Agenda item

The Council considered a detailed report on the draft General Fund Revenue budget for 2021-22, which included a Council Tax requirement of£10,392,720 (excluding parish precepts) and a Council Tax increase of £5 per year ((2.83%), resulting in a Band D charge of £181.82. 

 

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) for 2021-22 had been received on 17 December 2020.  The figures included in the budget reflected the information contained in the settlement. 

 

The Settlement Funding Assessment comprising the local share of business rates, and revenue support grant, was set out in the provisional LGFS.  The settlement had been in line with expectations which enabled the Council to retain £2.929 million of business rates in 2021-22, which was the same amount retained in 2020-21.  Core Spending Power had also stayed the same as 2020-21 at £14.090m; however, within the core spending power calculation, the Government had assumed that the Council would raise the Council Tax by the maximum amount (£5 or 3% whichever was the higher).   

 

Overall, the LGFS was positive for the Council as it included additional funding of:

·       £153,000 grant to compensate the Council for the Business Rates Multiplier not increasing in line with inflation

·       £237,000 lower tier services grant (this was a one-off new grant to support services)

·       £623,000 additional COVID 19 funding to help fund the impact of COVID 19 into the new year

·       £100,000 Section 31 grant for local council tax support

·       £192,000 New Homes Bonus grant for 2021-22 only

·       The ability to raise council tax by a maximum of £5 (2.83%) rather than maximum of 2.0%, this additional increase would generate a further £90,000 in council tax income

 

The Joint Executive Advisory Board had considered the outline budget at its meeting held 11 November 2020. 

 

The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) presented her statutory report to the Council, a copy of which was appended to the main report. The CFO’s report provided information about the strategic context within which the budget had been prepared, the medium-term financial plan, the robustness of the estimates, adequacy of reserves and budget risks.  Councillors noted that the Council had a budget gap of £1.6million in 2022-23 which would rise to £5.9million by 2025-26.  Appendix 3 to the report listed the growth and savings which had been included in the General Fund Summary.  In noting the financial risk register at Appendix 4 to the report, the Council acknowledged that the level of reserves were currently sufficient to meet the Council’s risks.

 

The financial monitoring report for the first eight months of 2020-21 had been reported to the Corporate Governance and Standards Committee on 14 January 2021.  The projected net expenditure on the General Fund for the current financial year had been estimated to be £8.1million more than the original estimate due mainly to the COVID19 pandemic.  Any ongoing variances between actual expenditure and budget identified in 2020-21 had been taken into account when preparing the budget for 2021-22.

 

Following the Executive’s approval of the outline budget in November 2020, the Council had undertaken a public consultation exercise on its priorities for spending.  The results of the consultation were included in the report with the detailed findings from the consultation set out in Appendix 5 thereto.

 

Appendix 6to the report provided a list of fees and charges for approval as part of the budget.  The fees and charges for 2021-22 had been frozen at the same levels approved by Council in February 2020.  As part of the spending review, the Government had confirmed that the compensation scheme for Sales, Fees and Charges income would extend in to 2021-22 by three months. 

 

At its meeting held on 26 January 2021, the Executive had considered this report and had endorsed the recommendations therein and approved the transfers to/from reserves of the sums included in the proposed budget at Appendix 2 to the report and had approved the growth and savings bids referred to in the report. The Executive had also noted the findings of the public consultation response set out in Appendix 5.

 

Under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and Council Procedure Rule 19 (d), the Council was reminded that a recorded vote would be conducted on the proposed budget and Council tax resolution as set out in the report and the Order Paper circulated at the meeting which contained details of the respective precepts set by Surrey County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, neither of which were deemed to be excessive.

 

The Lead Councillor for Resources, Councillor Tim Anderson proposed and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, seconded the motion to approve the budget and council tax for 2021-22. 

 

Following the debate, the Council

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)    That the budget be approved, and specifically that the Council Tax requirement for 2021-22 be set at £10,392,720 excluding parish precepts and £12,327,945 to include parish precepts.

 

(2)     That the Band D Council Tax for 2021-22 (excluding parish precepts) be set at £181.82, an increase of £5.00 (2.83%).

 

(3)     That the Band D Council Tax for 2021-22 (including parish precepts) be set at £215.68.

