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NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

18th February 2015 A meeting of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council was held at the Town Hall, Nuneaton, on Wednesday, 18th February, 2014.

Present

The Mayor (Councillor B.L. Hawkes) The Deputy Mayor (Councillor B.J. Longden)

Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, I.C. Bonner, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, J. Foster, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, K.A. Kondakor, A.A. Loyd, I.K. Lloyd, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips, G.D. Pomfrett, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tandy, R.A. Taylor, R.D. Tromans, C.M. Watkins and K.D. Wilson

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D. Aldington, R.G. Copland, T. Doherty, N.G. Grant and T.E. Sheppard. Prayers were taken by the Rev. Helga Cornell.

CL47 Minutes The minutes of the meeting of the Council meeting held on the 10th December were confirmed and signed by the Mayor, subject to Councillor K. Wilson’s interests being amended to read: “(e) Councillor K.D. Wilson declared Other Interests in any item by virtue of him being on the board of Nuneaton and Bedworth Community Enterprise Limited (NABCEL) for which he has received dispensation to speak and vote on matters relating to this company as long as this does not affect him personally and him being an employee of the Courts service.”

CL48 Interests

(a) Councillors K.A. Kondakor, J.B. Beaumont, S. Doughty and C.S. Phillips declared Other Interest in any relevant item by virtue of them being Members of Warwickshire County Council. (b) Councillor J.A. Tandy declared an Other Interest by virtue of her being a Member of Warwickshire County Council and a Member of the Local Enterprise Board. (c) Councillor D.C. Navarro declared an Other Interest in any relevant item by reason of him being a non-executive director of George Eliot Hospital

- 68 - (d) Councillor C.M. Watkins declared an Other Interest by virtue of him being the Community Safety Ambassador for Arbury and Stockingford. (e) Councillor A.A. Lloyd declared Other Interests in any relevant item by reason of him being the Council’s representative on the Hospice Charity and also by reason of him being a Governor of George Eliot Hospital. (f) J.A. Jackson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any relevant item by reason of her husband’s employment with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Sport and Leisure Management for which she has received dispensation to speak and vote on matters that do not relate specifically to his contract of employment or the unit in which he is employed and by virtue of her being a Member of Warwickshire County Council. She also declared an Other Interest in agenda item no. 11(g) by virtue of her being a member of Nuneaton Lions who organise one of the bonfires. (e) Councillor K.D. Wilson declared an Other Interest in any item by virtue of him and employee of the Courts service.

CL49 Announcements (a) The Mayor announced that officers of the Council had taken part in an RTPI football tournament in Birmingham and had won on penalties in the final. The cup and photograph were on display at the Council meeting and would be kept in the Mayor’s Parlour. (b) The Mayor also announced that the Professional Womens’ Guild had been disbanded and that the organisation had given the chain of office to the Council for safekeeping.

(c) He also informed Council that there would be a short break after item 11(f) to consider the budget proposals put forward by the various groups. (d) He also reminded Members that all decisions made on the budget must be made by recorded vote (i.e. agenda items 11(f) to 11(i)). CL50 Public Participation (a) Michele Kondakor asked the following question:

“I am concerned at the reduction in the current staff working on the Borough Plan. At the recent Planning and Environment OSP, which I attended, concern was raised at the fact that there had been a reduction in the proportion of people in employment in the Borough. The officer admitted that 'there is a continuing challenge to the Borough' and that there were plans to 'increase capacity and expertise in the field of economic development'. In view of these statements, could the Portfolio holder explain why the existing economic development officer

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has been made redundant and the senior planning policy officer working on the long-awaited Borough Plan has been diverted to the senior economic development role well before any new staff with the appropriate expertise have been recruited?” Councillor A.A. Lloyd, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development responded as follows:- “The Council recognises the importance of attracting new businesses to the Borough as well as helping existing businesses to grow. A restructure within the Planning Policy and Economic Development Team has taken place in order to facilitate this. The restructure involved changes to the job descriptions of 2 posts within the team as well as the creation of an additional post. One of the existing post holders chose not to take up the post and instead took voluntary redundancy. The recruitment process for an Economic Development Officer and Economic Development Assistant is currently taking place as a consequence. The changes will not have a negative impact on the Borough Plan, it will actually be beneficial to the achievement of the ambitions for the future of the Borough.” Alan Baxter asked the following question: “It was with much interest that I read one of Victoria Fowlers ‘campaign’ posts on the Internet the other week; Quote : ”“More and more people in Nuneaton are having to rely on food banks to survive. This is a direct result of Tory policies like the Bedroom Tax, which have plunged thousands across the country into poverty and left many struggling to make ends meet.” I have struggled to square this statement from the Labour Candidate against the policy of the Labour dominated Council in Nuneaton to charge the poorest people in this Borough a minimum contribution of 20% of the Full Council Tax for the property in which they live whilst in other neighbouring Boroughs such as Coventry and Stratford the poorest people are charged NOTHING. By their own candidates words Labour in Nuneaton are just as guilty as the Tories of helping to plunge people into poverty and into the food bank system by imposing this Tax upon the poorest in our Borough when, plainly, it is possible not to Tax them at all. I understand one of the Aims of the this Borough Council is to try to equalise the inequality in living standards that we see across the County – Nuneaton in the North being a deprived area as compared to the more affluent towns like Stratford in the South. To the end of satisfying this Aim I would like to ask what plan our Labour dominated Council has in place to bring an end to this Tax inequality by bringing the rate of contribution that the poorest in our Borough have to pay to down to O% as per that enjoyed in Coventry and Stratford.?

