Agenda item

It was moved by Mr Parsons and seconded by Mr Page:

 

"(a)      That subject to the items below, approval be given to the MTFS which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2008/09 totalling £313,756,610, as set out in Appendix A to the report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix D thereto;

 

(b)        That approval be given to the projected revenue budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix D thereto and to the undertaking of such preliminary work, including consultation, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years;

 

(c)        That the level of reserves as set out in Appendix K to the report be noted;

 

(d)        That the amounts of the County Council's Council Tax for each band of dwelling and the precept payable by each billing authority for 2008/09 be as set out in Appendix M to the report;

 

(e)        That the Chief Executive be authorised to issue the necessary precepts to billing authorities in accordance with the budget requirement above and the tax base notified by the District Councils, and to take any other action which may be necessary to give effect to the precepts;

 

(f)         That approval be given to the 2008/09 capital programme as set out in Appendix F to the report;

 

(g)        That approval be given for planning and design purposes for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 capital programmes as set out in Appendix F to the report subject to arrangements within the Financial Procedure Rules and Standard Financial Instructions to allow commencement before the planned programme year or the adoption of substitute schemes;

 

(h)        That the financial indicators required under the Prudential Code set out in Appendix G to the report be noted and that the following limits be approved:-

 

	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£m	£m	£m
Authorised limit for external debt
i)   Borrowing	411.0	434.0	436.0
ii)  Other long term liabilities	0.2	0.2	0.1
TOTAL	411.2	434.2	436.1
Operational boundary for external debt
i)   Borrowing	391.0	414.0	415.0
ii)  Other long term liabilities	0.2	0.1	0.1
TOTAL	391.2	414.1	415.1

 

(i)         That the Director of Corporate Resources be given delegated authority to effect movement within the authorised limit for external debt between borrowing and other long term liabilities;

 

(j)         That the following borrowing limits be approved for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11:-

(i)                  Upper limit on fixed interest exposures 100%

(ii)                Upper limit on variable rate exposures 35%

(iii)              Maturity of borrowing

 

	Upper Limit	Lower Limit
	%	%
Under 12 months	30	0
12 months and within 24 months	30	0
24 months and within 5 years	50	0
5 years and within 10 years	70	0
18 years and above	100	25

 

(k)        That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to enter into such loans or undertake such arrangements as necessary to finance capital payments in 2008/09, subject to the above prudential limits;

 

(l)         That the Capital Strategy, Risk Management Strategy, Reserves Policy, Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy and Environment Strategy set out respectively in Appendices H, I, J, N and O to the report be approved."

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Boulter and seconded by Mr Rushton:

 

"(i)       That paragraph (a) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(a)       That subject to the items below, approval be given to the MTFS which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2008/09 totalling £313,756,610, as set out in Appendix A to the report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix D thereto; as amended by paragraph (a)(i) below;'

 

(ii)        That the following be inserted immediately after paragraph (a) of the motion:

 

'(a)(i)   That the list of growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix D to the report be amended by the addition of the following growth item, the costs to be met from the underspending in the current year and reserves.

 

            Highways and Transport

 

Improvements/remedial works to highway drainage systems throughout Leicestershire directed to increase the capacity of systems and alleviate the risk of flooding, priority areas for spending to be determined through a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management but with an understanding that works will commence as soon as possible.'	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
	250	250	-

 

 

(iii)       That paragraph (b) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(b)       That approval be given to the projected revenue budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix D thereto, as now amended, and to the undertaking of such preliminary work, including consultation, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years;' "

 

The amendment was put and carried, unanimously.

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Parker and seconded by Dr O'Callaghan:

 

"(i)       That paragraph (a) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(a)       That subject to the items below, approval be given to the MTFS which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2008/09 totalling £313,756,610, as set out in Appendix A to the report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix D thereto; as amended by paragraph (a)(ii) below;'

 

(ii)        That the following be inserted immediately after paragraph (a)(i) of the motion:

 

'(a)(ii)  That the list of growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix D to the report be amended by the addition of the following growth item, the costs to be met from a reduction from that part of the Chief Executive's revenue budget relating to public relations:-

 

            Children and Young People's Service

 

Reinstatement of saving approved in 2007 relating to denominational home to school transport.'	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
	250	250	250

 

(iii)       That paragraph (b) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(b)       That approval be given to the projected revenue budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix D thereto, as now amended, and to the undertaking of such preliminary work, including consultation, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years;' "

 

The amendment was put and not carried, 14 members voting for the motion and 31 against.

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Legrys and seconded by Dr O'Callaghan:

 

"That the following be added at the end of the motion:-

 

'(m)      That whilst of the view that more money would be welcome, this Council welcomes the additional funding for Leicestershire schools which has been made available by the Government over the next three years.' "

 

The amendment was put and not carried, 11 members voting for the motion and 29 against.

