Policy And Resources Committee - 14/02/2002

At a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th February 2002.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Willie W SAWERS

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Allan PETRIE

Fraser MACPHERSON

Betty WARD

George REGAN

Julia M STURROCK

Jill SHIMI

Bruce D MACKIE

Neil GLEN

Neil I C POWRIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Ian BORTHWICK

Kenneth J N GUILD

Fiona M GRANT

Robin PRESSWOOD

Derek J SCOTT

David BOWES

Richard BEATTIE

John CORRIGAN

Mervyn J ROLFE

Andrew DAWSON

 

 

 

Councillor Regan, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th February, 2002 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I REVENUE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 2002/03 AND 2003/04

 

Councillors Sturrock, Glen, Rolfe and Borthwick declared an interest in this item.

 

With reference to Article 1 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 14th February 2001, there was submitted,

 

(i)a letter dated 7th February 2002 by the Director of Support Services regarding the restrictions on voting in terms of Section 112 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1992,

 

(ii)Report No 135-2002 by the Director of Finance.

 

The Committee gave consideration to recommendations in Report No 135-2002 as far as its interests were concerned and

 

(i)Noted the contents of the Provisional Revenue Budget Volume 2002/03 and 2003/04;

 

(ii)Approved the adjustments detailed in Appendix B to this report and reduced the 2002/03 Revenue Budget by 2,266,000 to 240.393m and reduced the 2003/04 Revenue Budget by 2,390,000 to 255.604m;

 

(iii)Noted those factors which required to be considered when setting the final Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2002/03 and the revised indicative Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2003/04 (referred to in paragraphs 8 to 16 of this report);

 

(iv)Noted that, under the Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Limitation arrangement, the Council would incur a financial penalty through a reduction in Council Tax Benefit Subsidy if it increases its Council Tax by more than 5% and 50 in 2002/03.

 

Thereafter, Councillor Regan, seconded by Councillor Sturrock, moved that the Committee,

 

(i)Notes the contents of Report No 135-2002 by the Director of Finance together with the estimates of Revenue Expenditure for the year from 1st April 2002 to 31st March 2003 as contained in the Provisional Revenue Budget Volume.

 

(ii)Approves the 2002/03 Revenue Budget, as detailed in the Budget Volume, subject to the adjustments outlined at (iii), (iv) and (v) below.

(iii)Agrees that the net budget adjustments of 2,266,000 as detailed in Appendix B to the Director of Finance's report, be approved and included in the 2002/03 Revenue Budget.

 

(iv)Agrees the Review of Charges as presented to the Policy & Resources Committee, totalling 824,000.

 

(v)Agrees that the savings of 2,873,000 as outlined in Appendix 1 to this motion, be approved and included in the 2002/03 Revenue Budget.

 

(vi)Approves the calculation of the Council Tax for 2002/03, as detailed in Appendix 2 to this motion.

 

(vii)Approves that the 2002/03 Non-Domestic Rate poundage be levied at 47.8p, as prescribed by the Minister for Finance and Public Services.

 

(viii)Approves that the 2002/03 Band D Council Tax be determined at 1,079 and the Council Tax for each band be set as follows:-

 

2002/03 Council Tax Per Band

 

Council Tax Band

Factor

2002/03 Council Tax

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

 

6/9

7/9

8/9

9/9

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

 

719.33

839.22

959.11

1,079.00

1,318.78

1,558.56

1,798.33

2,158.00

 

(ix)Approved an indicative 2003/04 Band D Council Tax level of 1,133 representing an annual percentage increase of 5%.

 

Appendix I (Labour)

 

Revenue Budget 2002/03

 

Dept/Item No

Narrative

Savings in

2002/03

000

 

 

 

 

Labour Administration Total Savings per

P & R Committee

2,822

 

Add

Conservative Group Savings per P & R Committee

 

Leisure & Arts

1

 

 

Transfer of vehicle purchases to leasing

 

 

39

2

Reduce grant funding to Dundee Contemporary Arts

10

Support Services

1

 

 

Reduction in publications distributed to Group Offices

 

 

1

2

Rationalisation of home deliveries to Councillors

      1

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SAVINGS

2,873

 

Appendix 2 (Labour)

 

Revenue Budget and Council Tax Calculation 2002/03

 

 

2002/03

000

 

 

Provisional Revenue Budget

242,659

 

 

Less Adjustments per Appendix B of the Director of Finance's report (135-2002)

 

(2,266)

 

240,393

 

 

Less Savings (including Review of Charges) per Appendix 1

 

(2,873)

 

 

Revised Revenue Budget

237,520

 

Less Revenue Support Grant/NDRI

(187,591)

 

49,929

 

 

Less Amount to be met from balances

(500)

 

 

AMOUNT TO BE MET FROM COUNCIL TAX

49,429

 

 

Council Tax Base (Band D Equivalent)

47,500

 

 

Less Provision for Non-Collection (3.5%)

(1,662)

 

 

Adjusted Council Tax Base

45,838

 

 

Council Tax (Band D)

1,079

 

 

Year-on-Year Increase in Council Tax

33

 

 

% Year-on-Year Increase

3.15%

 

As an amendment, Councillor Sawers, seconded by Councillor Corrigan, moved that the Committee,

 

(i)Notes the contents of Report 135-2002 by the Director of Finance, together with the estimates of Revenue Expenditure for the year from 1 April 2002 to 31st March 2003 as contained in the Provisional Revenue Budget Volume.

