Decision details

(Members declarations of interest under Article 10 of the Members’ Code of Conduct as set out in Minute Number 126 were noted)

 

The Council was requested to consider and approve the Cabinet Budget Proposals for 2018 - 2019.

 

The Lord Mayor reminded Members of the agreed conduct of debate which was in accordance with the Budget Procedure Rules.  Three alternative budget proposals had been received in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules and included necessary Statutory Officer advice and had been circulated as part of the Amendment Sheet. 

 

The Lord Mayor invited the Cabinet Member, Finance, Modernisation and Performance, Councillor Weaver to propose the Cabinet Budget.  This was seconded by Councillor Huw Thomas.

 

The Cabinet Member presented the administration budget which was a balanced but ambitious budget seeking to protect services over the difficult years ahead.  The budget would invest in core priorities for the city and the administration investing in schools; roads & cycle routes; council housing; jobs and growth; protection of the most vulnerable children and adults of the city and taking action to tackle homelessness.

 

The Cabinet Member highlighted the savings made over the last 10 years of £200m the budget gap for this year of £25m and the projected further £91m to be found over the next 3 years. 

 

Cardiff was a fast grow city which was good news but this brought significant pressures on all public services.  The Cabinet Member indicated that Council Tax accounted for about a quarter of the Council’s budget and that the proposed rise of 5% equated to an additional £1.05 a week on a Band D property, and this rise was below the Welsh Average.

 

The Cabinet Member detailed how the £25m savings would be achieved through internal changes that will not affect front-line services; best value from contracts; back office savings; digitalisation and through development of entrepreneurial initiatives.

 

The Cabinet Member identified the investments being made in new school buildings; tackling the maintenance of school buildings; additional support workers for vulnerable children; additional funding £7m for education; additional £8million for Social care; £168m for building new houses; £29m for highways and additional funding for cycling; parking and school transport; green energy and sustainable communities and protecting libraries and maintaining the living wage.

 

The Cabinet Member welcomed that the amendments broadly supported the principles of the proposed budget however the use of contingency and resilience would put the Council’s resources at risk and weaken its resilience for years to come. 

The Cabinet Member thanked Cabinet colleagues; Group Leaders and spokespersons; Scrutiny Chairs and Members and the Section 151 Officer, Senior Management and all those involved in bringing together the budget proposals, and commended the Cabinet proposal to Council. 

 

The Leader focussed on the key principles of the Cardiff Ambition of equity and social justice, bridging the gap between those in poverty and those that prosper from education, employment and economy growth.  Investing in education; schools and young people was a priority as well as providing access to good jobs, sustainable and accessible public transport and a living wage

The Leader commended the budget as ambitious and optimistic, investing in public services within difficult financial pressures. . 

 

The Lord Mayor invited the proposer and seconder of each of the amendments to formally move their proposal and speak.

 

Councillor Gavin Hill-John proposed the Conservative alternative budget proposal and spoke on the amendment.  This was seconded by Councillor Robson who spoke. 

 

Councillor Berman proposed the Liberal Democrat alternative budget proposal and spoke on the amendment.  This was seconded by Councillor Boyle. 

 

Councillor McEvoy proposed the Plaid Cymru alternative budget proposal and spoke on the amendment.  This was seconded by Councillor Keith Parry

 

The Lord Mayor invited debate of the Cabinet proposals and the 4 alternative proposals.  

 

As part of the debate the Members commented and discussed the Budget proposals and amendments and raised a number of matters including the consultation undertaken, depth of responses and the need to reach communities that are most vulnerable and whose voice is not being heard.  The importance or supporting and protecting vulnerable children and adults; access to education; employment and training; provision of Council housing; support for rough sleepers and providing safe and accessible accommodation.  Members discussed investment in infrastructure – potholes and traffic schemes; the promotion of active travel - walking and cycling; safe routes to schools and school transport; and the development of the Metro.  Members commended the work of Park rangers and the importance of these roles within communities.

 

Members discussed demands in social care; support provided by independent living services and the importance of tackling loneliness. Members welcomed the commitment to maintaining libraries and the provision of community hubs, and the investment in the meals on wheels service.

 

Matters around the amount of Business rates collected from Cardiff and the distribution of the Revenue Support to local authorities particularly the levels received by Cardiff as the economic hub and the Capital City of Wales. 

 

Significant concerns were raised around the ongoing cost of sickness absence and the actions needed to tackle bring levels down. It was also recognised that there was a cost to democracy and public engagement as a corporate cost.

 

The Lord Mayor thanked Members for their contribution to the debate and invited the Cabinet Member Finance, Modernisation and Performance, Councillor Weaver to respond to matters raised during the debate.

At the end of the debate the votes were taken on each of the amendments as follows: 

 

The vote on the amendment proposed by Councillor Gavin Hill- John was LOST.

