Agenda item

a)    Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2023/24 to 2027/28 and Projected Outturn for 2022/23

b)    Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 Including the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Prudential Indicators

c)    Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2023/24

d)    The Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2023/24

                                          i.    Revenue Budget 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28

                                        ii.    Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2027/28

 

Liberal Democrats Budget Amendment Proposals 2023/24

Conservative Budget Amendment Proposals 2023/24

 

And if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:

1. That it be noted that on 23 January 2023, the following amounts were approved by the Cabinet as the Council's Council Tax Base for the financial year 2023/24:

 

a)    58,500 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)    8,952 for dwellings in the Saddleworth Parish area to which a Parish precept relates

c)    5,615 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 2023/24 (excluding Parish precepts) as being £108,994,860

 

3. That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

a) £674,318,932	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 any Precepts for the Saddleworth and Shaw & Crompton Parish areas
b) £564,995,319	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.
c) £109,323,614	being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(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 31B of the Act).
d) £1,868.78	being the amount at 3(c) above, all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).
e) £328,754	being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act, being the Saddleworth and Shaw & Crompton Parish precepts.
f) £1,863.16	being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the amount by Item T (1(a) 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 relates.
g) £1,888.66	Saddleworth Parish area being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned at 3(e) above divided by the amount at 1(b) 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.
h) £1,881.05	Shaw & Crompton Parish area being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned at 3(e) above divided by the amount at 1(c) 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.

4. That it be noted that for the year 2023/24 the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and the Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services) for Greater Manchester have been issued to the Council in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table below.

 

5. That the Council, in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2023/24 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

Authority/Parish	Council Tax Bands (£)
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Oldham Council	1,242.10	1,449.12	1,656.14	1,863.16	2,277.19	2,691.23	3,105.26	3,726.32
Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept	162.20	189.23	216.26	243.30	297.36	351.43	405.50	486.60
Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services)	71.96	83.96	95.95	107.95	131.93	155.92	179.91	215.90
Saddleworth Parish Precept	17.00	19.83	22.66	25.50	31.16	36.83	42.50	51.00
Shaw and Crompton Parish Precept	11.92	13.91	15.90	17.89	21.86	25.84	29.81	35.78

 

AGGREGATE OF COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENTS

Authority/Parish	Council Tax Bands (£)
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Saddleworth Parish Area	1,493.26	1,742.14	1,991.01	2,239.91	2,737.64	3,235.41	3,733.17	4,479.82
Shaw & Crompton Parish Area	1,488.18	1,736.22	1,984.25	2,232.30	2,728.34	3,224.42	3,720.48	4,464.60
All other parts of the Council’s Area	1,476.26	1,722.31	1,968.35	2,214.41	2,706.48	3,198.58	3,690.67	4,428.82

 

The Mayor requested and it was RESOLVED that Council Procedure Rule 14 (Rules of Debate) be suspended to enable Councillor Jabbar, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet member for Finance and Low Carbon to exceed the time limit for his contribution in moving the Administration Budget to 15 minutes with a 30 second extension and the seconder the Leader of the Council, Councillor Chadderton 6 minutes, the Opposition Spokespersons of the Main Opposition Groups in moving the opposition budget, a time limit of 7 minutes 30 seconds if required, with a right of reply of 6 minutes.

 

The Mayor informed members that regulations had been implemented which required recorded votes on specific decision at the Budget Council 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 13^th February 2023.

 

On a vote being taken, the recommendation was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 13^th February 2023 be noted.

 

 

a.    Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2023/24 to 2027/28 and Projected Outturn for 2022/23

Councillor Chadderton MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED a joint report which, sets out for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the detailed budget estimates for 2023/24, the strategic estimates for the four years 2024/25 through to 2027/28 and the projected outturn for 2022/23. The report also set out the recommended dwelling, non-dwelling rents and service and concierge charges to be applied from April 2023.

 

After taking all relevant issues into account, the projected financial position for 2022/23 was estimated to be a £1.796m positive variance when compared to the original budget forecast, approved at the Budget Council meeting on 2^nd March 2022. Of this variance, £0.570m is attributable to a lower than anticipated brought forward balance from 2021/22 with this being offset by £2.366m owing to the cessation of previously planned HRA funded capital schemes. The estimated balance at the end of 2022/23 was projected to be £22.279m. The closing financial position for 2023/24 showed an estimated HRA closing balance of £20.852m which was sufficient to meet future operational commitments and the potential financial pressures identified in the risk assessment. The 2023/24 position had been presented after allowing for an increase in dwelling rents of 5%, an increase in non-dwelling rents in line with individual contracts, an increase of 2% on service charges and the setting of Extra Care Housing concierge charges to fully recover costs.

 

Within the Autumn Statement, the Government announced plans to cap social housing rents at 7% for 2023/24. Previous policy guidance for the period 2020-2025 was that all rents were to be calculated based on a maximum of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate in September of the preceding year plus 1%. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has since confirmed that due to the majority of Oldham’s HRA estate being contained within two Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes the Council is exempt from the 7% social housing rent cap. However, reverting to previous guidance would require a rent increase of 11.1%. Oldham Council recognises the impact on tenants that a rent increase of 11.1% would bring. Therefore, Oldham’s projections for the 2023/24 budget have been set assuming rental increases of just 5% which is 6.1% lower than if it were to follow the maximum uplift (September 2022 CPI rate being 10.1% plus 1%). The Council has opted to propose this reduced rate given the current healthy levels of HRA balances and the on-going pressures, including inflation, on household incomes.

 

The financial projections for the HRA over the period 2022/23 to 2027/28 show an overall reduction in the level of balances from £21.721m at the start of 2022/23 to £16.253m at the end of 2027/28. HRA resources will be used to support several capital projects including the development of several sheltered housing sites and further works on green projects. The HRA detailed budget for 2023/24 and strategic estimates for the four years 2024/25 to 2027/28 and the outturn estimate for 2022/23 were presented to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26^th January 2023. The Committee commended the report to Cabinet without amendment. Cabinet duly considered and approved the report at its meeting 13^th February 2023 and therefore commended the report to Council.

