Meeting

To receive any apologies for absence.

To receive and note any disclosable pecuniary interests from councillors. In accordance with the Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any personal or prejudicial interests which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda. Participation in the meeting and vote shall depend upon the nature of the interest.

Councillors should refer to the declaration of interest flowchart and raise any queries with the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Members are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent and if appropriate, withdraw from the room immediately thereafter.

To consider recommendations made by Cabinet and other committees which in addition to the recommendations set out in item 6 on the agenda, relate to the setting of the budget, the Medium Term Financial Strategy and other legal matters associated with the determination of the council tax.

Cabinet – 14 February 2024

Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25

Council is Recommended to RESOLVE to:

1)         agree to amend the current scheme so that the allowances and premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are uplifted in line with the figures applied by the Department for Works and Pensions, (DWP), for the Housing Benefit Scheme in 2024/25;

2)         agree to amend the current scheme so that the non-dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are adapted in line with the rates as set by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for non-dependant pension age claims;

3)         approve that the Council continues to facilitate a Council Tax Support Hardship Fund;

4)         approve the retention of all remaining elements of the current 2023/24 scheme; and

5)         approve the necessary amendments being made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it then being published in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2).

Licensing Committee - 16 January 2024

Review of Street Trading Consent Fees

Council is Recommended to RESOLVE that the new fees as set out in Appendix A of the report submitted to the Licensing Committee on 16 January 2024 be approved for implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2024.

Licensing Committee – 16 January/27 February 2024

Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Fees

Recommendations to follow.

Planning Policy Committee – 5 February 2024

Update of Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Protocol

Council is recommended to:

1.              approve the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Protocol (2024) as set out in Appendix A of the report submitted to the Planning Policy Committee on 5 February 2024;

2.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to amend the CIL Spending Protocol following adoption, provided those changes are limited to the correction of factual errors and changes necessary to accommodate national or local changes in regulations, guidance or procedures and shall not otherwise alter the meaning of the Protocol;

3.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to prepare guidance and relevant process notes for the implementation and administration of CIL spending decisions in line with the Spending Protocol;

4.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to determine applications for spends from the Neighbourhood Portion; subject to the total expenditure not exceeding that set out in the Capital Spending Programme for the stated year; and

5.              update the Local Scheme of Delegation to record the delegation of authority at b–d above and the revocation of the earlier authorisations contained in b–g of Council minute 83/03/201.

·                     Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council will give his budget speech to the Council (No time limit)

·                     Budget speech by the Leaders of the Opposition (No time limit)

·                     Debate (Normal time limits apply)

·                     Right to Reply – Councillor Rennie (Normal time limits apply)

To consider:

a.                  the recommendations from Cabinet held on 14 February 2024 as set out in the attached revised report; and

b.                  in the event of amendments being received in accordance with CSO 20.3 (Section A, Council Standing Orders) the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It should be noted that a named vote must be taken on the setting of the Council’s budget.