- 70 - By doing this there should also be a theoretical reduction in the number of Liability Orders issued to people struggling to pay this 20% rate – for which a further “fee” of £80 or so is levied – pushing the subject even further into debt. A proverbial double-whammy of Tax and Fees imposed on Nuneaton’s poorest people?” Councillor Harvey, Leader of the Council, responded as follows: “Mr. Mayor, the Local Council Tax Support Scheme was brought in by the Conservative/Lib Dem Government in 2013 and replaced the national Council Tax Benefit scheme of the previous Labour Government. Councils received TEN PER CENT less funding than previously. Although we were then allowed to design our own scheme, pensioners had to be exempted from any changes, which increased the funding gap and left even less for everyone else. We do offer support to those residents struggling to pay the 20% contribution to the Council tax on their property and, in particular, we have set up a hardship fund to which people in severe difficulty can apply. We also work in partnership with other agencies, such as CAB to assist where people are struggling to manage their finances. We do plan to review the current scheme in the coming year and a public consultation exercise will be carried out on any proposed changes for 2016/17. However, Mr. Mayor, Nuneaton and Bedworth has a far bigger proportion of its population who are in financial difficulties than in Stratford-upon-Avon, and it is the Tory-led Government which cut the funding for Council Tax Support for the less well off. We have, as a Council, opposed and will continue to oppose, these Government-led attacks on the poorest people in our society. As the Leader of the Labour Group, I also welcome the efforts of my colleagues in the party at large to further publicise the expose this iniquitous legislation.”

CL51 Questions by Members

(a) Councillor P.D. Hickling will ask the following question: “Could the Leader please explain the decision making process for the allocation of housing numbers in Nuneaton and Bedworth and if any of these meetings were held in secret?” Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council, responded as follows: “As is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities are required to use an evidence based approach to identify the objectively assessed housing need for their housing market area. They are under a DUTY TO CO-OPERATE with surrounding authorities to ensure that the housing need is met.

- 71 - Reflecting this, Nuneaton and Bedworth worked with the rest of the Warwickshire Districts and the City of Coventry to commission a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to provide that evidence. An assessment was produced in November, 2013 and then updated in September, 2014 to reflect a national update of population projections. The findings of the assessment were reported to a meeting of the Shadow Economic Prosperity Board, which represents all of Warwickshire, Coventry and Hinckley on 10th October. The meeting, which I chaired, was held here, in the Council Chamber, in public, NOT in private. The findings were again discussed by the Board at a meeting in Stratford on 21st November, at which Councillor Jackson represented this Council. They were brought to the Cabinet meeting here on 4th February, 2015. All of these meetings were held in public and there were members of the public present at all three meetings. I can assure Councillor Hicklind that there were NO secret meetings and any such assertions that he may have heard or read are totally false.” (b) Councillor K.A. Kondakor asked the following question: “You chaired the October 2014 meeting of the shadow Economic Prosperity Board (EPB) held in Nuneaton, which first raised the new housing targets for Coventry and Warwickshire based on 2014 Joint Strategic Housing Market Assessment. You quite rightly refused to be bounced into accepting the new 495 homes per year target and said the “committee could not direct the individual authorities on housing numbers”. At the November meetings in Stratford on Avon our borough was represented by Cllr Jackson. She agreed with the represented report on Housing numbers “as this safeguarded individual authorities within the group to make their own decisions”. We were then told at the Cabinet meeting on the 4th February 2015 that the council could not make its own decision on Housing numbers and had to accept this increased number due to the duty to cooperate. Clearly the new target of allowing 9900 homes over 20 years will open up more of our countryside to development by appeal across the whole borough. We have imposed on us a larger increase in housing that any of the other 5 councils even though we are the one with the least land. Will the leader of the council go to the economic prosperity board meeting on the 19th of March in Warwick and ask for our allocation initially to be set at 422 per year target as suggested by the latest 2014 Strategic Housing Market Assessment? “ Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council responded as follows:

- 72 - “As was explained in the report considered by Cabin on 4th February, the Council is bound by the requirements of the DUTY TO CO-OPERATE, which are set out in the 2011 Localism Act. As a result, the Council is required to work with neighbouring authorities in Coventry and Warwickshire to ensure the housing requirements of the Housing Market Area are met as a whole. It is BLATANTLY UNTRUE to say that the other four Warwickshire authorities are taking less housing than us. In truth, only North Warwickshire, a very small authority in population terms, has been apportioned a lower figure. Rugby has been assigned 660 dwellings a year, Stratford 540-570 and Warwick 720, all of which are higher than the 495 apportioned to Nuneaton and Bedworth. The whole popint about my comments at the meeting in October was that the document was only tabled during the meeting, and that these figures had to go to the District Councilors to consider and could not be voted upon at that meeting. In setting the record straight, Mr. Mayor, I would like to point out that there are many hundreds, if not thousands, of people, young and old alike, in our borough, who are seeking new homes, with many seeking a home of their own for the first time. Why is it that Councillor Kondakor, who himself lives in a house built not that long ago on what was once a farmer’s field, continues to rail against the building of new homes for the many people who have aspirations to have their own homes or to seek to move to a new house in our borough. NO, Mr. Mayor, I will NOT go to the Economic Prosperity Board meeting on 19th March and ask for the allocation to be changed. Such an action would only lease to further delays in settling our borough plan and cause even more uncertainty over local planning and housing matters.” (c) Councillor W.J. Hancox asked the following question: “”Could the Cabinet Member for Housing provide an update on our programme of building new Council houses?” Councillor J.A. Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities responded as follows: “Our tenants have consistently told us that they wish to see the Council building new homes, in order to provide affordable housing for residents. Following the move to self financing, we have been able to build the first new Council homes for almost 30 years. I am very happy to be able to inform Members that we took possession of the first 3 homes in Acacia Road on Friday 23rd January and we will be taking possession of a further 8 homes including a disability adapted bungalow on Monday 23rd February. These homes are in Elder Close, just off Sycamore Road and members are invited to view the properties on the afternoon of the 23rd February.

- 73 - I am also delighted to confirm that the building of a further 36 homes at Park Lane has commenced and we should be taking possession of these just before Christmas, allowing us to help tenants into a lovely new home in time for the festive season.” (d) Councillor J. Haynes asked the following question: “Could the Cabinet Member responsible for housing please inform me what problems the extensive cuts in the Supporting People budget agreed recently by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition at the County Council have on the services provided by this Council especially with regard to sheltered and very sheltered accommodation?” Councillor J.A. Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities responded as follows: “The cuts to the Supporting People budget have been significant. In the financial year 2014 / 15, the budget totalled £8.6m for all housing related support across Warwickshire. Whilst the County Council has amended the level of the future years’ budgets to £3.75m(just some £300k more than it originally announced), this is still almost a 50% reduction to the budget, which supports some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Clearly, that level of reduction will impact the services currently funded from the supporting people budget, and those services include support to homeless persons, those with mental health issues, as well as older people. At this point in time, there is no clarity from the County Council in regards to what the specification for services will look like, and so, it would be difficult for me to predict the actual impact these cuts will have upon the residents of our sheltered and very sheltered accommodation.” (e) Councillor K.D. Wilson asked the following question: “Given the lack of backing from Warwickshire County Council for the Golf Drive Relief Road and his apparent u-turn at Cabinet, would he confirm for the residents of Whitestone once and for all that the proposal is dead and buried and will be removed from the Draft Borough Plan with immediate effect?” Councillor A.A. Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development responded as follows: “Discussions regarding the infrastructure requirements associated with the Borough Plan are on going with Warwickshire County Council and ahead of any final decisions regarding the location of future development it is premature for any statements about what may or may not be needed to be made. The Borough Plan Working Party continues to work on the details of the Plan which will be subject to public consultation later in the year.”

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CL52 Special Urgency Decisions Councillor Harvey reported that there had been no decisions taken by Cabinet under the special urgency rule. CL53 Cabinet Councillor Harvey submitted his report on behalf of Cabinet highlighting several issues which had been dealt with since the last meeting. Several questions were raised to which Councillor Harvey or the appropriate Cabinet Member gave a response.

RESOLVED that the report be noted

CL54 Selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayor The Council gave consideration to the selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2014/15 (a) Mayor

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor B.J. Longden be invited to

accept the office of Mayor. As an amendment, it was also proposed and seconded that Councillor

J. Foster be invited to accept the office of Mayor.

Following a vote, it was RESOLVED that Councillor B.J. Longden be invited to accept the office of Chair of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2015/2016

(b) Deputy Mayor It was proposed and seconded that Councillor J. Sheppard be invited to accept the office of Deputy Mayor. As an amendment, it was proposed and seconded that Councillor I.C. Bonner be invited to accept the office of Deputy Mayor. Following a vote, it was RESOLVED that Councillor J. Sheppard be invited to accept the office of Vice-Chair of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2015/2016.

CL55 Recommendations from Cabinet or Other Committees (a) Amendments to Parts 4 and 5D of the Council’s Constitution Councillor R.A. Taylor reported on the recommendations made by Standards Committee at its meetings on the 29th September and 1st December.