 

No members spoke on this item.

 

RESOLVED that:

1. The Forecast HRA outturn for 2022/23, as outlined at Appendix A of the report, be approved.

2. The Proposed HRA budget for 2023/24, as outlined at Appendix B of the report, be approved.

3. The strategic estimates for 2023/24 to 2027/28, as outlined at Appendix D of the report, be approved.

4. The proposed increase to dwelling rents for all properties of 5% be approved.

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

6. The proposal that service charges are increased by 2%, be approved.

7. The proposal to set Extra Care Housing concierge charges to fully recover actual costs be approved.

 

b.    Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24

 

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED a report of the Director of Finance that outlined the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24 including the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Prudential Indicators together with linkages to the Capital Strategy.

 

The Council was required through regulations supporting the Local Government Act 2003 to ‘have regard to’ the Prudential Code and to set Prudential Indicators for the next three years to ensure that the Council’s capital investment plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable. It was also required to produce an annual Treasury Strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy setting out the Council’s policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to security and liquidity of those investments.

 

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management 2021 (the Code) also required the receipt by full Council of a Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

 

The Strategy for 2023/24 covered two main areas, namely: Capital Issues (the Capital expenditure plans and the associated Prudential Indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement; and secondly Treasury Management Issues. Treasury Management Issues included: the Current Treasury Position; Treasury Indicators which limit the treasury risk and activities of the Council; Prospects for Interest Rates; the Borrowing Strategy; the Policy on Borrowing in Advance of Need; Debt Rescheduling; the Investment Strategy; the Creditworthiness Policy; and the Policy regarding the use of external service providers.

 

The submitted report therefore outlined the implications and key factors in relation to each of the above Capital and Treasury Management issues and made appropriate recommendations regarding the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24. The report included the most recently available economic background commentary which reflected the position on 20^th February 2023. The Council’s Audit Committee, the body charged with the detailed scrutiny of Treasury Management activities, considered the proposed 2023/24 Treasury Management Strategy report at its meeting on 16^th January 2023. It was also presented to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26^th January 2023. Both the Audit Committee and the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee were content to commend the report to Cabinet. The report was considered at the Cabinet meeting on 13^th February 2023. Cabinet was also content to commend the report to Council.

 

No Members spoke on this item.

 

RESOLVED that Council approves:

1.    The Capital Expenditure Estimates, as outlined at paragraph 2.1.2 of the report, be approved.

2.    The MRP policy and method of calculation as outlined at Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

3.    The Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) Projections as per paragraph 2.2.3 of the report be approved.

4.    The projected treasury position as at 31^st March 2023, as per paragraph 2.4.3 of the report, be approved.

5.    The Treasury Limits, as per section 2.5 of the report, be approved.

6.    The Borrowing Strategy for 2023/24, as per section 2.7 of the report be approved.

7.    The Annual Investment Strategy, as per section 2.11 of the report, including risk management and the creditworthiness policy at section 2.12 of the report, be approved.

8.    The level of investment in specified and non-specified investments, as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report, be approved.

 

 

c.    Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2023/24

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED a report of the Director of Finance that presented to Council the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023/24. Members of Council were reminded that there was a requirement to have a local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme to support residents of working age on a low income who qualify for assistance in paying Council Tax. The Local Government Finance Act 2012 places a requirement that each year a Billing Authority must consider whether to revise its Council Tax Reduction scheme or to replace it with another scheme. Any change to the 2023/24 scheme has to be agreed by full Council in line with budget setting and by no later than 10^th March 2023. For Oldham, this required that the Council should agree a revised 2023/24 scheme at this Council meeting. Any proposed change must be subject to prior consultation with the major preceptors (for Oldham this was the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on behalf of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner), and with the public.

 

The scheme for those of pensionable age is set by the Government and cannot be changed. A major consultation exercise had not been undertaken regarding changes to the CTR scheme and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been provisionally advised that no change to the scheme was proposed. In this regard, the proposal that the CTR scheme for 2023/24 remained the same as that operating in 2022/23 was presented to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s meeting on 26^th January 2023 as part of the suite of documents that presented the proposed revenue, capital and Housing Revenue Account budgets for 2023/24. After scrutinising the proposal, the Scrutiny Committee was content to accept the proposed approach to the 2023/24 CTR scheme and to commend it to Cabinet. This was then considered at the Cabinet’s meeting on 13^th February 2023. Cabinet, in turn, were content to commend the proposed CTR scheme to Council without amendment. In taking this decision, the Cabinet was aware that the Council has provided further relief to CTR claimants via the Household Support Fund, its response to the Cost of Living Crisis, together with other initiatives funded from Council resources. In addition, announced within the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on 19^th December 2022 was a new Council Tax Support Fund of £100m nationally for 2023/24. The Government expected Local Authorities to use the majority of their funding allocations to reduce bills for current working age and pension age Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) claimants by up to £25. Councils could use their remaining allocation as they see fit to support vulnerable households with Council Tax bills and a local scheme will be prepared to ensure the maximum benefit to Oldham residents.

 

On 23^rd December 2022 it was announced that Oldham’s allocation for this ringfenced grant is £0.573m. Another important factor when considering a change to the CTR scheme was that the full roll out of Universal Credit (UC) was not yet complete and this added further uncertainty when assessing the likely impact of changes to CTR relief. The Government had recently delayed the full UC roll out to 2028, but as Oldham was a pilot Authority for the scheme, the movement to the new regime within the borough was more advanced than many other areas.

 

Options considered in this report included leaving the scheme unchanged, increasing the maximum relief by 2.5% and reducing maximum relief by 2.5%. A 2.5% change in the relief impacts the overall Council Tax collected by some £0.356m but has a marginal impact upon CTR claimants (increasing/reducing the benefit per resident by £0.68 per week).

 

In view of the continued uncertainty concerning Universal Credit and the marginal impact of any practical change to the CTR scheme, it was recommended that Council maintains the current CTR scheme during 2023/24. This, it was expected, would provide continuity about entitlement to those residents on the lowest incomes and allow time for the impact of the roll out of UC to become clearer.