 

(4)     That the Council approves the following, as considered by the Executive on 26 January 2021:

 

(i)      the General Fund revenue estimates for 2021-22 including proposed fees and charges relating to General Fund services, as set out in Appendix 6 to the report submitted to the Council, as amended by the revised fees and charges for Bereavement Services (see Appendix 3 to this Order Paper);

        

(ii)     the Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2021-22, including housing rents (as amended) and other fees and charges;

 

(iii)    the Capital and Investment Strategy for 2021-22; and

 

(iv)    the Housing Revenue Account capital programme for 2021-22. 

 

(5)    That the Council notes that the Chief Finance Officer, in accordance with the terms of her delegated authority, has calculated the following amounts for the year 2021-22 in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31B (3) and 34(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) (‘the Act’):

 

(i)  57,159.40   being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as its council tax base for 2021-22 for the whole Council area.

 

(ii)  For those parts of the borough to which a parish precept relates:

 

Parish of
Albury	617.76
Artington	138.06
Ash	6761.55
East Clandon	141.28
West Clandon	706.10
Compton	479.70
Effingham	1389.38
East Horsley	2493.76
West Horsley	1498.87
Normandy	1344.23
Ockham	264.32
Pirbright	1225.34
Puttenham	308.69
Ripley	902.75
St.Martha	409.50
Seale & Sands	510.12
Send	2042.14
Shackleford	370.31
Shalford	1874.54
Shere	1971.55
Tongham	870.77
Wanborough	177.94
Wisley (Meeting)	96.92
Worplesdon	3451.60

           

            being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the 1992 Regulations, as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

(6)     That the Council calculates the following amounts for the financial year 2021-22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(i)     £136,535,590      being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by parish councils.

 

(ii)     £124,207,645     being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act

 

(iii)    £12,327,945       being the amount by which the aggregate at sub-paragraph (i) above exceeds the aggregate at sub-paragraph (ii) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirements for the year.

 

(iv)    £215.68              being the amount at sub-paragraph (iii) above divided by the amount at sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (5) 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 (including parish precepts).

 

(v)     £1,935,225        being the aggregate amount of all special items (parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act as follows:

 

Parish of	£
Albury	45,307
Artington	4,255
Ash	489,814
East Clandon	8,354
West Clandon	23,941
Compton	26,873
Effingham	121,770
East Horsley	143,000
West Horsley	83,816
Normandy	147,000
Ockham	15,168
Pirbright	65,608
Puttenham	13,755
Ripley	70,415
St.Martha	16,860
Seale & Sands	19,000
Send	82,089
Shackleford	15,553
Shalford	98,025
Shere	140,240
Tongham	40,784
Wanborough	6,742
Wisley (Meeting)	0
Worplesdon	256,856
Total	1,935,225

 

(vi)    £181.82              being the amount at sub-paragraph (iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at sub-paragraph (v) above by the amount at sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (5) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item (parish precept) relates.

  

(vii)   Part of the Council’s area              

                                   

Parish of	£   p
Albury	255.16
Artington	212.64
Ash	254.26
East Clandon	240.95
West Clandon	215.73
Compton	237.84
Effingham	269.46
East Horsley	239.16
West Horsley	237.74
Normandy	291.18
Ockham	239.20
Pirbright	235.36
Puttenham	226.38
Ripley	259.82
St.Martha	222.99
Seale & Sands	219.07
Send	222.02
Shackleford	223.82
Shalford	234.11
Shere	252.95
Tongham	228.66
Wanborough	219.71
Wisley (Meeting)	181.82
Worplesdon	256.24

 

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at sub-paragraph (vi) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (5) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

 (viii)  Part of the Council’s area

 