- 75 - RESOLVED that the amendments to Parts 4 and 5D of the Constitution, together with the additional clarification that paragraph 11.1 of the Council Procedure Rules require 3 (not 5) signatories to a formal motion, be approved.

(b) General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Quarterly Budget Monitoring Report 2014/15 – 2nd Quarter Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council reported on the recommendations made by Cabinet at its meeting on the 7th January, 2015. RESOLVED that the updated General Fund and HRA Capital Programme for 2014/15, as attached at Appendices C and D to the repoprt, be approved. (c) Changes to Section 106 (of the Town and Country Planning Act) Agreements Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council reported on the recommendations made by Cabinet at its meeting on the 4th February, 2015. RESOLVED that the Section 106 Planning Obligations – Interim Planning Guidance 2015, as attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved to be used as a material consideration in determining planning applications from 1st April, 2015. (d) Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2014-2018 Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council, reported on the recommendations made by Cabinet at its meeting on the 4th February, 2015. RESOLVED that the Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy be adopted and included within the Council’s policy framework. (e) Timetable of Meetings Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council reported on the recommendations made by Cabinet at its meeting on the 4th February, 2015. RESOLVED that the timetable in respect of Council, committees and overview and scrutiny panels be approved. (f) Housing Revenue Account Budget 2015/16 and Associated Capital Programme Councillor D. Harvey, Leader of the Council reported on the recommendations from Cabinet on the 18th February, 2015 A recorded vote was taken on the recommendations as follows:

- 76 - For: Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, I. Bonner, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, J. Foster, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, B.L. Hawkes, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, K.A. Kondakor, A.A. Lloyd, I.K. Lloyd, B.J. Longden, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips, G.D. Pomfrett, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tandy, R.A. Taylor, R. Tromans, C.M. Watkins and K.D. Wilson

Against: None

Abstentions: None RESOLVED that: (i) the forecast outturn for 2014/15 be noted; (ii) Cabinet approve a change in the capital programme for 2014/15 as

detailed in Section 5.2 and shown at Appendix B to purchase 6 new properties in Orchard Street, Bedworth

(iii) the draft HRA budgets for 2015/16, with any suggested changes be

approved (iv) the draft HRA Capital programme for 2015/16, with any suggested

changes be approved as shown at Appendix C (v) an average increase in HRA dwelling rents for 2015/16 of CPI +1%

+£2.i.e. resulting in an average increase of 3.11%, be approved.

(vi) There be no increase in other fees and charges; and

(vii) the 2015/16 HRA Revenue budget, including the rent increase, and Capital Programme be recommended to Council for approval.

(g) General Fund Budget and Capital Programme – 2015/16

Councillor D. Harvey presented his budget speech and the following recommendations from Cabinet at its meeting also held on 18th February, 2015 which were proposed by Councillor Harvey and seconded by Councillor J.A. Jackson. (i) That the forecast outturn for the General Fund revenue and capital Budgets for 2014/15 be noted; (ii) the 2015/16 Business Rates forecast reported to the Department for

Communities and Local Government and included in the draft budget be noted;

- 77 - (iii) the fees and charges principles, set out at Appendix D of the report be noted;

(iv) the Transitional Relief Policy for 2015/16, attached at Appendix F of the report, be approved; (v) that the General Fund draft revenue budget 2015/16, attached as Appendix A, be approved, to include the following growth item:

An additional amount of £20,000 in the capital programme to finance further town centre improvements. This is to be funded from an additional revenue contribution.

(vi) when added to the original deficit of £152,000 (para 5.3 of the

Cabinet report) the revised deficit is £172,000 and is funded as follows

(vii) that the District Council Tax for 2015/2016 be increased by 1.75% to £211.19 for a Band D, raising £128.000 in additional Council Tax income and protecting our base for future years;

(viii) that the surplus resources of £50,000 be added to General Fund balances to support the savings programme for 2016/17;

(ix) that the Director – Finance and Procurement assurance statements on reserves and base budget proposals as included in Appendix A be noted.

(x) Because of the timescales involved, the General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/16 was considered as an urgent item and not subject to call- in as provided for in paragraph 15(f) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution

£ (1) Reducing the contribution made to Pride in

Camp Hill 10,000

(2) Raising additional income by undertaking external Health and Safety work

6,000

(3) An increase in the rent charged for Mobile Home sites by 3%

3,000

(4) An increase in Building Control fees of 3.5%, as agreed by the Building Control Partnership Steering Group

4,000

(5) Making an additional contribution from the Business Rates Volatility Reserve to smooth the impact of appeals

71,000

These amount to: 94,000

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Assurance Statement on the robustness of reserves and base budget proposals: 2015/16

Robustness of the budget

The 2003 Local Government Act places specific responsibilities on the Section 151 Officer to report on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of proposed financial reserves when the authority is setting its budget for the forthcoming year. In the view of the Director – Finance and Procurement the budget being recommended to Council is supported by robust estimates of income and expenditure. A risk assessment of the assumptions within the budget is set out in section 11 of the Cabinet report. The proposals for balancing the budget deficit of £172,000 are accepted as being achievable.

