Agenda and minutes

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No. Item

99.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 January, 2019 were signed as a true record.

100.

Coventry Good Citizen Award

To be presented by the Lord Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor presented Neil and Fiona Richardson with the Good Citizen Award. Their citation read:

 

“For over 10 years Neil and Fiona have worked tirelessly to raise funds for various charities such as Mercia MS Therapy Centre, Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Special Care Baby Unit. Over the years Fiona has grown her hair 3 times in order to donate it to make wigs for children with cancer, she also had her head shaved to raise further funds for Multiple Sclerosis which Fiona herself was diagnosed with over 10 years ago.

 

Both Neil and Fiona have worked very hard over the years organising charity events such as concerts headlining local bands and also getting friends and family with musical backgrounds involved. They have both volunteered many hours to ensure that the events run smoothly collecting raffle and auction prizes for the shows and also made DVD’s of the events to maximise the charitable contributions. Their main goal is to raise as much as they can and distribute it amongst different charities but they also love getting the community together and involved in the events to promote community cohesion.

 

Alongside the fundraising Fiona is also involved in helping individuals who suffer with mental illness, depression and bipolar, through the power of social media she is able to highlight these issues engaging with people who are suffering to make them aware they are not alone. It is evident to see that both Neil and Fiona are loving and caring individuals willing to volunteer their time helping others however they can, their actions truly reflect their character and it is evident they are both worthy recipients of this Good Citizen Award”.

 

101.

Correspondence and Announcements of the Lord Mayor

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Minutes:

Feedback on Civic Visit to Dresden

 

The Lord Mayor provided feedback on a civic visit to Dresden undertaken earlier this month by himself and Councillor AS Khan to represent the City in a series of events, including a meeting of their City Council to mark the 60th Anniversary of the twinning city links between Coventry and Dresden.

 

The Lord Mayor was asked to address the meeting of Dresden Council and with the endorsement of the Leaders of both groups, delivered the following message:

 

“In 1959, following the common fate of two cities during World War II and after years of combined efforts for reconciliation and understanding amongst its people, resulted in the official Twinning of two great cities – Coventry and Dresden. 

 

The Community of Cross of Nails, which is still a very important symbol of peace for our city today, has also played a significant part of our histories.  There are now four Cross of Nails Centres in Dresden that helps spread our message of unity.

 

On the 60th Anniversary of Twinning the Council of Coventry extends to the City of Dresden a message of peace and wishes to reaffirm its commitment for the future as we continue to work towards a more peaceful world.  Our ties of friendship which bind us have been cultivated and strengthened during this time through education, faith, arts and a shared love of culture.  It is inspiring to think that a bond formed through hardship and at a time when friendship was not the first reaction of many, is still so strong 60 years later - and that it enriches so many lives today. 

 

Thank you to the City of Dresden for everything you have done for Coventry over the past 60 years and we look forward to many more years of friendship.”

 

A framed copy of the message in English and German was presented to the City of Dresden as a gift from the Council.

 

 

 

102.

Petitions

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Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate City Council Bodies/external organisations:

 

(a)  Request for traffic calming measures on Broad Lane, between Banner Lane and Coventry Road, including Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) – 46 signatures, presented by Councillor Male.

 

(b)  Request for residents parking scheme in Blondvil Street – 35 signatures, presented by Councillor Bailey.

 

(c)  Request the Council to review and modify its ‘10 minute grace period’ policy on the Templars Grange Estate – 53 signatures, presented by Councillor Lapsa.

 

(d)  Objection to Planning Application FUL/2018/3439, proposals for 23 Innis Road – 87 signatures, presented by Councillor Taylor.

 

(e)  Petition to save Aldi in Bell Green – 450 signatures, presented jointly by Councillor Bigham and Councillor Seaman.

 

(f)  Petition to reduce speeding vehicles along Hinckley Road – 10 signatures, presented by Councillor Seaman.

 

(g)  Petition requesting the Council to install traffic calming measures and 20mph zone to reduce speeding on Sheriff Avenue – 14 signatures, presented by Councillor Lapsa.

 

(h)  Request for residents parking scheme on the Walsgrave Road end of Church Lane – 8 signatures, presented by Councillor McNicholas.

103.

Declarations of Interest

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Minutes:

The Council noted that Councillor Lapsa had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the matter referred to in Minute 107 below relating to “Budget Report 2019/20” in so far as his wife currently works for the library service which was specifically referred to in the Conservative amendment, which was lost. He remained in the meeting for the consideration of this item.

104.

Motion Without Notice

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with the Constitution, a Motion without Notice was moved by Councillor M Mutton, seconded by Councillor D Welsh and adopted that agenda items 7 (Consultation Responses Business Rates Retention Reform and Review of Local Authorities’ Relative Needs and Resources), 8 (2019/20 Council Tax Setting Report) and 9 (Budget Report 2019/20) be considered together.

 

It was noted that a recorded vote would be taken in respect of all decisions relating to matters the subject of Minutes 106 and 107 below (including any amendments)

 

105.