 

No Members spoke on this item.

 

RESOLVED:
That Council approves the proposal, detailed in the report, to keep the Council Tax Reduction Scheme unchanged in 2023/24.

 

d.    The Revenue Budget and Capital programme for 2023/24

(i)            Revenue Budget 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28

(ii)          Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2027/28

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED a report of the Director of Finance which provided Council with the budget reduction requirement and the Administration’s budget proposals for 2023/24 and a forecast of the 2024/25 position having regard to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (PLGFS) published on 19^th December 2022 and the subsequent Final Local Government Settlement published on 6^th February 2023. The report also presented the financial forecasts for the remainder of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) period 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28. The report also set out the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2027/28 and thereby the proposed 2023/24 Capital Programme, including the identified capital investment priorities, together with the indicative capital programme for 2024/25 to 2027/28.

 

The submitted report presents the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2023/24 together with the budget reduction requirement and the Administration’s budget proposals for 2023/24 including Council Tax intentions. It also provided a forecast of the 2024/25 position and the financial forecasts for the remainder of the MTFS period, 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28. It uses the financial position presented in a report to Cabinet on 12^th December 2022 as a starting point. A version of the Revenue Budget 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 was presented to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee (POSC) on 26^th January 2023. The Committee scrutinised the report and the other reports on the agenda that form a core part of the Council’s strategic financial planning framework. The Scrutiny Committee commended the reports to Cabinet.

 

A report updated for further developments was subsequently presented to the Cabinet on 13^th February 2023. The changes compared to the POSC report related primarily to the recalculation of the Business Rates Tax Base and Grant in Lieu of Business Rates because of the submission to Government of a statutory return, the NNDR1 which incorporated the revaluation of Business Rates effective from 1^st April 2023.

 

The final report to this Council meeting is based on the three reports referred to above but includes the latest financial information and updates the financial position presented to and approved by Cabinet on 13^th February 2023. The main change is because of the release of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement (FLGFS) issued on 6^th February 2023. Section 1 presented an introduction to the report and explained the report format. Section 2 set out key Council Policies and Strategies including the Co-operative Council Values, an updated Corporate Plan, Constitution and Rules of Procedure, as the framework within which the Budget has been prepared. Section 3 presented Local Government Finance developments which have had an impact on 2023/24 and future years budgets. It also highlighted the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Financial Resilience Index, the CIPFA Financial Management Code and a commentary on financial resilience, all of which were of importance when considering the Council’s financial standing in the context of budget setting for 2023/24 and future years. Section 4 presented the Local Government Finance Policy Statement 2023/24 and 2024/25 which set out the Government’s intentions to assist financial planning for Councils. It confirmed the PLGFS for both 2023/24 and 2024/25 would be single year Settlements and that reforms to redistribute funds such as the Review of Relative Needs and Resources (Fair Funding Review) would not progress until 2025/26 at the earliest. Section 5 detailed the impact of the 2023/24 PLGFS which was the fifth consecutive one-year Settlement. This included key information in relation to overall funding levels, Council Tax referendum limits and grants for 2023/24. It also advises of the information contained in the FLGFS and the subsequent change to Government grant funding. Section 6 presented the 2022/23 revised budget and year end forecasts.

 

The starting point for preparing the 2023/24 revenue budget estimates is the underlying base budget of £250.517m. The 2022/23 revenue budget forecast outturn position highlights a current unfavourable projected variance for 2022/23 of £2.233m but the commentary advised that this may be improved by the continuation of management action to control expenditure in year. The month 6 monitoring position was used to inform key budget pressures in the budget update report that was presented to Cabinet on 12^th December 2022. The month 8 position highlighted some further issues that had now been included in the 2023/24 budget and informed the position reported to both the POSC on 26^th January 2023 and Cabinet on 13^th February 2023. Sections 7 to 9 set out how the expenditure pressures that contribute to the budget gap have been determined since the update to Cabinet on 12^th December 2022.

 

Section 7 summarised the revisions to the estimates since the budget gap of £27.975m for 2023/24 and £14.575m for 2024/25 was presented to Cabinet on 12^th December 2022. It highlighted that a direct comparison would show a budget gap of £19.155m for 2023/24 and £10.157m for 2024/25. These budget gaps represent the position after the use of some reserves. To allow budget reductions and the total use of reserves to be the final element in balancing the budget, the forecast net gap/budget reduction requirement before the use of reserves of £27.890m was being used as the starting position from which the 2023/24 budget will be balanced, with £14.254m used as the starting position for the final changes to the 2024/25 budget (as illustrated at Table 8). This was lower than the £27.993m position for 2023/24 reported to the 13^th February 2023 Cabinet meeting due to additional grant announced by the FLGFS.

 

Section 8 presented a range of expenditure pressures that contribute to the budget gap. In total they contribute £45.923m to the 2023/24 position, a change of only £1.183m compared to the position reported in December 2022. The expenditure pressures for 2024/25 were projected at £14.697m. The main pressures in both years arose from pay, energy, contractual and service inflation and demand for both Adults and Children’s Social Care service provision.

 

Section 9 sets out the confirmed impact of the payment of levies and contributions to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and a levy to the Environment Agency (EA). It shows an increase in expenditure of £1.939m in the 2023/24 budget forecast compared to the December 2022 position but advised that £1.044m of reserve resources refunded to the Council by GMCA in 2022/23 can be used to offset some of this increase. Sections 10 and 11 present the impact of the PLGFS announced on 19^th December 2022 and the FLGFS issued on 6 February 2023 and grant income related adjustments to the estimates.

 

In this regard, Section 10 provides a commentary on the un-ringfenced grants announced by or derived from the PLGFS/FLGFS. A summary of all grants notified or anticipated for 2023/24 as included in the PLGFS/FLGFS totalled £108.338m which is £3.405m higher than the forecast presented to Cabinet in December 2022 and £0.103m higher than the grant allocations included in the 13^th February 2023 Cabinet report.