Adequacy of reserves The Council maintains minimum balances of £1m and £1.3m respectively for the General Fund and the HRA. It is estimated that the General Fund will have revenue reserves of £6.56m and capital reserves of £3.84m as at 31st March 2015, reducing to £5.81m and £3.65m respectively as at 31st March 2016. The change in local government funding arrangements from April 2013 brought a significant transfer of risk to the General Fund and business rates retention is a particularly volatile source of income. The medium term funding position is also uncertain, and will depend heavily on the outcome of the General Election. The level of reserves that are held by the General Fund are prudent and continue to reflect this on-going risk and uncertainty. The HRA estimated revenue reserves are £3.8m at 31st March 2015 increasing to £5.0m as at 31st March 2016. These are inclusive of the minimum working balance. A risk-based review of HRA reserves has been completed as part of the budget setting process and these levels of reserves are regarded as adequate by the Director – Finance and Procurement.

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GENERAL FUND SUMMARY

Original Budget 2014/15

Original Budget 2015/16

£ £

Arts & Leisure 6,475,300 5,591,540 Central Services 1,217,880 1,148,210 Finance & Civic Affairs 1,781,100 1,741,630 Health & Environment 4,064,040 4,235,500 Housing 724,630 812,310 Planning & Development 818,180 1,014,020

Portfolio Total 15,081,130 14,543,210 Central Provisions 478,500 378,500 Depreciation & Impairment (2,607,920) (2,661,430) Transfers To/(From) Corporate Reserves (130,678) (596,741) Financing of Capital Expenditure 2,320,000 2,591,400 PWLB Premiums & Discounts 21,060 21,120 Interest & Investment Income (177,000) (228,250) Minimum Revenue Provision 490,000 473,080 External Interest Paid (GF Only) 445,000 444,500

Total Council Net Expenditure 15,920,092 14,965,389 Funded By: Net Retained Business Rates (3,700,318) (3,380,746) Revenue Support Grant (3,759,780) (2,588,019) New Homes Bonus (1,280,232) (1,470,955) Deficit/(Surplus) from Collection Fund (100,000) (140,000) Transfer to General Fund Reserves 52,000 49,803

COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT 7,131,762 7,435,472

:

- 80 - (2) Councillor K.D. Wilson put forward alternative budget proposals on behalf of the Conservative Group, which was seconded by Councillor R. Tromans as follows Alternative Budget Recommendation (Conservative) 19th February, 2014 (i) That the General Fund draft revenue budget 2015/2016, attached as Appendix A, be recommended to the Council for approval including the following growth items:

An additional two Planning Officers at a cost of £74,000

A reduction in market fees by 10% across Nuneaton and Bedworth, reducing income by £47,000

(ii) When added to the original deficit of £152,000 (para 5.3 of the Cabinet report) the revised deficit is £273,000 and is funded as follows:

£

(1) Applying a competitive tendering process to the Refuse Collection service – part-year saving to allow time for the procurement process

65,000

(2) No longer funding Union Officials 18,000

(3) Restructuring the Senior Management Team and reducing by one Director (part year saving to allow for consultation and implementation)

67,000

(4) No longer taking part in any Town Twinning activities

3,000

(5) An increase in Caravan rental charges by £3.05 to £25 per week

13,000

(6) Increasing Fees and Charges by 2.2%, excluding car parks, cemeteries and markets

38,000

(7) Increasing the charges for Building Control by 3.5%, as agreed by the Partnership Steering Group

1,000

(8) A savings target across all back office functions by seeking shared service or outsourcing arrangements

9,000

(9) Closure of the Civic Hall Bistro

16,000

(10) Tender the Building Control Service – part year saving to allow for procurement process

46,000

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(iii) That the following growth items are also approved and funded from the 2015/16 New Homes Bonus allocation:-

A temporary reversal of the car park increase implemented in January 2008 for 12 months only at a cost of £340,000

To offer free parking on three Saturdays in December 2015, at an

estimated cost of £23,000 £25,000 for World War 1 Centenary Commemorations

£170,000 to provide each Councillor with £5,000 to spend within their Ward, in liaison with the community

Establishing 2-year fixed term post for two Animal Wardens and two

Environmental Enforcement Officers, costing a total of £224,000 £10,000 to provide real Christmas Trees for each town

The total contribution from New Homes Bonus for fixed term revenue projects is £792,000.

(iv) That the District Council Tax for 2015/16 be reduced by 3% to £201.33 for a Band D, reducing Council Tax income by £219,000. (v) That the surplus resources of £68,000 be added to General Fund balances. Work will continue with the Management Team to realise savings for 2016/17 and the future, to include evaluating the options for transferring the Civic Hall and Museum to a Trust. (vi) That the Director – Finance and Procurement assurance statements o reserves and base budget proposals as included in Appendix A be noted. (vii) Because of the timescales involved, the General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/2016 was considered as an urgent item and not subject to call-in as provided for in paragraph 15(f) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution.

