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Agenda and minutes

Budget, Council - Tuesday, 28th February, 2012 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B79 7BZ. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 01827 709264 

Items
No. Item

62.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Cook, A Lunn, M Oates, N Oates and S Peaple.

63.

To receive the Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2012 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

64.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (personal and/or personal and   prejudicial) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a personal interest or personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation.

 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

65.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

Councillor R Pritchard informed members that construction of the grant funded Community Play BMX track should begin in about two weeks. A lot of work has gone into this and he extended his thanks to The Belgrave Residents Association, Tamworth BMX Club, Staffordshire County Council, the Highways Agency and many local residents for making this happen. Finally he gave special thanks to Andrew Barratt, and said he is a credit to this council and has been a great help getting this project to its end.

66.

Question Time:

(i)                 To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 10.

 

(ii)               To answer questions from members of the Council pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 11

 

Minutes:

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC                NO. 1

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr M Feeley, 52 Brendon, Wilnecote, Tamworth asked the Chair of Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, the following question:-

 

“We heard at the Fluoride Scrutiny last Monday that this chemical was responsible for low levels of tooth decay in Tamworth children (usually aged 5). Will you ask your Scrutiny committee then to please examine why there are so many dentists in Tamworth? Where are the cost savings?"

 

The Leader of the Council gave the following reply:

(The question was answered by Cllr Danny Cook as it was more appropriate for him to answer as Cllr K Gant is involved in Scrutiny)

 

Thank you for your question.

 

I am not an expert Mr Feeley, but I can give you what I know. It would be highly unfair of me to refuse to answer a question from a tax-payer. Therefore, I will give you what I can.

 

A precise answer to your question can be obtained by directing it to the Strategic Health Authority. If you wish we can provide you with details of who to contact.

 

This is because on the cost of providing Dentist provision in Tamworth, I have genuinely no idea. I have genuinely never thought to ask. I try not to interfere in the budget setting process of the Health Service as I am nowhere near an expert of the costings or demands on such services. I simply strive to ensure I understand that these services are delivered to the people who elected the 30 members to this chamber.

Shortages of NHS dental care exist in some places but NHS services are growing steadily under the Coalition government and there is a continued NHS commitment to improving access.

Independent patient survey figures published by the Department of Health in December 2010 show that, nationally, 59% of adults tried to get an NHS dental appointment in the last two years, and of these 93% were successful. The success rate was higher for shorter periods: 96% for 3 or 6 months; and 95% for 12 months.

I find it interesting though, that only 4 years ago in my own ward of Stonydelph residents were telling me that finding an NHS dentist place was near impossible. Now there is a better provision, I have absolutely no intention of rocking this boat.

 

Let us also keep in mind the range of services offered by Dentists. While fluoride helps teeth, many other issues can occur, for example:

Bridges

Crowns

Fillings

Root canal treatment

Scale and polish

Braces

Implants

Dentures or false teeth

Broken or knocked out tooth

Teeth whitening

Dental veneers

 

However if you feel you do need a detailed answer, or exact strategic positioning of dental surgeries, please speak to the Strategic Health Authority, this would be more expedient for you and negate the time and expense of using scrutiny resources of this Council that are already tied up in the current review  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

67.

CORPORATE VISION, PRIORITIES PLAN, BUDGET & MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY INCLUDING TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT, MINIMUM REVENUE PROVISION POLICY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STATEMENT 2012/13 pdf icon PDF 797 KB

(The Report of the Leader of the Council)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor D Cook moved to suspend Rule 14.5. This was seconded by Councillor R Pritchard.

 

The motion was carried.

 

The Report of the Leader of the Council was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

The Single Corporate Vision & Strategic Priorities for 2012/13 (Appendix A) be approved, and;

 

2

the proposed revisions to Service Revenue Budgets (Appendix C) be approved, and;

 

3

the sum of £26,262 be applied from Collection Fund surpluses in reducing the Council Tax demand in 2012/13 (Appendix E) be approved, and;

 

4

it be noted that on 23rd November 2011, the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2012/13 for the whole Council area as 23,378 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")], and;

 

5

the calculation for Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2012/13 is £3,496,180 (Appendix E), and;

 

6

the following amounts as calculated for the year 2012/13 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act be approved, and;

a.      £48,551,140 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act (Outgoings excluding internal GF recharges);

b.      £45,054,960 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act (Income excluding internal GF recharges);

c.      £3,496,180 being the amount by which the aggregate at 6(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 6(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31A(4) of the Act);

d.      £149.55 being the amount at 6(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (2 above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

 

7

a freeze in the Council Tax level for Tamworth Borough Council for 2012/13 at £149.55 (the same level as in 2011/12) at Band D with compensatory funding from the Government for 2012/13 only be approved, and;

 

8

an aggregate Council Tax (comprising the respective demands of Tamworth Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Police Authority and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority) of £1,423.61 at Band D for 2012/13 be noted (Appendix H), be approved, and;

 

9

the Council Tax levels at each band for 2012/13 (Appendix H) be approved, and;

 

10

the sum of £770,420 be transferred from General Fund Revenue Balances in 2012/13 (Appendix E), and;

 

11

the Summary General Fund Revenue Budget for 2012/13 (Appendix E) be approved, and;

 

12

the Provisional Budgets for 2013/14 to 2015/16, summarised at Appendix G, as the basis for future planning be approved, and;

 

13

the minimum level for balances of £500k to be held for each of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, General Capital Fund & Housing Capital Fund be approved, and;

 

14

Cabinet be authorised to release funding from the General  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.