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Agenda and minutes

Budget, Council - Tuesday, 25th February, 2014 6.00 pm

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

Contact: Democratic Services 01827 709264 

Items
No. Item

53.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Bates, M Couchman and A Lunn.

54.

To receive the Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2013 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(Moved by Councillor J Garner and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

55.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary 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 pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

56.

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

Minutes:

None.

57.

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 P Hill, 55 Strode House, Tamworth will ask the Portfolio Holder for Public Housing and Vulnerable People, Councillor M Greatorex, the following question:-

 

"There are more people dying through hypothermia than there is through non sprinkler systems in the high rise flats so why aren’t they changing the central heating systems which are 40 years old?"

 

Councillor M Greatorex gave the following reply:

 

“Mr Mayor.   I thank Mr. Hill for his question.

 

I do not have mortality figures before me about hypothermia as against non-sprinkler systems in the high rise flats.

 

The decision to fit sprinklers has been taken because the Council considers that it is prudent to do this work.

 

You draw my attention to the heating system in the flats being 40 years old.   We regularly review what maintenance work needs to be done in the flats and we have to make decisions about what work is appropriate and when it should be done and what we can afford to do.

 

The heating systems in the flats are electric storage heaters supplemented with panel heaters in the bedrooms and fan heaters in the kitchens and bathrooms.

 

There is no gas supply in the blocks so gas central heating is not a viable option. There are no plans to upgrade the heating systems but we do renew/repair/service the heaters as and when required.

 

I will continue to keep under review what further maintenance work can be done to improve the flats.”

 

Supplementary Question:

 

Some of the flats have been sold off so who pays for the sprinklers to be fitted in these flats?

 

Councillor M Greatorex gave the following response:

 

Under the terms of sale the Council gives notice about any proposed work. Notice has already been given to the owner occupiers and they will have the opportunity to respond. The Council will have regard to the responses.

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC                NO.2

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr A Madge, 7 Coreen, Tamworth will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor D Cook, the following question:-

 

"Can you enlighten me on Tamworth Councils position on protecting open spaces, as we seem to be intent on selling land where we can and destroying anything green, does the leader of the Council deem more houses more important than protecting bio diversity in Tamworth?"

 

Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:

 

The Borough Council has two roles in open space.

 

The first is as a provider of open space.

 

The borough’s green spaces vary greatly in size and type, including formal urban parks and informal amenity grassland, allotments, cemeteries, sport pitches, floodplain and grazing marshes, designated wetland areas, and linear green and blue elements, such as Public Rights of Way, cycling routes, roadside verges and rail corridors, rivers and canals and their verges.  We provide access to a large number of these.

 

We are certainly not intent on destroying anything green – in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

58.

Corporate Vision, Priorities Plan, Budget & Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 653 KB

(Report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet seeking approval for the Single Corporate Vision and Strategic Priorities for 2014/15 was considered.

 

A named vote was taken in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, paragraph 11.

 

For                                          Against                                  Abstained

 

S Claymore                                                                            M Clarke

T Clements                                                                            C Cooke

D Cook                                                                                   J Faulkner

S Doyle                                                                                  D Foster

K Gant                                                                                    G Hirons

M Gant                                                                                    J Jenkins

J Garner                                                                                 M McDermid

M Greatorex                                                                           R McDermid

A James                                                                                 K Norchi

R Kingstone                                                                           S Peaple

R Pritchard                                                                             P Seekings

S Pritchard                                                                             P Standen

E Rowe

M Thurgood

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council approved:

 

1

The Single Corporate Vision and Strategic Priorities for 2014/15;

 

2

The proposed revisions to Service Revenue Budgets;

 

3

The sum of £53,509 be applied from Collection Fund surpluses in reducing the Council tax demand in 2014/15;

 

4

It be noted that on 28 November 2013, the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2014/15 for the whole Council area as 20,389 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)];

 

5

Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 is £3,170,490;

 

6

The following amounts as calculated for the year 2014/15 in accordance with Section 31 to 36 of the Act:

  1. £55,380,738 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);
  2. £52,210,248 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);
  3. £3,170,490 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);
  4. £155.50 being the amount at 6(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (at 4 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

The Council Tax level for Tamworth Borough Council for 2013/14 of £155.50 (an increase of £3.00 (1.97%) on the 2013/14 level of £152.50) at Band D;

 

8

An aggregate Council Tax (comprising the respective demands of Tamworth Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority) of £1,428.00 at Band D for 2014/15 be noted;

 

9

The Council Tax levels at each band for 2014/15;

 

10

The sum of £1,195,653 be transferred from General Fund Revenue Balances in 2014/15;

 

11

The Summary General Fund Revenue Budget for 2014/15;

 

12

The Provisional Budgets for 2015/16 to 2016/17 as the basis for future planning;

 

13

The minimum level for balances of £500,000 to be held for each of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, General Capital Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.