(11) Ceasing the Breakaway Club

30,000

(12) Qualifying for the Council Tax freeze grant for 2015/16

83,000

(13) Making a contribution from the Business Rates Volatility Reserve to smooth the impact of appeals

171,000

These amount to: 560,000

- 82 - Assurance Statement on the robustness of reserves and base budget proposals: 2015/16 Robustness of the budget In the view of the Director – Finance and Procurement the budget being recommended to Council is supported by robust estimates of income and expenditure. A risk assessment of the assumptions within the budget is set out in Section 11 of the Cabinet report. The savings proposals totalling £560,000 for balancing the budget deficit of £273,000 are accepted as being achievable. It should be noted that the proposed 3% reduction in Council Tax will permanently reduce the tax base for future years and will increase the savings required for 2016/17 onwards, above that forecast in the Financial Plan.

Adequacy of reserves The Council maintains minimum balances of £1m and £1.3m respectively for the General Fund and the HRA.

It is estimated that the General Fund will have revenue reserves of £6.56m and capital reserves of £3.84m as at 31st March 2015, reducing to £5.73m and £2.97m respectively as at 31st March 2016.

The change in local government funding arrangements from April 2013 brought a significant transfer of risk to the General Fund and business rates retention is a particularly volatile source of income. The medium term funding position is also uncertain, and will depend heavily on the outcome of the General Election. The level of reserves that are held by the General Fund continues to reflect this on-going risk and uncertainty.

The HRA estimated revenue reserves are £3.8m at 31st March 2015 increasing to £5.0m as at 31st March 2016. These are inclusive of the minimum working balance. A risk-based review of HRA reserves has been completed as part of the budget setting process and these levels of reserves are regarded as adequate by the Director – Finance & Procurement.

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CONSERVATIVE GENERAL FUND REVENUE SUMMARY 2015/16

ORIGINAL ORIGINAL

BUDGET BUDGET 2014/15 2015/16

£’000 £’000

Arts & Leisure 6,475,300 5,546,670

Central Services 1,217,880 1,318,210

Finance and Civic Affairs 1,781,100 1,733,823

Health & Environment 4,064,040 4,282,764

Housing 724,630 802,170

Planning & Development 818,180 1,377,366

Portfolio Total 15,081,130 15,061,003

Central Provisions 478,500 378,500

Depreciation and Impairment (2,607,920) (2,661,430)

Transfers to/(from) Corporate Reserves (130,678) (1,377,005)

Financing of Capital Expenditure 2,320,000 2,571,400

PWLB Premiums and Discounts (GF Only) 21,060 21,120

Interest and Investment Income (177,000) (228,250)

Minimum Revenue Provision 490,000 473,080

External Interest Paid (GF Only) 445,000 444,500

Total Council Net Expenditure 15,920,092 14,682,918

Funded By:

Net Retained Business Rates (3,700,318) (3,380,746)

Revenue Support Grant (3,759,780) (2,588,019)

New Homes Bonus (1,280,232) (1,470,955)

Council Tax Freeze Grant (83,000)

Deficit/(Surplus) from Collection Fund (100,000) (140,000)

Transfer to General Fund Reserves 52,000 68,128

COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT 7,131,762 7,088,326

A vote was taken on the Conservative alternative budget proposals

The vote was lost.

- 84 -

(3) Councillor K.A. Kondakor put forward a further alternative budget on behalf of the Alternative Group formed to Provide Effective Opposition to the Unfair Borough Plan, which was seconded by Councillor I. Bonner as follows: Alternative Budget (Alternative Group formed to Provide Effective Opposition to the Unfair Borough Plan) 18th February, 2015

(i) That the General Fund draft revenue budget 2015/16, attached as Appendix A, be recommended to the Council for approval. This includes the following growth items, which total £113,000: £

(1) An additional Enviro-Enforcement Officer. This would also increase income from litter fines (net cost shown).

27,000

(2) Removing bus station charges after 6pm and on

Sundays.

5,000

(3) Removing Car Parking charges at the Pingles. 4,000

(4) Changing the evening parking charge for Nuneaton to start at 5pm, and 3.30pm in Bedworth.

2,000

(5) Lowering Market fees in Nuneaton by 20% during October to February.

21,000

(6) A new Tourism Officer post for the borough. 21,000

(7) A consultancy budget to assess the feasibility of tendering the

Civic Hall catering and bar functions.

20,000

(8) Purchasing a daytime Civic Chain. 3,000

(9) Providing Wi-Fi across Nuneaton Town Centre, subject to feasibility. This will also require capital funding.

10,000

(10) Restructuring the Management Team so that there is a dedicated Director for the Borough Plan. This is expected to be cost neutral.