VALUATION BANDS
	Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D	Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
PARISH	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p
Albury	170.11	198.46	226.81	255.16	311.86	368.56	425.27	510.32
Artington	141.76	165.39	189.01	212.64	259.89	307.15	354.40	425.28
Ash	169.51	197.76	226.01	254.26	310.76	367.26	423.77	508.52
East Clandon	160.63	187.41	214.18	240.95	294.49	348.04	401.58	481.90
West Clandon	143.82	167.79	191.76	215.73	263.67	311.61	359.55	431.46
Compton	158.56	184.99	211.41	237.84	290.69	343.55	396.40	475.68
Effingham	179.64	209.58	239.52	269.46	329.34	389.22	449.10	538.92
East Horsley	159.44	186.01	212.59	239.16	292.31	345.45	398.60	478.32
West Horsley	158.49	184.91	211.32	237.74	290.57	343.40	396.23	475.48
Normandy	194.12	226.47	258.83	291.18	355.89	420.59	485.30	582.36
Ockham	159.47	186.04	212.62	239.20	292.36	345.51	398.67	478.40
Pirbright	156.91	183.06	209.21	235.36	287.66	339.96	392.27	470.72
Puttenham	150.92	176.07	201.23	226.38	276.69	326.99	377.30	452.76
Ripley	173.21	202.08	230.95	259.82	317.56	375.30	433.03	519.64
St.Martha	148.66	173.44	198.21	222.99	272.54	322.10	371.65	445.98
Seale & Sands	146.05	170.39	194.73	219.07	267.75	316.43	365.12	438.14
Send	148.01	172.68	197.35	222.02	271.36	320.70	370.03	444.04
Shackleford	149.21	174.08	198.95	223.82	273.56	323.30	373.03	447.64
Shalford	156.07	182.09	208.10	234.11	286.13	338.16	390.18	468.22
Shere	168.63	196.74	224.84	252.95	309.16	365.37	421.58	505.90
Tongham	152.44	177.85	203.25	228.66	279.47	330.29	381.10	457.32
Wanborough	146.47	170.89	195.30	219.71	268.53	317.36	366.18	439.42
Wisley (Meeting)	121.21	141.42	161.62	181.82	222.22	262.63	303.03	363.64
Worplesdon	170.83	199.30	227.77	256.24	313.18	370.12	427.07	512.48
TOWN AREA
Guildford	121.21	141.42	161.62	181.82	222.22	262.63	303.03	363.64

       

being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at sub-paragraphs (vi) and (vii) above by the number which in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

 

(7)    That the Council notes that for the year 2021-22, (i) Surrey County Council (SCC) and (ii) the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (PCCS) have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwelling in the Council’s area as shown below:

 

			VALUATION BANDS
	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p
(i) SCC	1,032.72	1,204.84	1,376.96	1,549.08	1,893.32	2,237.56	2,581.80	3,098.16
(ii) PCCS	190.38	222.11	253.84	285.57	349.03	412.49	475.95	571.14

 

(8)     That the Council agrees, having calculated the aggregate in each of the amounts at sub-paragraph (viii) of paragraph (6) and paragraph (7) above, to set the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2021-22 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Act.

 

Part of the Council’s Area: 

 

	VALUATION BANDS
	Band            A	Band       B	Band       C	Band       D	Band       E	Band           F	Band       G	Band       H
PARISH	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p	£   p
Albury	1,393.21	1,625.41	1,857.61	2,089.81	2,554.21	3,018.61	3,483.02	4,179.62
Artington	1,364.86	1,592.34	1,819.81	2,047.29	2,502.24	2,957.20	3,412.15	4,094.58
Ash	1,392.61	1,624.71	1,856.81	2,088.91	2,553.11	3,017.31	3,481.52	4,177.82
East Clandon	1,383.73	1,614.36	1,844.98	2,075.60	2,536.84	2,998.09	3,459.33	4,151.20
West Clandon	1,366.92	1,594.74	1,822.56	2,050.38	2,506.02	2,961.66	3,417.30	4,100.76
Compton	1,381.66	1,611.94	1,842.21	2,072.49	2,533.04	2,993.60	3,454.15	4,144.98
Effingham	1,402.74	1,636.53	1,870.32	2,104.11	2,571.69	3,039.27	3,506.85	4,208.22
East Horsley	1,382.54	1,612.96	1,843.39	2,073.81	2,534.66	2,995.50	3,456.35	4,147.62
West Horsley	1,381.59	1,611.86	1,842.12	2,072.39	2,532.92	2,993.45	3,453.98	4,144.78
Normandy	1,417.22	1,653.42	1,889.63	2,125.83	2,598.24	3,070.64	3,543.05	4,251.66
Ockham	1,382.57	1,612.99	1,843.42	2,073.85	2,534.71	2,995.56	3,456.42	4,147.70
Pirbright	1,380.01	1,610.01	1,840.01	2,070.01	2,530.01	2,990.01	3,450.02	4,140.02
Puttenham	1,374.02	1,603.02	1,832.03	2,061.03	2,519.04	2,977.04	3,435.05	4,122.06
Ripley	1,396.31	1,629.03	1,861.75	2,094.47	2,559.91	3,025.35	3,490.78	4,188.94
St.Martha	1,371.76	1,600.39	1,829.01	2,057.64	2,514.89	2,972.15	3,429.40	4,115.28
Seale & Sands	1,369.15	1,597.34	1,825.53	2,053.72	2,510.10	2,966.48	3,422.87	4,107.44
Send	1,371.11	1,599.63	1,828.15	2,056.67	2,513.71	2,970.75	3,427.78	4,113.34
Shackleford	1,372.31	1,601.03	1,829.75	2,058.47	2,515.91	2,973.35	3,430.78	4,116.94
Shalford	1,379.17	1,609.04	1,838.90	2,068.76	2,528.48	2,988.21	3,447.93	4,137.52
Shere	1,391.73	1,623.69	1,855.64	2,087.60	2,551.51	3,015.42	3,479.33	4,175.20
Tongham	1,375.54	1,604.80	1,834.05	2,063.31	2,521.82	2,980.34	3,438.85	4,126.62
Wanborough	1,369.57	1,597.84	1,826.10	2,054.36	2,510.88	2,967.41	3,423.93	4,108.72
Wisley (Parish Meeting)*	1,344.31	1,568.37	1,792.42	2,016.47	2,464.57	2,912.68	3,360.78	4,032.94
Worplesdon	1,393.93	1,626.25	1,858.57	2,090.89	2,555.53	3,020.17	3,484.82	4,181.78
TOWN AREA
Guildford	1,344.31	1,568.37	1,792.42	2,016.47	2,464.57	2,912.68	3,360.78	4,032.94

