CB21/75 – DRAFT REVENUE BUDGET 2022/23

It was moved by Councillor Prochak, seconded and agreed that Council Procedure Rules 14.4 (content and length of speeches) and 14.5 (when a Member may speak again) be waived for the duration of this item.

It was moved by Councillor Prochak and seconded by Councillor Vine-Hall that the formal Council Tax Resolution at Appendix A to the report be approved and adopted and Minute CB21/75 from the Cabinet meeting held on 7 February 2022 be received.

It was moved by Councillor J. Barnes and duly seconded that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following words at 6):

“To require the Cabinet in view of the rapidly deteriorating financial position of this Council to report before the end of the financial year 2021/22 on a detailed plan to achieve savings of not less than £1.75 million in the financial year 2022/23 together with a clear indication of how they intend to increase property investment income by at least £0.75 million.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.5(b) a vote by roll call on the Amendment was taken.

FOR the Motion (11): J. Barnes, Mrs. M.L. Barnes, R.K. Bird, G.S. Browne, J.J. Carroll, G.C. Curtis, Mrs D.C. Earl-Williams, J.M. Johnson, C.R. Maynard, M. Mooney and G.F. Stevens.

AGAINST the Motion (20):C.A. Bayliss, J.H.F. Brewerton, T.J.C. Byrne, C.A. Clark, S.J. Coleman, Mrs V. Cook, P.C. Courtel, K.P. Dixon, B.J. Drayson, K.M. Field, P.J. Gray, K.M. Harmer, A.K. Jeeawon, L.M. Langlands, C.A. Madeley, A.S. Mier, Rev. H.J. Norton, S.M. Prochak, H.L. Timpe and J. Vine-Hall.

ABSTENTIONS (1):S.J. Errington.

The Amendment being put forward was declared LOST.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.5(b) a vote by roll call for the substantive Motion was taken.

FORthe Motion (21): C.A. Bayliss, J.H.F. Brewerton, T.J.C. Byrne, C.A. Clark, S.J. Coleman, Mrs V. Cook, P.C. Courtel, K.P. Dixon, B.J. Drayson, S.J. Errington, K.M. Field, P.J. Gray, K.M. Harmer, A.K. Jeeawon, L.M. Langlands, C.A. Madeley, A.S. Mier, Rev. H.J. Norton, S.M. Prochak, H.L. Timpe and J. Vine-Hall.

AGAINST the Motion (10): J. Barnes, Mrs. M.L. Barnes, R.K. Bird, G.S. Browne, J.J. Carroll, G.C. Curtis, J.M. Johnson, C.R. Maynard, M. Mooney and G.F. Stevens.

The Motion being put forward was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED: That:

1.       (a)       That Council approves the Rother District Council General Fund Council Tax Requirement of £7,392,337 for 2022/23 and the resultant Band D tax of £193.38 as set out in this report.

          (b)       The expenses incurred by the Council, set out in the minutes of the Cabinet of 7 February 2022 in the sum of £637,460 in respect of Bexhill and £64,430 in respect of Rye, be approved as the Special Expenses chargeable to residents of Bexhill and Rye respectively. All other expenses incurred by the Council (excluding Parish Precepts) be approved as general expenditure for the purposes of section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.  (This resolution will be reviewed annually).

2.       That it be noted, the following amounts for the year 2022/23 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, made under section 33 (5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)  38,227.0 being the amount calculated by the Council in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012, as its Council Tax base for the year.

          (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.

3.     That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2022/23 in accordance with sections 32 to 38 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 as amended:

g.    

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 2(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

h.

being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 3(g) 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 listed in different Valuation Bands.

4.      That the Council notes that for the year 2022/23 East Sussex County Council, the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner and the East Sussex Fire Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown overleaf:

5.      That, having calculated the aggregate each case of the amounts at 3(h) and 4 above, the Council, in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2020/21 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

6.      The Chief Finance Officer as Section 151 Officer be authorised to authenticate and serve all notices etc. required in connection with the Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate.

Assessment as to whether change in Council Tax is excessive

7.     That the Council’s relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2022/23 is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52B(3) of the Local Government Act 1992.

(When it first became apparent, Councillors J. Barnes, Clark and Drayson each declared a Personal Interest in this matter as Council Appointed Directors of Alliance Homes (Rother)).