 

Section 11 outlined the main ringfenced grants that must be used in accordance with specific guidance but nonetheless help the Council deliver its services. Two specific Adult Social Care grants were detailed in this section and this funding has been used as a contribution to support the Council’s 2023/24 and 2024/25 budgets. The funding available from these grants in 2023/24 had increased by £0.748m compared to the position reported in December 2022. Section 12 sets out how the Locally Generated Income from both Business Rates including the impact of Business Rates Revaluation from 1 April 2023 and Council Tax will support the Council budget. The FLGFS confirmed referendum limits for a general-purpose Council Tax increase of up to 3% each year from April 2023 without the need to hold a referendum. In addition, the threshold for Adult Social Care Precept (ASCP) increases to a maximum of 2% each year from April 2023. There remains a requirement to evidence that the funds generated from this precept are used for Adult Social Care expenditure. A referendum is required if proposed Council Tax increases exceed 4.99%.

 

Paragraphs 12.3 to 12.13 set out the income to support the budget from Retained Business Rates and how this helped to reduce the level of budget reductions required. In total, Retained Business Rates income including the impacts of Revaluation has increased to £53.683m in 2023/24. This final position (the Business Rates Tax Base) has been calculated after the completion of the Government return (the NNDR1) in time for its submission by the statutory deadline (31^st January 2023). Cabinet of 23^rd January 2023 agreed that the final Business Rates Tax Base could be amended under delegated authority on completion of the NNDR1. There is a general uplift but most of the increase (£4.835m) relates to confirmation in the PLGFS that the piloting of 100% Business Rates Retention will continue into 2023/24.

 

The Council will take the benefit of a pilot scheme gain of £3.626m with the GMCA receiving part of this increase in Business Rates Income of £1.209m. Paragraphs 12.17 to 12.49 presented the Council Tax position for 2023/24. It advises that: the Council Tax Tax Base is 58,500 which is no change from the position previously assumed; Council Tax policy had been revised so that rather than only a 1.99% general purposes Council Tax increase, the proposed approach was to introduce a 2% increase for the Adult Social Care Precept. An increase of 3.99% would not require a Council Tax referendum as it would be within the referendum criteria issued by the Government in the PLGFS.

 

The Council proposes to remove the Council Tax Empty Property Discount and increase the Empty Property Premium. The Total Council Tax to be generated for use by the Council based on the Tax Base and the 3.99% increase was £108.995m in 2023/24. The Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner precept was confirmed on 26^th January 2023 with an increase of £15 for a Band D Council Tax. The Greater Manchester Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services) was confirmed on 10^th February 2023, with an increase of £5 for a Band D Council Tax. The Shaw and Crompton Parish Council agreed its precept on 13^th December 2022, with Saddleworth Parish Council agreeing its precept on 20^th February 2023. The confirmed figures in relation to the respective Parish Precepts were presented in the report. The detailed Council Tax charges were presented at Appendix 4.

 

Section 13 outlines the impact of Collection Fund (the ringfenced account within which Council Tax and Business Rates are managed). The 2022/23 Collection Fund forecast outturn projection as outlined in the month 8 financial monitoring report produces a net surplus of £4.179m of which £4.130m is Oldham Council’s share and would be available to support the 2023/24 revenue budget. Section 14 outlined the review of previously approved 2023/24 and 2024/25 Budget Reductions agreed in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Revenue Budget Reports and advises that there has been some reprofiling of anticipated benefits.

 

Section 15 outlined the proposal to use capital receipts flexibly to finance expenditure leading to transformation in the sum of £2.600m for 2023/24 and a further £2.600m in 2024/25. Section 16 detailed the revision to estimates for the financial years 2023/24 to 2024/25 compared to the position previously reported to Cabinet on the 12^th December 2022 and Cabinet on 13^th February 2023. This presented a revised budget reduction requirement (before the use of reserves) of £27.890m for 2023/24 and £14.254m for 2024/25. Having regard to the proposed increase in Council Tax, Section 17 presented the Administration’s approach to balancing the budget for 2023/24 via the budget reduction process.

 

·         There were a total of 45 proposals presented in accordance with Political Portfolios. These are expected to deliver savings totalling £16.313m and have an FTE impact of 7 in 2023/24. The proposals also have an impact on 2024/25 of £7.575m (and a further £1.135m in 2025/26). All the proposals were presented in summary at Appendix 7 and in detail at Appendix 8. Assuming approval of the 2023/24 budget reduction proposals and taking into account the impact of one-off budget reduction proposals, the budget reduction requirement for 2023/24 reduces to £11.577m and 2024/25 to £11.479m. Section 18 advises how the budget for 2023/24 is balanced and the final position for 2024/25 as follows: the first step in balancing 2023/24 was however, to increase the budget gap by introducing a contribution to reserves in 2023/24 of £1.209m, payable to the GMCA in relation to 100% Business Rates Pilot scheme gain. This course of action increased the budget gap to £12.786m which would then balanced by the use of:

                                          i.    £6.000m general reserves (approved as part of the 2022/23 budget).

                                        ii.    £2.900m of earmarked reserves as approved at Cabinet on 12^th December 2022 to pump prime initiatives in Children’s Social Care.

                                       iii.    £1.044m of reserves created from resource returned by the GMCA in 2022/23; and

                                       iv.    Additional general reserves of £2.842m to balance the 2023/24 budget.

 

After all the budget adjustments and impact of the use of reserves to balance 2023/24, there remained a budget gap still to be addressed of £10.224m for 2024/25. Section 19 presented the expected level of reserves at the end of 2022/23 at £78.555m and how they support the 2023/24 budget including the balancing budget reserve for 2023/24. Section 20 provides a commentary on the pooled funding arrangements with the NHS, specifically the Section 75 Agreement between the Council and the Oldham Integrated Care Board. Section 21 sets outs out the proposed fees and charges for the financial year 2023/24 with a full schedule provided at Appendix 11.