 

(ii)Approves the 2002/03 Revenue Budget, as detailed in the Budget Volume, subject to the adjustments outlined at (iii), (iv) and (v), below.

 

(iii)Agrees that the net budget adjustments of 2,266,000 as detailed in Appendix B to the Director of Finance's report, be approved and included in the 2002/03 Revenue Budget.

 

(iv)Agrees the Review of Charges as presented to the Policy and Resources Committee, totalling 545,000.

 

(v)Agrees that the savings of 2,787,000 as outlined in Appendix 1 to this amendment, be approved and included in the 2002/03 Revenue Budget.

(vi)Approves the calculation of the Council Tax for 2002/03, as detailed in Appendix 2 to this amendment.

 

(vii)Approves that the 2002/03 Non-Domestic Rate poundage be levied at 47.8p, as prescribed by the Minister for Finance and Public Services.

 

(viii)Approves that the 2002/03 Band D Council Tax be determined at 1,080 and the Council Tax for each band be set as follows:-

 

2002/03 Council Tax Per Band

 

Council Tax Band

Factor

2002/03 Council Tax

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

 

6/9

7/9

8/9

9/9

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

 

720.00

840.00

960.00

1,080.00

1,320.00

1,560.00

1,800.00

2,160.00

 

(ix)Approves the recommendation of the Chief Executive that an indicative 2003/04 Band D Council Tax level of 1,134 representing an annual percentage increase of 5%.

 

Appendix I (SNP)

 

Revenue Budget 2002/03 and 2003/04

 

Department

Item No

Narrative

Savings

in 2002/03

000

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNP GROUP TOTAL SAVINGS PER P & R

1,972

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

LABOUR GROUP SAVINGS PER P & R

 

 

 

 

 

Education

1d

Charges for Pre-School Nursery Places as per Labour (balance)

 

70

 

 

 

 

 

3

Phased Withdrawal of Tied Houses

16

 

 

 

 

 

4

Pre-School Education (Full Time Places) (Changing Children's Services Fund)

 

200

 

 

 

 

Social Work

2c

Non-Residential Care Charges - proposed charges

Delete Home Care Charge and replace with:

Housework 7.38 per hour

Shopping 4.64 per task

Laundry 4.36 per task

Total additional income

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

2d

Conversion of Happyhillock Child and Family Centre to Self Financing Centre

 

154

 

 

 

 

 

3

Funding from Scottish Executive - Changing Children's Services Fund

 

200

 

NRDD

2a

Interpretation and Translation Unit - additional income

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

5

Reduce staffing establishment by one Unit Leader post

 

38

 

 

 

 

Leisure & Arts

2

Belmont Estate/Agriculture

26

 

 

 

 

 

3

Reduce Budget for Dundee Flower Show and Food Festival

 

30

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive

1

Reduce Thirty Party Payments - Quality Scotland Foundation

 

5

 

 

 

 

Press Office

1

Reduction of Advertising/Publicity Budget and/or the Marketing and Promotions Budget

 

12

 

 

 

 

Finance General

1

Commission Charged to Trade Unions

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

Conservative Group Savings per P & R

 

 

 

 

 

Leisure & Arts

1

Plant and Equipment - leasing

39

 

 

 

TOTAL SAVINGS

 

2,787

Appendix 2 (SNP)

 

Revenue Budget and Council Tax Calculation 2002/03

 

 

2002/03

000

 

 

Provisional Revenue Budget

242,659

 

 

Less Adjustments per Appendix B of the Director of Finance's report (135-2002)

 

(2,266)

 

240,393

 

 

Less Savings (including Review of Charges) per Appendix 2

 

(2,787)

 

Revised Revenue Budget

237,606

 

Less Revenue Support Grant/NDRI

(187,591)

 

50,015

 

 

Less Amount to be met from balances

  (500)

 

 

AMOUNT TO BE MET FROM COUNCIL TAX

49,515

 

 

Council Tax Base (Band D Equivalent)

47,500

 

 

Less Provision for Non-Collection (3.5%)

(1,662)

 

 

 

Adjusted Council Tax Base

45,838

 

 

Council Tax (Band D)

1,080

 

 

Year-on-Year Increase in Council Tax

34

 

 

% Year-on-Year Increase

3.25%

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Regan, de Gernier, Wright, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Farquhar, Sturrock, Glen, Grant, Rolfe, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott and Macpherson (17); and for the amendment - Councillor Richard Beattie, Dawson, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce, Bowes, Sawers and Borthwick (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

 

 

 

George REGAN, Convener