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Hunt and seconded by Mr Bown:

 

"(i)       That paragraph (a) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(a)       That subject to the items below, approval be given to the MTFS which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2008/09 totalling £313,756,610, as set out in Appendix A to the report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix D thereto; as amended by paragraph (a)(ii) below;'

 

(ii)        That the following be inserted immediately after paragraph (a)(i) of the motion:

 

'(a)(ii)  That the list of growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix D to the report be amended by the addition of the following growth item, the costs to be met by a withdrawal from balances:-

 

            Community Services

 

Support for Young Leicestershire Athletes.'	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
	15	15	-

 

(iii)       That paragraph (b) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

'(b)       That approval be given to the projected revenue budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix D thereto, as now amended, and to the undertaking of such preliminary work, including consultation, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years;' "

 

In the light of comments by Mr White, the mover of the motion with the concurrence of the seconder and the consent of the Council altered the motion by the addition of the following words at the end of paragraph (a)(ii):

 

"noting that this figure would be in addition to an ongoing budget of £55,000 established by the Administration to support talented children and young people with national and international sporting ambitions and that grant applications are subject to agreed criteria."

 

The amendment, as altered, was put and carried unanimously.

 

An amendment moved by Mr Wright and seconded by Mr Wilson:

 

“That the following be added at the end of the motion.

 

‘(m)     That an additional discretionary fund of £30,000 be established, met from Area Based Grant, to be potentially available to all pupils from low income families regardless of faith, in respect of free travel for children showing signs of disaffection and likely not to find employment or training post 16 and that the fund be administered by the Schools (Funding) Forum advised by Connexions.' "

 

The amendment was put and carried unanimously.

 

The substantive motion, as set out below, was put and carried, 31 members voting for the motion and 12 against.

 

"(a)      That subject to the items below, approval be given to the MTFS which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2008/09 totalling £313,756,610, as set out in Appendix A to the report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix D thereto; as amended by paragraph (a)(i) and (a)(ii) below;

 

(a)(i)    That the list of growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix D to the report be amended by the addition of the following growth item, the costs to be met from the underspending in the current year and reserves:-

 

            Highways and Transport

 

Improvements/remedial works to highway drainage systems throughout Leicestershire directed to increase the capacity of systems and alleviate the risk of flooding, priority areas for spending to be determined through a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management but with an understanding that works will commence as soon as possible.'	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
	250	250	-

 

(a)(ii)   That the list of growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix D to the report be amended by the addition of the following growth item, the costs to be met by a withdrawal from balances:-

 

            Community Services

 

Support for Young Leicestershire Athletes noting that this figure would be in addition to an ongoing budget of £55,000 established by the Administration to support talented children and young people with national and international sporting ambitions and that grant applications are subject to agreed criteria.	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
	15	15	-

 

 

(b)       That approval be given to the projected revenue budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix D thereto, as now amended, and to the undertaking of such preliminary work, including consultation, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years;

 

(c)        That the level of reserves as set out in Appendix K to the report be noted;

 

(d)        That the amounts of the County Council's Council Tax for each band of dwelling and the precept payable by each billing authority for 2008/09 be as set out in Appendix M to the report;

 

(e)        That the Chief Executive be authorised to issue the necessary precepts to billing authorities in accordance with the budget requirement above and the tax base notified by the District Councils, and to take any other action which may be necessary to give effect to the precepts;

 

(f)         That approval be given to the 2008/09 capital programme as set out in Appendix F to the report;

 

(g)        That approval be given for planning and design purposes for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 capital programmes as set out in Appendix F to the report subject to arrangements within the Financial Procedure Rules and Standard Financial Instructions to allow commencement before the planned programme year or the adoption of substitute schemes;

 

(h)        That the financial indicators required under the Prudential Code set out in Appendix G to the report be noted and that the following limits be approved:-

 

	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£m	£m	£m
Authorised limit for external debt
i)   Borrowing	411.0	434.0	436.0
ii)  Other long term liabilities	0.2	0.2	0.1
TOTAL	411.2	434.2	436.1
Operational boundary for external debt
i)   Borrowing	391.0	414.0	415.0
ii)  Other long term liabilities	0.2	0.1	0.1
TOTAL	391.2	414.1	415.1

 

(i)         That the Director of Corporate Resources be given delegated authority to effect movement within the authorised limit for external debt between borrowing and other long term liabilities;

 

(j)         That the following borrowing limits be approved for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11:-

                  (i)         Upper limit on fixed interest exposures 100%

(ii)        Upper limit on variable rate exposures 35%

(iii)       Maturity of borrowing

 

	Upper Limit	Lower Limit
	%	%
Under 12 months	30	0
12 months and within 24 months	30	0
24 months and within 5 years	50	0
5 years and within 10 years	70	0
18 years and above	100	25

 

(k)        That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to enter into such loans or undertake such arrangements as necessary to finance capital payments in 2008/09, subject to the above prudential limits;

 

(l)         That the Capital Strategy, Risk Management Strategy, Reserves Policy, Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy and Environment Strategy set out respectively in Appendices H, I, J, N and O to the report be approved.

 

            (m)       That an additional discretionary fund of £30,000 be established, met from Area Based Grant, to be potentially available to all pupils from low income families regardless of faith, in respect of free travel for children showing signs of disaffection and likely not to find employment or training post 16 and that the fund be administered by the Schools (Funding) Forum advised by Connexions."