 

Section 22 and 23 sets out the Medium-Term Financial Strategy covering the financial years 2024/25 to 2027/28, including the plans for the transformation programme, that will deliver the savings required to balance the budgets in future years. A summary was provided at Appendix 12. Section 24 presented the Statement of Robustness, a requirement under Section 25 of the Local Government Finance Act 2003 which was the assurance by the Director of Finance on the robustness of the estimates used for the purposes of the revenue budget calculations and the adequacy of proposed reserves and balances. Balances are recommended at £20.012m. The Director of Finance can provide Members with the necessary assurances. A more detailed commentary is provided at Appendix 13. Section 25 sets out the Council’s Pay Policy Statement in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 to 43 of the Localism Act 2011, which requires full Council approval. The detailed statement is provided at Appendix 14. Sections 26 to the end of the report include options to consider, consultation comments and Legal and Procurement comments in accordance with standard practice. Appendix 15 presented an analysis of the results of the public consultation on the Council’s proposed budget for 2023/24. Given the importance of delivering budget reductions and embedding the programme of transformational change, during 2023/24, there will be a regular review of the progress of existing change programmes against the delivery milestones and financial targets. It will also ensure that there is continuous emphasis on the delivery of change and the achievement of the budget reductions required in line with the three-year strategy. As advised above, the Revenue Budget 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 was presented to the POSC on 26^th January 2023 based on the information available at that time. The Committee scrutinised the report and the other reports on the agenda that form a core part of the Council’s strategic financial planning framework. The Committee considered in detail the Administration’s 45 budget reduction proposals for 2023/24 and was content to commend them to Cabinet at a value of £16.313m in 2023/24, £7.575m for 2024/25 and a further £1.135m in 2025/26. The Committee was also content with all other aspects of the report, including the proposed changes to fees and charges and therefore commended it to Cabinet. Cabinet considered the Revenue Budget 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 at its meeting on 13 February 2023 and was content to commend the report in full to Council. This report to Council, therefore, presents a fully balanced budget for 2023/24, an estimated budget reduction requirement of £10.224m for 2024/25 and indicative forecasts for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

 

The Capital Strategy and Programme report set out the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2027/28 and thereby the proposed 2023/24 capital programme, including identified capital investment priorities, together with the indicative capital programme for 2024/25 to 2027/28, having regard to the resources available over the life of the programme.

 

The Council’s Capital Strategy and capital programme are set over a five-year timeframe. The proposed Capital Strategy and programme for 2023/24 to 2027/28 takes the essential elements of the 2022/23 to 2026/27 and previous years’ strategies and programmes and moves them forward in the context of the financial and political environment for 2023/24. The Strategy does however include a longer-term vision, a forward look at those projects that are likely to run beyond the five-year strategy and programme period or be initiated subsequently. This covers a timeframe for the 10 years from 2028/29 to 2037/38. The format of the Capital Strategy reflects the requirements of the latest Prudential and Treasury Management Codes issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The strategy therefore presents: 

A.   A high-level long-term overview of how capital expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activity contribute to the provision of services.

B.   An overview of how the associated risk is managed; and

C.   The implications for future financial sustainability.

 

The Capital Strategy was presented at Appendix 1. It had been prepared in 15 sections and ensured that Members were presented with the overall long-term capital investment policy objectives and resulting Capital Strategy requirements, governance procedures and risk appetite. The sections were:

1. Aims of the Capital Strategy and its links to the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Oldham Plan (Our Future Oldham), Creating a Better Place (CaBP) Programme, Medium Term Property Strategy (MTPS), Housing Strategy (HS) and Budget and Policy Framework.

2. The Principles of the Capital Strategy

3. Priority Areas for Investment

4. Supporting Greater Manchester Devolution and Accessing Levelling Up, UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Decarbonisation Resources

5. Affordability, Delivery and Risk Associated with the Capital Strategy

6. Knowledge and Skills

7. Treasury Management

8. Long Term Loans

9. Other Non-Treasury Investments

10. Capital Resources to Support Capital Expenditure

11. Capital Investment and Disposal Appraisal

12. The Prioritisation of Capital Requirements

13. The Procurement of Capital Projects

14. The Measurement of the Performance of the Capital Programme

15. The Capital Investment Programme Board (CIPB)

 

The Strategy is aligned with the Creating a Better Place programme which is focused on building more homes for the borough’s residents, creating new jobs through regeneration and ensuring Oldham is a great place to visit with lots of family friendly and accessible places to go. This also incorporates the Medium-Term Property Strategy and Housing Strategy and aims to deliver its ambition in ways that contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions in support of the Council’s Green New Deal strategy.

 

Section 1 of the Capital Strategy highlights the aims of the Capital Strategy and its links to the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Oldham Plan (Our Future Oldham). This section of the report also describes more fully the Creating a Better Place programme (encompassing the Medium-Term Property Strategy and Housing Strategy) which is a significant element of the Council’s planned Capital Expenditure over the five-year period 2023/24 to 2027/28.

 

Annex C of Appendix 1 sets out the proposed capital expenditure and financing for the period covered by the Capital Strategy, 2023/24 to 2027/28.

 

The Strategy also advises that the Council is proposing to continue the use the flexibility provided by the Government to use capital receipts to fund the revenue cost of 3 transformation. The 2023/24 revenue budget will rely on up to £2.600m of such funding from capital receipts.

 

The 2022/23 month 8 capital monitoring position approved by Cabinet on 13 February 2023 included expenditure projections that are a key determinant of the 2023/24 programme. As many schemes span more than one year, the anticipated level of reprofiling between years sets the underlying position. The projected outturn spending position for 2022/23 is £59.113m. The Place and Economic Growth Directorate which manages all of the major regeneration projects, constitutes the main area of expenditure. Grants and Other Contributions (£37.327m) followed by Prudential Borrowing provide the main source of financing (£15.533m). Actual expenditure to 30 November 2022 was £29.531m (49.96% of the forecast outturn). This spending profile is in line with that in previous years, however the position will be kept under review and budgets will continue to be managed in accordance with forecasts.