 

The vote on the amendment proposed by Councillor Berman was LOST.

 

The vote on the amendment by Councillor McEvoy was LOST.

 

The vote on the recommendations was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED – That the Council

 

1.0    Approvethe Revenue,CapitalandHousingRevenueAccountbudgetsincludingallproposals andincreasingtheCouncilTax by 5.0%as setoutinthis report andthattheCouncil resolve thefollowing terms.

 

2.1         Notethatat itsmeetingon 14December2017theCouncilcalculatedthe followingamountsfor theyear2018/19inaccordancewiththeregulationsmadeunderSection33(5)oftheLocal GovernmentFinanceAct 1992:-

 

a)        143,453beingtheamountcalculatedinaccordancewithRegulation3 ofthe LocalAuthorities(CalculationofCouncilTax Base)(Wales)Regulations1995,as amended,as itsCouncilTaxbase for theyear.

 

b)	Lisvane	2,350
	Pentyrch	3,263
	Radyr	3,709
	St. Fagans	1,311
	OldSt. Mellons	1,543
	Tongwynlais	823

beingtheamountscalculatedinaccordancewithRegulation6 oftheRegulationsas theamountsofitsCouncilTax basefor theyearfor dwellings in those parts of itsareatowhichspecial items relate.

 

2.2         Agreethat thefollowingamountsbe nowcalculatedby theCountyCounciloftheCityand CountyofCardifffor theyear2018/19inaccordancewithSections 32to 36oftheLocalGovernment Finance Act1992:-

 

a)        Aggregateofthe amountswhichtheCouncilestimates fortheitemsset outinSection32(2)(a) to(d) (including CommunityCouncilpreceptstotalling £366,815).  £1,007,699,815

 

b)        Aggregateof theamountswhichthe Councilestimates foritemsset out in Section 32(3)(a) and (c).

£401,119,579

 

c)         Amountby whichthe aggregateat 2.1(a)aboveexceedstheaggregateat 2.1(b)abovecalculatedinaccordancewithSection32(4) asthe budget requirement for theyear. £606,580,236

 

d)        Aggregateofthesumswhichthe Councilestimateswillbe payablefor theyearintoitsCouncilFundinrespectofRevenueSupportGrant,itscounciltaxreductionscheme,redistributed  Non-Domestic Rates.

£440,946,781

 

e)        The amountat 2.1(c)abovelesstheamountat 2.1(d)(netoftheamountfor discretionaryreliefof£350,000),alldividedby theamountat 2.0(a)above,calculatedinaccordancewithSection33(1) asthe basicamountofCouncilTax for theyear.

£1,157.06

 

f)          Aggregateamountof all special items referred toinSection 34(1).

£366,815

 

g)        Amountat 2.1(e)abovelessthe resultgivenby dividingthe amountat 2.1(f)aboveby theamountat 2.0(a)above,inaccordancewithSection34(2)oftheAct, asthebasicamountofCouncilTaxfor theyearfor dwellingsinthose partsoftheareatowhichno special itemsrelate.

£1,154.50

 

h)        The amountsgivenbyaddingto theamountat 2.1(g)abovetheamountsofspecialitemsrelatingtodwellingsinthosepartsoftheCouncil'sareamentionedbelow,dividedineach caseby theamountat 2.0(b)above,calculatedinaccordancewithSection34(3)as thebasicamountsofCouncilTax forthe yearfor dwellings in those parts of the areatowhich special items relate.

 

£
Lisvane	1,168.97
Pentyrch	1,198.32
Radyr	1,187.37
St. Fagans	1,168.23
Old St.Mellons	1,173.88
Tongwynlais	1,178.80

 

i)          The amountsgivenby multiplyingthe amountsat 2.1(g)and 2.1(h)aboveby thenumberwhichinthe proportionset outinthe CouncilTax (ValuationBands)(Wales)Order2003isapplicableto dwellingslistedina particularvaluationbanddividedby thenumberwhichinthat proportionisapplicableto dwellingslistedinvaluationbandD calculatedinaccordancewithSection36(1)ofthe Actasthe amountsto betakenintoaccountfor theyearinrespectofcategories of dwellingslistedin different valuation bands.