0

The additional cost amounts to: 113,000

When added to the original deficit of £152,000 (para 5.3 of the Cabinet report) the revised deficit is £265,000. (ii) That the following items are added to the Capital Programme, funded from capital earmarked reserves: £75,000 for Wi-Fi across Nuneaton Town Centre, subject to feasibility.

This also requires a revenue budget shown within growth items of £10,000.

- 85 -

Purchasing a Nissan Leaf car to replace the current Mayor’s Car, at a cost of £27,000.

(iii) That the increased deficit of £265,000 be funded as follows:

(iv) That the District Council Tax for 2015/16 be increased by 1.75% to £211.19 for a Band D, raising £128,000 in additional Council Tax income and protecting our base for future years. (v) That the surplus resources of £110,000 be added to General Fund balances to support the savings programme for 2016/17. (vi) That the Director – Finance and Procurement assurance statements on reserves and base budget proposals as included in Appendix A be noted.

(vii) Because of the timescales involved, the General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/16 was considered as an urgent item and not subject to call-in as provided for in paragraph 15(f) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution.

£

(1) Reducing the Civic Car driver hours 8,000

(2) Savings on the lease cost of the Civic Car by

purchasing a Nissan Leaf

8,000

(3) An increase in Building Control fees of 3.5%, as

agreed by the Building Control Partnership Steering

Group

4,000

(4) Reduce the Civic Hall Box Office staff by 1 post 21,000

(5) Reducing to one Civic Bonfire each year 4,000

(6) Increasing the cost of Car Park season tickets by

20%

31,000

(7) Making an additional contribution from the Business

Rates Volatility Reserve to smooth the impact of

appeals

171,000

These amount to: 247,000

- 86 -

Assurance Statement on the robustness of reserves and base budget proposals: 2015/16 Robustness of the budget The 2003 Local Government Act places specific responsibilities on the Section 151 Officer to report on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of proposed financial reserves when the authority is setting its budget for the forthcoming year. In the view of the Director – Finance and Procurement the budget being recommended to Council is supported by robust estimates of income and expenditure. A risk assessment of the assumptions within the budget is set out in section 11. The proposals for balancing the budget deficit of £265,000 are accepted as being achievable. Adequacy of reserves The Council maintains minimum balances of £1m and £1.3m respectively for the General Fund and the HRA. It is estimated that the General Fund will have revenue reserves of £6.56m and capital reserves of £3.84m as at 31st March 2015, reducing to £5.77m and £3.55m respectively as at 31st March 2016. The change in local government funding arrangements from April 2013 brought a significant transfer of risk to the General Fund and business rates retention is a particularly volatile source of income. The medium term funding position is also uncertain, and will depend heavily on the outcome of the General Election. The level of reserves that are held by the General Fund continues to reflect this on-going risk and uncertainty. The HRA estimated revenue reserves are £3.8m at 31st March 2015 increasing to £5.0m as at 31st March 2016. These are inclusive of the minimum working balance. A risk-based review of HRA reserves has been completed as part of the budget setting process and these levels of reserves are regarded as adequate by the Director – Finance and Procurement.

- 87 -

ALTERNATIVE GENERAL FUND SUMMARY

Original Budget 2014/15

Original Budget 2015/16

£ £

Arts & Leisure 6,475,300 5,590,110

Central Services 1,217,880 1,154,590

Finance & Civic Affairs 1,781,100 1,798,080

Health & Environment 4,064,040 4,262,330

Housing 724,630 815,170

Planning & Development 818,180 1,003,520

Portfolio Total 15,081,130 14,623,800

Central Provisions 478,500 378,500

Depreciation & Impairment (2,607,920) (2,681,830)

Transfers To/(From) Corporate Reserves (130,678) (798,741)

Financing of Capital Expenditure 2,320,000 2,673,400

PWLB Premiums & Discounts 21,060 21,120

Interest & Investment Income (177,000) (228,250)

Minimum Revenue Provision 490,000 473,080

External Interest Paid (GF Only) 445,000 444,500

Total Council Net Expenditure 15,920,092 14,905,579

Funded By:

Net Retained Business Rates (3,700,318) (3,380,746)

Revenue Support Grant (3,759,780) (2,588,019)

New Homes Bonus (1,280,232) (1,470,955)

Deficit/(Surplus) from Collection Fund (100,000) (140,000)

Transfer to General Fund Reserves 52,000 109,613

COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT 7,131,762 7,435,472

A vote was taken on the alternative budget proposals of the Group formed to Fight the Unfair Borough Plan.

The vote was lost.