 

The Council has set out its capital programme for the period 2023/24 to 2027/28 based on the principles of the Capital Strategy. The Capital Programme and Capital Strategy have been influenced by the level of resources considered available. The level of prudential borrowing included reflects the financing available in the revenue budget, capital receipts align with forecasts and grant funding and other contributions are based on already notified allocations or best estimates at time of preparation. If additional resources become available, projects that meet the Council’s strategic capital objectives will be brought forward for approval.

 

As at the month 8 capital monitoring position, the anticipated expenditure over the five year life of the 2022/23 to 2026/27 strategy was £380.019m, taking 2022/23 aside (£59.113m) leaves £320.906m for the remainder of the approved 2023/24 to 2026/27 capital programme. Following the refresh of existing strategies and the Creating a Better Place programme, and moving forward the planning period by one year, the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2027/28 totals £325.460m.

 

The capital programme includes proposed expenditure for 2023/24 of £110.305m of which £83.936m is the largest area of expenditure being on regeneration, transport and infrastructure projects within Place and Economic Growth Directorate. Total expenditure decreases to £108.378m, £46.661m, £55.562m and £4.554m in 2024/25, 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 respectively.

 

The Government is continuing to provide significant levels of grant funding. The main sources of Capital grant income are the Levelling Up Fund £20.000m, Towns Fund at £11.266m, along with Education-related Basic Need Capital grant provision of £4.662m over the life of the programme. There are also considerable resources allocated to the Council via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) including the Mayor’s 4 Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund (£10.232m), City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (£4.912m) and estimated Local Transport Programme - Highway Maintenance Grant totals £17.968m over the strategy period.

 

The grant funding provided by Government can be split into two categories: un-ringfenced and ringfenced resources, as explained in Section 10 of the Capital Strategy. The majority of capital Government Grant funding is un-ringfenced. Resources classified as ringfenced have to be utilised to finance particular categories of expenditure and therefore are restricted in their use. The 2023/24 capital programme relies on £29.696m of ringfenced and £10.853m of un-ringfenced grants.

 

As in previous years, a major source of financing remains prudential borrowing. The amount required in 2023/24 (£61.186m) includes borrowing attributed to schemes that have slipped from prior years as well as new borrowing associated with the regeneration programme. The timing of the borrowing is linked to the cash position of the Council and may therefore not mirror the spending/financing profile set out above.

 

There will be a continued review of capital spending requirements as the Council has further regeneration ambitions, but affordability and deliverability will be a key consideration in this regard. It is, however, possible that the capital position may change prior to the start of 2023/24 and during the year as:

• The outcome of specific grant bids may be announced during the latter part of 2022/23.

• The outcome of specific grant bids will be announced during 2023/24.

• It is also likely that there will be new initiatives announced in 2023/24.

• There may also be the opportunity to bid for additional funding.

• The Council may identify other funding sources, including capital receipts, to finance additional capital expenditure

 

Therefore, the overall capital programme position will be kept under review and any new information regarding funding allocations will be presented to Members in future reports.

 

There has been consultation with the Members of the Capital Investment Programme Board on the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2027/28. The consideration of the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2027/28 by the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26 January 2023 was a key element of the consultation process. The Committee was content to commend the report to Cabinet. The Cabinet considered the Capital Strategy and Programme report at its meeting on 13^TH February 2023 and was content to commend the report to Council.

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor C. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the amendment to the budget as circulated and detailed in the Council Summons. Councillor C. Gloster expressed his thanks to staff who had assisted in the preparation of the report.

 

Councillors Kenyon and Williamson spoke in support of the Amendment.

 

Councillors Roberts, Birch, Mushtaq, Ibrahim and S. Hussain spoke against the Amendment.

 

Councillor Jabbar exercised his right of reply. Councillor C. Gloster exercised his right of reply.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	AGAINST	Iqbal Javid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	AGAINST	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Alyas Mohammed	AGAINST	Lancaster Luke	AGAINST
Arnott Dave	AGAINST	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	FOR	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Ball Sandra	AGAINST	McManus Chris	AGAINST
Barnes Robert	AGAINST	Moores Eddie	AGAINST
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Munroe Leanne	AGAINST
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	FOR
Birch Ros	AGAINST	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	AGAINST	Phythian Clint	AGAINST
Chadderton Amanda	AGAINST	Phythian Kyle	AGAINST
Chauhan Zahid	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Roberts Hannah	AGAINST
Gloster Chris	FOR	Salamat Aqeel Ali	AGAINST
Gloster Hazel	FOR	Sharp Beth	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Sheldon Graham	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Harrison Jenny	AGAINST	Surjan Ruji	AGAINST
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hulme George	AGAINST	Wilkinson Mark	AGAINST
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Williams Steve	AGAINST
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Sajed	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	AGAINST
Ibrahim Nyla	AGAINST	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	AGAINST

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, 9 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 47 VOTES cast AGAINST and 0 ABSTENTIONS.

 

The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Woodvine MOVED and Councillor Lancaster SECONDED the amendment to the budget as circulated and detailed in the Council Summons. Councillor Woodvine expressed his thanks to staff who had assisted in the preparation of the report.

 

Councillor Quigg spoke in support of the Amendment.

 

Councillors Akhtar, Murphy, Ali, Hamblett, Taylor, McLaren, Islam, Harrison, Nasheen, Dean, Mushtaq and C. Gloster spoke against the Amendment.

 

Councillor Barnes spoke on the Amendment.