 

*Note: Wisley Parish Meeting

In accordance with the Executive’s decision at its meeting on 8 August 2002 (see Minute No. 270 – 2002-03), the Chief Finance Officer has anticipated the precept for 2021-22 for the Wisley Parish Meeting to be £nil and this is reflected in all the relevant Council Tax figures above.

 

(9)     That the Council determines that the Borough Council’s basic amount of council tax for 2021-22 is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB of the Act.

                                                                            

(10)  That, as the billing authority, the Council notes that it has not been notified by a major precepting authority that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2021-22 was excessive under the regulations and that the billing authority was not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK of the Act.

 

(11)   That the Council agrees, in respect of council tax payments:

 

(i)      that the payment dates for the statutory ten monthly instalment scheme be set to run from 2 April to 2 January each year; and

 

(ii)    that the payment dates be set as the second day of each month for a customer who has requested to opt out of the statutory scheme under the provisions of The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Amendment) (No 2) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

(12)   That the Council agrees, in respect of non-domestic rate payments:

 

(i)      that the payment dates for the statutory ten monthly instalment scheme be set to run from 2 April to 2 January each year; and

 

(ii)   that the payment dates be set as the second day of each month for a customer who has requested to opt out of the statutory scheme under the provisions of the Non Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014.

 

(13)  That the Council approves the annual statement of accounts for Wisley Parish Meeting, which is currently dormant, for the year ended 31 March 2020, as set out below:

 

 

Reason for Decision:

To enable the Council to set the Council Tax requirement and council tax for the 2021-22 financial year.

 

Result of the Recorded Vote:

The motion to adopt the Budget and Council Tax resolution above was approved, with forty-two councillors voting in favour, none voting against and one abstention, as follows:

 

FOR:	AGAINST:	ABSTAIN:
Councillor Paul Abbey Councillor Tim Anderson Councillor Jon Askew Councillor Christopher Barrass Councillor Joss Bigmore Councillor David Bilbe Councillor Chris Blow Councillor Dennis Booth Councillor Colin Cross Councillor Graham Eyre Councillor Andrew Gomm Councillor Angela Goodwin Councillor David Goodwin Councillor Angela Gunning Councillor Jan Harwood Councillor Liz Hogger Councillor Tom Hunt Councillor Gordon Jackson Councillor Diana Jones Councillor Steven Lee Councillor Nigel Manning Councillor Ted Mayne Councillor Julia McShane Councillor Ann McShee Councillor Bob McShee Councillor Masuk Miah Councillor Marsha Moseley Councillor Ramsey Nagaty Councillor Susan Parker Councillor George Potter Councillor Jo Randall Councillor John Redpath Councillor Maddy Redpath Councillor Caroline Reeves Councillor John Rigg Councillor Tony Rooth Councillor Will Salmon Councillor Pauline Searle Councillor James Steel Councillor James Walsh Councillor Fiona White Councillor Catherine Young		Councillor Paul Spooner