Policy And Resources Committee - 12/02/2004

At a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th February 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th February, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVENUE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 2004/05

Bailie Borthwick declared a non financial interest in social work charges by virtue of his employment.

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee of 12th February, 2004 there was submitted:

(i) a letter dated 5th February, 2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) regarding the restrictions on voting in terms of Section 112 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1992;

(ii) Report No 144-2004 by the Director of Finance.

The Committee gave consideration to the recommendations in Report No 144-2004 as far as its interests were concerned and:-

(i) noted the procedures for setting the 2004/05 Revenue Budget and Council Tax, as previously agreed by the Special Policy & Resources Committee on 19th January, 2004 and as set out in Appendix A to the report;

(ii) noted the contents of the Provisional 2004-2007 Revenue Budget Volume that had been issued previously;

(iii) approved for the budget adjustments detailed in Appendix B to the report and amended the Provisional 2004-2007 Revenue Budgets accordingly;

(iv) noted those factors which it required to consider when setting the final Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2004/05, as detailed in paragraphs 6.1 to 14.2 of the report;

(v) noted the comments regarding the setting of indicative Council Tax levels for 2005/06 and 2006/07, as set out in paragraph 15.1 of the report.

Thereafter Councillor Regan, seconded by Councillor Dick moved that the Committee

1 Notes the contents of Report 144-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), together with the estimates of revenue expenditure for the year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, as contained in the Provisional 2004-2007 Revenue Budget Volume.

2 Approves the 2004/05 Revenue Budget, as detailed in the Budget Volume, subject to the adjustments outlined at 3 and 4 below.

3 Agrees that the 2004/05 budget adjustments totalling a net reduction of 301,000, as detailed in Appendix B to the report by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), be approved and included in the 2004/05 Revenue Budget.

4 Approves the following amendment to the 2004/05 Review of Charges :

Page 2 defer increase in School meal charges until August 2004 - 16,000

resulting in additional income of 206,000 that is already included in the Budget Volume.

5 Approves the calculation of the Council Tax for 2004/05, as detailed in Appendix 1 to this motion overleaf.

6 Approves that the 2004/05 Band D Council Tax be determined at 1,135 and the Council Tax for each band be set as follows :-

2004/05 Council Tax Per Band

7 Approves indicative 2005/06 and 2006/07 Band D Council Tax levels of 1,192 and 1,252 respectively, representing annual percentage increases of 5% and 5% respectively.

APPENDIX 1

(ADMINISTRATION)

As an amendment Councillor FitzPatrick, seconded by Councillor Will Dawson moved that the Committee

1 Notes the contents of Report 144-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), together with the estimates of revenue expenditure for the year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, as contained in the Provisional 2004-2007 Revenue Budget Volume.

2 Approves the 2004/05 Revenue Budget, as detailed in the Budget Volume, subject to the adjustments outlined at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 below.

3 Agrees that the 2004/05 budget adjustments totalling a net reduction of 301,000, as detailed in Appendix B to the report by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), be approved and included in the 2004/05 Revenue Budget.

4 Approves the following amendment to the 2004/05 Review of Charges:

Page 2 - defer increase in School meal charges until August 2004 16,000

resulting in additional income of 206,000 that is already included in the Budget Volume.

5 Approves the following further amendments to the 2004/05 Review of Charges:

Page 2 - no increase in Primary School meal charges 20,000

Page 3 - restrict Social Work meals charges increase to 5p 10,850

Page 3 - no increase in the maximum weekly charge for those

with capital below 18,500 570

Pages 5&7 - no increase in charges for Swimming lessons 4,200

Pages 8 to 13 - no increase in charges for Bowling, Football, Hockey,

Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, Cycling and Tennis 1,050

Total Reduction in 2004/05 Income 36,670

resulting in revised additional income of 169,330 that is already included in the Budget Volume.

6 Approves the addition of 8,360 to the Planning & Transportation 2004/05 Revenue Budget to fund the purchase of 44 new Grit Bins.

7 Approves the following savings in the 2004/05 Revenue Budget :

Abolish SRA for Depute Convener of Development Quality Committee 5,748

Abolish SRA for Depute Convener of Licensing Committee 5,748

Abolish SRA for Depute Convener of Environmental Services &

Sustainability Committee 3,832

Reduce SRA for Convener of Licensing Committee by 50% 7,186

Reduce SRA for Chairman of Licensing Board by 50% 4,790

Remove 1st class rail travel for Elected Members 200

Remove business class air travel 7,000

Reduce within Scotland car mileage rate to flat rate of 25p per mile

for all classes of vehicle 5,400

Total 2004/05 Revenue Budget Savings 39,904

8 Approves the calculation of the Council Tax for 2004/05, as detailed in Appendix 1 to this motion.

9 Approves that the 2004/05 Band D Council Tax be determined at 1,135 and the Council Tax for each band be set as follows :-

2004/05 Council Tax Per Band

10 Approves indicative 2005/06 and 2006/07 Band D Council Tax levels of 1,192 and 1,252 respectively, representing annual percentage increases of 5% and 5% respectively.

APPENDIX

(SNP GROUP)

REVENUE BUDGET &COUNCIL TAX CALCULATION 2004/05

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Bailies Farquhar, Wright, Powrie and Mackie and Councillors Regan, Shimi, Keenan, Sturrock, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Macpherson, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (17); and for the amendment-Councillors Don, Duncan, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Barrie, Will Dawson and Fordyce and Bailies Corrigan and Borthwick (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

GEORGE REGAN, Convener.