 

Councillor Jabbar exercised his right of reply. Councillor Woodvine exercised his right of reply.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

 

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	AGAINST	Iqbal Javid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	AGAINST	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	AGAINST	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	AGAINST
Alyas Mohammed	AGAINST	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Arnott Dave	FOR	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	AGAINST	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Ball Sandra	ABSTAIN	McManus Chris	FOR
Barnes Robert	ABSTAIN	Moores Eddie	AGAINST
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Munroe Leanne	AGAINST
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	AGAINST
Birch Ros	AGAINST	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	FOR	Phythian Clint	AGAINST
Chadderton Amanda	AGAINST	Phythian Kyle	AGAINST
Chauhan Zahid	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Roberts Hannah	AGAINST
Gloster Chris	AGAINST	Salamat Aqeel Ali	AGAINST
Gloster Hazel	AGAINST	Sharp Beth	FOR
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Hamblett Louie	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Harrison Jenny	AGAINST	Surjan Ruji	AGAINST
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hulme George	AGAINST	Wilkinson Mark	ABSTAIN
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Williams Steve	AGAINST
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Williamson Diane	AGAINST
Hussain Sajed	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	FOR
Ibrahim Nyla	AGAINST	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	AGAINST

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, 8 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 45 VOTES cast AGAINST and 3 ABSTENTIONS.

 

The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.

 

The following Councillors then spoke on the ORIGINAL MOTION:

 

Councillors Roberts, Mushtaq and Brownridge spoke in support of the Original Motion.

 

Councillors Al-Hamdani and Quigg spoke against the Original Motion.

 

Councillor Jabbar exercised his right of reply.

 

A recorded VOTE, in line with regulations was then taken on the ORIGINAL MOTION as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	FOR	Iqbal Javid	FOR
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	FOR
Al-Hamdani Sam	AGAINST	Jabbar Abdul	FOR
Ali Mohon	FOR	Kenyon Mark	AGAINST
Alyas Mohammed	FOR	Lancaster Luke	AGAINST
Arnott Dave	AGAINST	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	FOR	McLaren Colin	FOR
Ball Sandra	AGAINST	McManus Chris	AGAINST
Barnes Robert	AGAINST	Moores Eddie	FOR
Bashforth Marie	FOR	Munroe Leanne	FOR
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	AGAINST
Birch Ros	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	FOR	Nasheen Umar	FOR
Byrne Pam	AGAINST	Phythian Clint	FOR
Chadderton Amanda	FOR	Phythian Kyle	FOR
Chauhan Zahid	FOR	Quigg Lewis	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	AGAINST
Dean Peter	FOR	Roberts Hannah	FOR
Gloster Chris	AGAINST	Salamat Aqeel Ali	FOR
Gloster Hazel	AGAINST	Sharp Beth	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	FOR	Sheldon Graham	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	FOR
Harrison Jenny	FOR	Surjan Ruji	FOR
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	FOR
Hulme George	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	AGAINST
Hussain Aftab	FOR	Williams Steve	FOR
Hussain Fida	FOR	Williamson Diane	AGAINST
Hussain Sajed	FOR	Woodvine Max	AGAINST
Ibrahim Nyla	FOR	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	FOR

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, 35 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION with 21 VOTES cast AGAINST and 0 ABSTENTIONS.

 

The MOTION (and the reports) was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

That Council approves:

1. The policy landscape and context in which the Council is setting its revenue budget for 2023/24.

2. The Budget Reduction requirement for 2023/24 and 2024/25 having regard to funding announcements including the Provisional and Final Local Government Finance Settlements together with the Council’s investment in service provision including Children’s Social Care.

3. The financial forecasts and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

4. The revenue expenditure required to support the proposed Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2027/28 (the proposed Capital Programme being summarised at Appendix 1).

5. The use of £4.130m of surplus Collection Fund resources to support the balancing of the 2023/24 revenue budget.

6. Revisions to Budget Reductions approved in 2021/22 and 2022/23 resulting in a budgetary impact of £3.655m for 2023/24 and £5.700m for 2024/25.

7. The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts at a value of £2.600m for 2023/24 and 2024/25.

8. A proposed overall 2023/24 Council Tax increase of 3.99% for Oldham Council services (1.99% for general purposes and 2% Adult Social Care Precept) resulting in the charges at Band D set out at Table 17 of the report and the detailed charges at Appendix 4.

9. The 2023/24 Budget Reduction proposals at a value of £16.313m with a further £7.575m for 2024/25 and £1.135m for 2025/26.

10. The proposed use of £12.786m of reserves to balance the 2023/24 budget and a transfer to reserves of £1.209m for Retained Business Rates.

11. The proposal to draw on the Collection Fund for major preceptors of £129.543m for Borough Wide services and £108.995m for Council services.

12. The proposed net revenue expenditure budget for 2023/24 for the Council set at £287.051m.

13. The proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 as set out in the schedule included at Appendix 11.

14. The proposed revisions to the Council Tax Empty Property Discount (paragraph 12.37) and Council Tax Empty Property Premium (paragraph 12.39) and confirms the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023/24 identified in paragraph 12.36.

15. The level of balances supporting the 2023/24 budget of £20.012m underpinned by the agreed policy on Earmarked Reserves.

16. The Pay Policy Statement presented at Appendix 14 including the recommendations at paragraphs 31 and 32.

17. The delegation to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon to make a final decision on the feasibility of a pensions pre-payment if it represents value for money to the Council (paragraph 8.2 (o)).

18. The delegation of the determination of the Council’s approach to the Household Support Fund to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon (paragraph 11.15).

19. The delegation of the determination of the Council’s approach to the Council Tax Support Fund and the associated discretionary fund to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon (paragraph 11.18).

20. The Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2027/28 at Appendix 1 of this report and summarised at section 2.1.

21. The capital programme for 2023/24 and indicative programmes for 2024/25 to 2027/28 at Annex C of Appendix 1 and summarised at sections 2.2 to 2.6 of this report.

