Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the above report.  It was highlighted that although the responses to the consultation were low, these had been included in the reports before Members today and asked Council to support the recommendations contained within the report.

 

Members thanked officers and the Cabinet for the work that had been undertaken in achieving the budget position and for lobbying the Welsh Government which resulted in an improved settlement figure. 

 

This was welcomed however it was agreed that Wales continued to need further additional funding to be able to maintain and improve services.

 

In addition, Members were pleased that consultation responses received from the general public and relevant scrutiny committees in regard to Pontardawe Arts Centre, Celtic Leisure funding, schools funding formula and school cleaning deficits had been acted upon and recommendations changes as a result.

 

Concern was expressed by some Members that the proposed  Council Tax increase of 3.7% would have a negative impact on families already on low incomes and would result in communities already identified as areas of high deprivation, falling further into deprivation.  Neath Port Talbot still had the third highest council tax in Wales.

 

Discussion took place on the two proposals put forward that reserves be used to enable the Council Tax increase to be reduced by either 3.5% or 3% in order to mitigate the impact on families and communities within Neath Port Talbot.

 

The Leader of Council responded and stated that by using the council reserves, as suggested by some Members it would result in the Council being unable to fund urgent issues.  In 2019/20 reserves provided emergency funding to support four landslides in Ystalyfera and flooding which damaged major roads and bridges.  The Council had to ensure that reserves were available to continue to support unplanned emergencies.  The impact of reducing Council tax to either 3% or 3.5% would not impact greatly on Council Tax payers but would impact on the Council’s ability to respond to unplanned emergencies.

 

The first amendment was put to Council as follows:

 

That the 2020/21 Band D equivalent for Neath Port County Borough Council will be £1,603.30 and that there be a 3% increase in Council Tax as opposed to 3.79% increase as detailed in the report with the gap of 0.79% being funded from the general reserves (representing an additional sum of £592K to be taken for 2020/2021).  Therefore, the total amount of general reserves to balance the budget is £2.242m i.e. £1.65m plus £0.592m.

 

The above amendment fell, there then followed the 2^nd amendment put to Council which was as follows:

 

            that the 2020/21 Band D equivalent for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council will be £1,611.07 and that there be a 3.5% increase in Council Tax as opposed to 3.79% increase as detailed in the report with the gap of 0.29% being funded from the general reserve (representing an additional sum of £217K be taken for 2020/2021). Therefore, the total amount of general reserves to balance the budget is £1.867m i.e. £1.65m plus £0.217m.

 

         The above amendment fell, as a result the substantive recommendation contained within the circulated report was considered.

 

         RESOLVED:

 

         That having due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment, as contained in Appendix 7 to the circulated report:

 

1.   The following matters are delegated to the appropriate Corporate Director following consultation with the Council Leader, relevant Cabinet Member and Chair of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny committee.

 

·        Fees and charges applicable for the financial year 2020/21.

·        Fees and Charges which are applicable in any subsequent financial year and which, in the opinion of the relevant Corporate Director, need to be set in advance of the financial year for operational reasons.

 

 

2.   The revised budget position and arrangements for 2019/20 be approved.

 

3.   Having taken into account the Integrated Impact Assessment and Crime and Disorder impacts, the net Revenue Budget requirement for 2020/21, and the service plans for the delivery of the budgets, be approved together with the budget/forward financial plan savings, as contained in Appendix 4 to the circulated report.

 

4.   That Corporate Directors be instructed to progress the savings and improvement programme for the Authority.

 

5.   Fees and charges for non-executive functions be delegated to the appropriate Corporate Director following consultation with the Council Leader, Deputy Leader and Chair of the relevant Non Executive committee.

 

·        Fees and charges applicable in 2020/21

·        Fees and charges applicable in any subsequent financial year and which, in the opinion of the Corporate Director, need to be set in advance of that financial year for operational reasons.

 

6.   That the 2021 Council Tax Band D equivalent for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council will be £1,615.59.