report, be approved, including:-

 

(1)       the revenue budget proposals for 2017/18, as detailed at Appendix B (savings £21.516m) and Appendix C (pressures £5.255m);

 

(2)       Council Tax to be increased by 3.99% to £1,237.81 for a Band D property (£825.21 for a Band A) for 2017/18.  This includes:-

 

                          i.       1.99% Council Tax increase equates to an increase of £23.69 for Band D per annum, £0.46 per week (£15.79 for Band A per annum, £0.30 per week);

 

                         ii.       2% Government’s Social Care “precept” equates to an increase of £23.80 for Band D per annum, £0.46 per week (£15.87 for Band A per annum, £0.31 per week).

 

(3)     the 2017/18 Grants to Third Sector Organisations outlined in paragraph 25 and as detailed in Appendix F;

 

(4)       the summary fees and charges analysis detailed in Appendix G together with the detailed fees and charges proposed for 2017/18 as detailed in Appendix H;

 

(5)       the Medium Term Financial Forecast including all proposals in the report, as detailed in Appendix J; and

 

(6)       a gross revenue expenditure budget of £479.7m and a net revenue expenditure budget of £213.4m, as detailed in Appendix J.