22. The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy as presented at Annex D of Appendix 1.

 

 

Resolutions 1 and 2 related to the Council Tax Base for the Financial Year 2022/2023 as approved by the Cabinet on 23^rd January 2023 and the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2023/2024

 

No members spoke on this item.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations, was then taken on the Resolutions as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	FOR	Iqbal Javid	FOR
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	FOR
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	FOR
Ali Mohon	FOR	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Alyas Mohammed	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Arnott Dave	FOR	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	FOR	McLaren Colin	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	McManus Chris	FOR
Barnes Robert	FOR	Moores Eddie	FOR
Bashforth Marie	FOR	Munroe Leanne	FOR
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	FOR
Birch Ros	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	FOR	Nasheen Umar	FOR
Byrne Pam	FOR	Phythian Clint	FOR
Chadderton Amanda	FOR	Phythian Kyle	FOR
Chauhan Zahid	FOR	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	FOR
Dean Peter	FOR	Roberts Hannah	FOR
Gloster Chris	FOR	Salamat Aqeel Ali	FOR
Gloster Hazel	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Goodwin Chris	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Shuttleworth Graham	FOR
Harrison Jenny	FOR	Surjan Ruji	FOR
Hindle Neil	FOR	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	FOR
Hulme George	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hussain Aftab	FOR	Williams Steve	FOR
Hussain Fida	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Sajed	FOR	Woodvine Max	FOR
Ibrahim Nyla	FOR	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	FOR

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, the RESOLUTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Resolution 3 related to the amounts calculated by the Council for the year 2023/2024 in accordance with Sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

 

No members spoke on the item.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations, was then taken on the RESOLUTION as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	FOR	Iqbal Javid	FOR
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	FOR
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	FOR
Ali Mohon	FOR	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Alyas Mohammed	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Arnott Dave	FOR	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	FOR	McLaren Colin	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	McManus Chris	FOR
Barnes Robert	FOR	Moores Eddie	FOR
Bashforth Marie	FOR	Munroe Leanne	FOR
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	FOR
Birch Ros	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	FOR	Nasheen Umar	FOR
Byrne Pam	FOR	Phythian Clint	FOR
Chadderton Amanda	FOR	Phythian Kyle	FOR
Chauhan Zahid	FOR	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	FOR
Dean Peter	FOR	Roberts Hannah	FOR
Gloster Chris	FOR	Salamat Aqeel Ali	FOR
Gloster Hazel	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Goodwin Chris	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Shuttleworth Graham	FOR
Harrison Jenny	FOR	Surjan Ruji	FOR
Hindle Neil	FOR	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	FOR
Hulme George	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hussain Aftab	FOR	Williams Steve	FOR
Hussain Fida	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Sajed	FOR	Woodvine Max	FOR
Ibrahim Nyla	FOR	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	FOR

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, the RESOLUTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

RESOLVED that the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with the Sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 be approved as follows:

 

a) £674,318,932	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 any Precepts for the Saddleworth and Shaw & Crompton Parish areas
b) £564,995,319	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.
c) £109,323,614	being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(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 31B of the Act).
d) £1,868.78	being the amount at 3(c) above, all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).
e) £328,754	being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act, being the Saddleworth and Shaw & Crompton Parish precepts.
f) £1,863.16	being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the amount by Item T (1(a) 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 relates.
g) £1,888.66	Saddleworth Parish area being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned at 3(e) above divided by the amount at 1(b) 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.
h) £1,881.05	Shaw & Crompton Parish area being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned at 3(e) above divided by the amount at 1(c) 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.

Resolution 4 – Relating to the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and the Mayor General Precept (including Fire Services)

 

Councillor Sykes and Councillor Quigg both spoke on this item.

 

On being put to the VOTE, the RESOLUTION was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that for the year 2023/24 the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and the Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services) for Greater Manchester had been issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below be noted.

 

Resolution 5 – Relating to the Setting of the Council Tax for 2022/2023

 

No members spoke on this item.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations, was then taken on the RESOLUTION as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Ahmad Riaz	FOR	Iqbal Javid	FOR
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Islam Nazrul Mohammed	FOR
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	FOR
Ali Mohon	FOR	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Alyas Mohammed	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Arnott Dave	FOR	Marland Alicia	ABSENT
Azad Ali Montaz	FOR	McLaren Colin	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	McManus Chris	FOR
Barnes Robert	FOR	Moores Eddie	FOR
Bashforth Marie	FOR	Munroe Leanne	FOR
Bashforth Steven	APOLOGIES	Murphy Dave	FOR
Birch Ros	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	FOR	Nasheen Umar	FOR
Byrne Pam	FOR	Phythian Clint	FOR
Chadderton Amanda	FOR	Phythian Kyle	FOR
Chauhan Zahid	FOR	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Cosgrove Angela	APOLOGIES	Rea Lucia	FOR
Dean Peter	FOR	Roberts Hannah	FOR
Gloster Chris	FOR	Salamat Aqeel Ali	FOR
Gloster Hazel	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Goodwin Chris	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Shuttleworth Graham	FOR
Harrison Jenny	FOR	Surjan Ruji	FOR
Hindle Neil	FOR	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hobin Brian	APOLOGIES	Taylor Elaine	FOR
Hulme George	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hussain Aftab	FOR	Williams Steve	FOR
Hussain Fida	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Sajed	FOR	Woodvine Max	FOR
Ibrahim Nyla	FOR	Garry Elaine (MAYOR)	FOR

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, the RESOLUTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council, in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2023/24 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authority/Parish	Council Tax Bands (£)
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Oldham Council	1,242.10	1,449.12	1,656.14	1,863.16	2,277.19	2,691.23	3,105.26	3,726.32
Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept	162.20	189.23	216.26	243.30	297.36	351.43	405.50	486.60
Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services)	71.96	83.96	95.95	107.95	131.93	155.92	179.91	215.90
Saddleworth Parish Precept	17.00	19.83	22.66	25.50	31.16	36.83	42.50	51.00
Shaw and Crompton Parish Precept	11.92	13.91	15.90	17.89	21.86	25.84	29.81	35.78

 

AGGREGATE OF COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENTS

Authority/Parish	Council Tax Bands (£)
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Saddleworth Parish Area	1,493.26	1,742.14	1,991.01	2,239.91	2,737.64	3,235.41	3,733.17	4,479.82
Shaw & Crompton Parish Area	1,488.18	1,736.22	1,984.25	2,232.30	2,728.34	3,224.42	3,720.48	4,464.60
All other parts of the Council’s Area	1,476.26	1,722.31	1,968.35	2,214.41	2,706.48	3,198.58	3,690.67	4,428.82