Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Alexander, G. Alexander, Ames, Azad, Cosgrove, Harrison, Heffernan, Hudson, Kirkham, Klonowski, Larkin, Roberts, Sheldon, Turner and Wrigglesworth.

The Mayor referred with sadness to the recent death of Councillor Susan Dearden. Council held a minute’s silence.

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Standards Committee had granted a dispensation to allow members who had an interest arising from ownership or occupation of property in Oldham, to participate and vote on the setting of the Council tax and matters directly related to such decisions including the budget calculations.  All members declared a pecuniary interest in Item 4 – Budget Proposals, but the dispensation was applicable allowing Members to participate and vote on Item 4.

There were no other declarations of interest.

a)    Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2018/19 to 2021/22 and Proposed Outturn for 2017/18

b)    Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2021/22

c)     Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2018/19

d)    Statement of the Chief Financial Officer on Reserves, Robustness of Estimates and Affordability and Prudence of Capital Investments

e)    Revenue Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22

f)      Liberal Democrat’s Budget Amendment Proposals 2018/19

And if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:

1. That it be noted that on 18 December 2017, the following amounts were approved by the Cabinet as the Council's Council Tax Base for the financial year 2018/19:

a)    55,666 for the whole Council area [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")

b)    8,529 for dwellings in the Saddleworth Parish area to which a Parish precept relates

c)     5,363 for dwellings in the Shaw and Crompton Parish area to which a Parish precept relates

2. That the Council Meeting approve the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2018/19 (excluding Parish precepts) as being £86,952,519
3. That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2018/19 in accordance with sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

The Mayor requested and it was RESOLVED that Council Procedure 10.7 (Rules of Debate) be suspended to enable the Deputy Leader of the Council to exceed the time limit for his contribution in moving the Administration Budget to 15 minutes with a 30 second extension and the Leader of the Main Opposition Group in moving the Main Opposition Budget, a time limit of 10 minutes with a 30 second extension.  All other speakers would be limited to 4 minutes with a 30 second extension.

The Mayor informed the Council that regulations had been implemented which required recorded votes on specific decisions at the Budget meeting.  Members would be advised when a recorded vote was required. 

Prior to the consideration of the Budget Proposals, the Mayor asked the Council to note the draft minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 19^th February 2018.

On a vote being taken, the recommendation was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 19^th February 2018 be noted.

a)       Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2018/19 to 2021/22 and Proposed Outturn for 2017/18

Councillor Brownridge MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED a joint report which set out the latest Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimate for 2017/18, the detailed budget for 2018/19 and strategic estimates for the three years 2019/20 through to 2021/22.  The Report also set out the recommended dwelling and non-dwelling rents and service charge increases to be applied from April 2018. 

The projected financial position for 2017/18 was estimated to be a £1.785m positive variance when compared to the original budget forecast for 2017/18 approved at the March 2017 budget meeting.  The majority of the variance could be attributed to the re-profiling of HRA funded capital schemes into later years due to revisions to planning spending profiles. 

The financial position for 2018/19 showed an estimated closing balance of £18.870m which was considered to sufficient to meet future operational commitments and the potential financial pressures identified in the risk assessment.  The 2018/19 position had been presented after allowing for an increase in rent of 4%.  It was noted that the Government had already advised that PFI properties were exempt from Central Government’s 1% Social Rent Reduction Programme.  As all Oldham housing stock was contained within two PFI schemes the 2018/19 would follow historic rent setting guidance of CPI plus 1%, which resulted in an increase of 4% (CPI was taken as at September 2017).

No member spoke on this item.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The forecast HRA outturn for 2017/18, as outlined at Appendix A of the report, be approved.

2.       The proposed HRA budget for 2018/19, as outlined at Appendix B of the report, be approved.

3.       The strategic estimates for 2019/20 to 2021/22, as outlined at Appendix D of the report, be approved.

4.       The proposed increase to dwelling rents for all properties for 4% be approved.

5.       The proposed increase to non-dwelling rents as per individual contracts be approved.

6.       The proposed increase to PFI 2 service charges to continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.