Meeting

To confirm the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25 January 2024.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

To declare disposable pecuniary, and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

To receive any questions from members of the public submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.

Note:  The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 12 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) no later than Noon on Friday, 16 February 2024.

To receive any questions from Members submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 14.

Note: The text of any question under the Council Procedure Rule 14.3 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) not later than 5.00pm on Monday 19 February 2024

The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 14.4 must be submitted to the Chief Executive before 10.00am on Monday 19 February 2024.

The Minutes of the following Committees, which met on the dates shown, are submitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.1, Members are allowed to put questions at Council without Notice in respect of any matters in the Minutes to the Leader of the Council or any Chairman of the relevant meeting at the time those Minutes are received by Council.

Meeting

Date

Page Numbers

For Decision

Cabinet (draft)

01 February 2024

136-142

Overview and Scrutiny

16 January 2024

143-149

Purpose Of Report

1.            The Council must set a balanced budget for 2024/2025. The draft revenue and capital budget proposals are summarised in this report.

Recommendation

2.            Cabinet is recommending to Council that it:

i.         approves a 2.99% increase in Hart District Council’s Band D Council Tax Charge for 2024/25,

ii.         agrees changes to fees and charges for 2024/25 in line with the principles set out in this report, and approves the full schedule included at Appendix 4,

iii.         approves the draft Revenue Budget for 2024/25 as summarised in paragraph 15 and Appendix 1, incorporating the baseline net service cost variations included at paragraph 17 and Appendix 1,

iv.         approves the Capital Bids as detailed in Appendix 2,

v.         approves the Medium-Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendix 3,

vi.         notes the emerging pressures and risks set out in the report and the S151 Officer’s intention to undertake a mid-year review of detailed budgets

vii.         approves the continuation of the capital receipt flexibility strategy detailed in the report under the Direction issued by the Government early in 2022.

viii.         approves not to change the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme other than the required statutory uprating,

1              The purpose of this report is to provide the Council with the necessary information to make decisions regarding the setting of Council Tax for the year 2024/25. It summarises all the relevant budgetary decisions that have been made to determine the level of Council Tax for the year 2024/25. The report includes the specifics of each individual level of Council Tax that requires approval by the Council. Council approved the overall council tax base on 25 January 2024, 42,690.97 dwellings.

Recommendation

2              It is recommended that Council agrees to the following council tax resolutions:

A.         The Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25 (excluding Parish precepts) is £8,460,069.52

B.         That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 and 34 to 36 of the Act:

38,849,929

being the aggregate of the amounts the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act takes into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

£26,175,014

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

£12,674,915

being the amount by which the aggregate at B(i) above exceeds the aggregate at B(ii) 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(1) of the Act).

£296.90

being the amount at B(iii) above divided by 42,690.97, 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).

£4,214,846

being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per Column 2 of Appendix 1A).

£198.17

being the amount at B(iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at B(v) above by 42,690.97, 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 Parish precept relates.

The amounts set out in column 6 of Appendix 1A for each part of the Council's area being the amounts given by adding to the amount at B(vi) above the amounts of the parish precepts relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned in Appendix 1A divided in each case by the dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34 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.

The amounts set out in columns 1 to 9 of Appendix 1B for each part of the Council's area being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at B(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.

C.         For each financial year, a major precepting authority shall issue a precept or precepts in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The draft Hampshire County Council’s precept figures are subject to approval on 22 February 2024 and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s on 26 February, and these draft figures are listed below. In the event of changes arising for decisions made by the major precepting authorities (i.e. Hampshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue), it is recommended that the Executive Director for Corporate Services & Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance, be authorised to update the final council tax calculations to reflect the final decisions of the major precepting authorities The Council Tax requirement for the Hart District Council’s own purposes for 2024/25 (excluding Parish precepts) is £8,460,069.52

Valuation Band

Hampshire County Council (HCC)

(£)

HCC Adult Social Care

(£)

Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire

(£)

Hampshire Fire and Rescue

(£)

A(R)

729.07

122.73

145.26

46.02

A

874.88

147.28

174.31

55.23

B

1,020.69

171.83

203.36

64.43

C

1,166.51

196.37

232.41

73.64

D

1,312.32

220.92

261.46

82.84

E

1,603.95

270.01

319.56

101.25

F

1,895.57

319.11

377.66

119.66

G

2,187.20

368.20

435.77

138.07

H

2,624.64

441.84

522.92

165.68

D.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at B(viii) and Recommendation C above, the Council, in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby AGREES to set the amounts shown in Appendix 1E of the report as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings in each of the Parishes.

E.         That for the purposes of section 35 (2) (d) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, any expenses incurred by the District Council in the financial year 2024/25 in performing functions in a part of the district where elsewhere in the district are performed by a Parish Council, shall not be special expenses of the District Council.

F.         That the Council concludes the 2.99% increase in Council Tax for Hart District Council for 2024/25 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.

1.            To present the draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2024/25 which incorporates the Annual Investment Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy and Prudential and Treasury Indicators.

2.            It is a legal obligation to set a Capital Strategy, which is also presented for review. This strategy provides the strategic framework for the treasury activity. The 2024/25 draft documents do not suggest any major changes as compared to the approved ones for the current year.

Recommendation

3.              Cabinet is recommending to Council that it:

i.         approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/25 and the revised Minimum Revenue Provision policy contained within it,

ii.          approves the Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 and;

iii.         Approves the Capital Strategy 2024/25.

To receive any feedback from Members who are representatives of the Council on an Outside Body.