Consultation Responses Business Rates Retention Reform and Review of Local Authorities' Relative Needs and Resources pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 109/18 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), which outlined proposed responses to two Government consultations on Local Authorities’ Relative Needs and Resources and Business Rates Retention Reform.

 

RESOLVED that the City Council approves the attached consultation response, including the recommendation from the Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board (1), to be sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

106.

2019/20 Council Tax Setting Report pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 116/18 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which calculated the Council Tax level for 2019/20 and made appropriate recommendations to Council, consistent with the Budget Report 2019/20.

 

The report indicated that some of the figures and information set out within the report were identified as provisional as the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire and Rescue Authority precepts had not been confirmed at the time of publication. At the meeting, Councillor J Mutton Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, indicated that the Fire and Rescue Authority precept had changed marginally to that published in the report. The figures contained within the Minutes would be amended accordingly. 

 

The report incorporated the impact of the Council’s gross expenditure and the level of income it will receive through Business Rates, grants, fees and charges.  This results in a Council Tax requirement, as the amount that its expenditure exceeds all other sources of income.

 

The report includes a calculation of the Band D Council Tax that will be needed to generate this Council Tax requirement, based on the City’s approved Council Tax base.  The 2019/20 Band D Council Tax that is calculated through this process as increased by £46.36 from the 2018/19 level.

 

The Government has legislated that the rise in Coventry City Council’s basic Council Tax must be below 3% in 2019/20 to avoid triggering a referendum.  The recommendations within the Budget Report 2019/20 are based on a proposed increase in Council Tax off 2.9%.

 

It was noted that the recommendations follow the structure of resolutions drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, to ensure that legal requirements are fully adhered to in setting the tax.  As a consequence the wording of the proposed resolutions is necessarily complex.

 

RESOVED that the City Council:

 

 

1.  Note the following Council Tax base amounts for the year 2019/20, as approved by Cabinet on 8th January 2019, in accordance with Regulations made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (“the Act”):

 

a)  83,400.1 being the amount calculated by the Council as its Council Tax base for the year for the whole Council area;

 

b)  Allesley  337.8

Finham  1,548.4

Keresley  239.0

 

Being the amounts calculated by the Council as its Council Tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

2.  That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 26 of the Act :

 

(a)  £744,441,666  being the aggregate of the amounts that 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 (Gross Expenditure and reserves required to be raised for estimated future expenditure);

 

 

(b)  £609,249,683  being the aggregate of the amounts that the Council estimates for the items set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

107.

Budget Report 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 250 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 117/18 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which set out the proposals for the Council’s final revenue and capital budget for 2019/20.

 

The report followed on from the Pre-Budget report approved by the Cabinet on 27th November, 2018, which had been the subject of a period of public consultation. The proposals within the report now submitted formed the basis of the Council’s final revenue and capital budget for 2019/20, incorporating the following details:

 

·  Gross budgeted spend of £744m (£17m and 2% higher than 2018/19).

·  Net budgets spend of £232m (£3m lower than 2018/19) funding from Council Tax and Business Rates less a tariff payment of £19.6m due to Government.

·  A Council tax Requirement of £135.2m (£7.9m and 6% higher than 2018/19) reflecting a City Council Tax increase of 2.9% detailed in the separate Council Tax Setting report on the Cabinet agenda.

·  A number of new expenditure pressures and savings proposals within Council services.

·  A Capital Strategy including a Capital Programme of £195.3m, including expenditure funding by Prudential Borrowing of £50.3m.

·  An updated Treasury Management Strategy.

·  In the response to the new regulatory requirements and for the first time, a Capital Strategy and a Commercial Investments Strategy.

 

The financial position within the Budget Report was based on the Final 2019/20 Local Government Settlement and incorporated anticipated reductions in funding over the next 3 years.  This position contained significant uncertainty for the period after 2019/20 which would be subject to the combination of a new national Spending Review, a revised allocation model within the Local Government sector and a new national 75% Business Rates retention model.  As a result it was impossible to provide a robust financial forecast at this stage.  Nevertheless, initial assumptions and existing trends were sufficiently firm to indicate that in all likelihood there would be a substantial gap for the period following 2020/21.  The view of the Council’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services was that the Council should be planning for such a position.

 

2019/20 would see the Council continue, along with the other 6 West Midlands councils, to participate in a 100% Business Rates Pilot scheme.  This would enable the Councils to retain 99% of Business Rates income including any growth against an historic baseline which would otherwise have been returned to the Government.  The financial model and assumptions that support the Pilot have been incorporated within the financial position included in this report.

 

The Pre-Budget Report was based on an increase in Council Tax of 2.9% and this position has been maintained for the final proposals in the report submitted.  This was within the Government’s limit of 3%, above which a referendum would need to be held.  This proposed increase would be the equivalent of around 70p a week for a typical Coventry household.

 

The Council’s medium term financial position included the impact of reductions in Government funding that had already been anticipated and savings programmes that have been approved previously.  However, after  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

108.

Statements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no Statements.