 

 

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Area
Lisvane	779.31	909.19	1,039.08	1,168.97	1,428.73	1,688.51	1,948.27	2,337.93	2,727.58
Pentyrch	798.88	932.03	1,065.18	1,198.32	1,464.61	1,730.91	1,997.20	2,396.64	2,796.08
Radyr	791.57	923.51	1,055.44	1,187.37	1,451.22	1,715.09	1,978.94	2,374.73	2,770.52
St. Fagans	778.81	908.62	1,038.42	1,168.23	1,427.83	1,687.44	1,947.04	2,336.45	2,725.86
Old St.Mellons	782.58	913.01	1,043.44	1,173.88	1,434.73	1,695.60	1,956.46	2,347.75	2,739.03
Tongwynlais	785.86	916.84	1,047.82	1,178.80	1,440.75	1,702.71	1,964.66	2,357.59	2,750.52
All otherpartsoftheCouncil’sArea	769.66	897.94	1,026.22	1,154.50	1,411.05	1,667.61	1,924.16	2,308.99	2,693.82

2.3         Notethatfor theyear2018/19,thePoliceandCrimeCommissionerfor SouthWales hasstatedthe followingamountsinpreceptsissuedtothe Council,inaccordancewithSection40 oftheLocalGovernmentFinance Act1992 foreachof the categories of dwelling shown below:-

 

A B C D E F G H I £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 155.68 181.63 207.57 233.52 285.41 337.31 389.20 467.04 544.88

VALUATIONBANDS

 

 

 

 

 

2.4         Havingcalculatedtheaggregateineach caseoftheamountsat 2.1(i)and 2.2above,theCountyCounciloftheCityand CountyofCardiffinaccordancewithSection30(2)oftheLocalGovernmentFinanceAct 1992herebysets thefollowingamounts astheamountsofCouncilTaxfor theyear2018/19for eachofthecategoriesof dwellingsshownbelow:-

Part of Council's Area

A B C D E F G H I   £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Area Lisvane 934.99 1,090.82 1,246.65 1,402.49 1,714.14 2,025.82 2,337.47 2,804.97 3,272.46 Pentyrch 954.56 1,113.66 1,272.75 1,431.84 1,750.02 2,068.22 2,386.40 2,863.68 3,340.96 Radyr 947.25 1,105.14 1,263.01 1,420.89 1,736.63 2,052.40 2,368.14 2,841.77 3,315.40 St. Fagans 934.49 1,090.25 1,245.99 1,401.75 1,713.24 2,024.75 2,336.24 2,803.49 3,270.74 OldSt. Mellons 938.26 1,094.64 1,251.01 1,407.40 1,720.14 2,032.91 2,345.66 2,814.79 3,283.91 Tongwynlais 941.54 1,098.47 1,255.39 1,412.32 1,726.16 2,040.02 2,353.86 2,824.63 3,295.40 All otherparts of theCouncil’sArea 925.34 1,079.57 1,233.79 1,388.02 1,696.46 2,004.92 2,313.36 2,776.03 3,238.70

VALUATIONBANDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.5         AuthorisetheCorporateDirectorResourcesto makepaymentsunderSection38 oftheLocalGovernment(Wales)Act 1994fromthe CouncilFundby equalinstalmentson thelastworkingday ofeachmonthfrom April2018toMarch2019inrespectofthepreceptleviedby thePoliceand CrimeCommissionerfor SouthWales in thesum of £33,499,401.

 

2.6         Agreethat the CommonSeal be affixedtothe saidCouncilTax.

 

2.7         Agreethat theCommonSeal beaffixedto preceptsfor PortHealthExpensesfor theperiod1 April 2018to31March2019 namely

 

£
County Councilof the City andCountyofCardiff	113,773
Vale ofGlamorganCountyBoroughCouncil	12,827

 

2.8         Agreethatnoticesofthemaking ofthe saidCouncilTaxessignedby theChiefExecutivebe givenby advertisementinthe localpress under Section 38(2)ofthe Local Government FinanceAct 1992.

 

3.0 ApprovethePrudentialIndictorsfor 2018/19,2019/20& 2020/21delegatingto theSection151Officertheauthorityto effectmovementbetweenthelimitsfor borrowingand longtermliabilitieswithinthe limitfor anyyear.

 

4.0 Approvethe TreasuryManagementStrategyfor 2018/19inaccordancewiththe LocalGovernmentAct 2013andthe LocalAuthority(CapitalFinance& Accountancy)(Wales)Regulations2003andsubsequentamendments.

 

5.0       ApprovetheMinimumRevenueProvisionPolicyfor 2018/19.

6.0    Authorisethe Section151 Officerto raisesuchfunds asmay berequiredto financecapitalexpenditureby temporaryor longtermborrowingwithinthe limitsoutlinedinthestrategyaboveand tobringforwardor delayschemes within theCapital Programme.

 

7.0 MaintainthecurrentCouncilTaxReductionSchemeas setoutinthe report.

 

8.0 Delegateauthorityto theDirectorofEducation& LifelongLearning,inconsultationwiththe CabinetMembersfor Education,Employment& Skillsand Finance,Modernisation& Performance,theCorporateDirectorResourcesandDirectorofGovernance& LegalServices,to determineallaspectsoftheprocurementprocess,including,for theavoidanceofdoubt,developmentofallprocurementdocumentationand selectionandawardcriteria,commencementofprocurementthroughto awardofcontracts,for specific21st CenturySchoolsBand Bproposalsinlinewiththe thresholds set out inthis report.