- 88 – A recorded vote was taken on the substantive budget motion which was proposed by Councillor Harvey. For: Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, B.L. Hawkes, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, A.A. Lloyd, I.K. Lloyd, B.J. Longden, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tandy, R.A. Taylor and C.M. Watkins. Against: Councillors J. Foster, R. Tromans and K.D. Wilson Abstentions: Councillors I.C. Bonner and K.A. Kondakor RESOLVED that the substantive motion be carried. (h) Treasury Strategy and Budgetary Framework 2015/15

Councillor Harvey presented the following recommendation from Cabinet at it’s meeting also held on 18th February, 2015 which was proposed by Councillor Harvey and seconded by Councillor J. A. Jackson. A recorded vote was taken on the recommendations as follows: For: Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, I.C. Bonner, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, B.L. Hawkes, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, K.A. Kondakor, A.A. Lloyd, I.K. Lloyd, B.J. Longden, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips G.D. Pomfrett, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tanday and R.A. Taylor Against: None Abstentions: Councillors J. Foster, R. Tromans and K.D. Wilson RESOLVED that

(i) Cabinet be delegated to increase the approved revenue budgets for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account for 2015/16, subject to the minimum working balances of £1m and £1.3m respectively being maintained;

(ii) capital resources of £8.37m and £14.38m be approved for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account respectively;

- 89 - (iii) other additional capital resources including earmarked capital Reserves, grants, contributions and capital receipts be added to total Capital resources as they become available during 2015/16 and included in subsequent capital programme reviews, as amended by Cabinet to include an additional amount of £20,000 to finance town centre improvements; (iv) the minimum revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (Appendix

A to the 18th February, 2015 Cabinet report as amended) be adopted. (v) the Prudential and Treasury Indicators (Appendix B to the 18th February, 2015 Cabinet report) be adopted; and

(vi) the Treasury Management Strategy (as detailed in the 18th February, 2015 Cabinet report) including the borrowing and investment strategies for 2015/16 be adopted. (i) Council Tax 2015/16 The Council considered the formal resolution required to determine the Council Tax for 2015/2016. A recorded vote was taken as follows: For: Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, I.C. Bonner, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, B.L. Hawkes, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, K.A. Kondakor, A.A. Lloyd, I.K. Lloyd, B.J. Longden, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips G.D. Pomfrett, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tanday and R.A. Taylor Against: None Abstentions: Councillors J. Foster, R. Tromans and K.D. Wilson RESOLVED that:

1. it be noted that on 31st January 2015 the amount of 35,207.5 has been calculated and determined as the Council Tax base for the year 2015/16 for the whole council area [(item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the ‘Act’)].

2. it be calculated that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own

purposes for 2015/16 is £7,435,472.

- 90 –

3. the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2015/16 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:-

(a) £110,468,790 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act;

(b) £103,033,318 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act;

(c) £7,435,472 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) £211.19

being the amount at 3(c) above (item R), divided by item T (1 above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

4. it be noted that for the year 2015/16 Warwickshire County Council has issued a precept requirement to the Council of £42,289,136.57and has stated the amounts set out in Column 3 of the table in 6 below in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings.

5. it be noted that for the year 2015/16 Warwickshire Police and Crime

Commissioner has issued a precept requirement to the Council of £6,627,245.67and has stated the amounts set out in Column 4 of the Table in 6 below in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings.

6. the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local

Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2015/16 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

- 91 -

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Valuation

Bands Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council

Warwickshire County Council

Warwickshire Police & Crime Commissioner

Total Council

Tax

2015/16 £ . p £ . p £ . p £ . p

AR 117.33 667.30 104.57 889.20 A 140.79 800.76 125.49 1,067.04 B 164.26 934.22 146.40 1,244.88 C 187.72 1,067.68 167.32 1,422.72 D 211.19 1,201.14 188.23 1,600.56 E 258.12 1,468.06 230.06 1,956.24 F 305.05 1,734.98 271.89 2,311.92 G 351.98 2,001.90 313.72 2,667.60 H 422.37 2,402.28 376.47 3,201.12

7. the Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2015/16 sets out the principles which the Secretary of State has determined will apply to local authorities in England in 2015/16.The Council has determined that the basic amount of Council Tax is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

8. that the following officers be authorised to institute or defend on behalf of the Council, proceedings before a County or Magistrates' Court, in relation to the recovery of all non-domestic rates, community charge, council tax, business improvement district and other debts and to appear in such proceedings:

Susan Trahern Jane Crabbe Jo Robinson

Mark Bilby Sharon Wilkins

Councillor W. J. Hancox moved an extension of Standing Orders to allow the Motion to be considered. This was seconded by Councillor J.B. Beaumont

- 92 -

CL56 Notice of Motion The following motion which had been delivered by Councillors W.J. Hancox, J.B. Beaumont, D. Harvey, J. Sheppard, A.A. Lloyd and R.G. Copland was considered: Towns Against Tax Dodging As a local authority we have a duty to provide the best possible public services. Our ability to provide quality services would be significantly enhanced by the increased revenues from the government tacking tax dodging. All who benefit from public spending should contribute their fair share. The UK must take a lead role in creating a fairer tax system and combating tax dodging. “This Council resolves: To support the campaign for tax justice, supporting the motion: While many ordinary people face falling household income and rising costs of living, some multinational companies are avoiding billions of pounds of tax from a tax system that fails to make them pay their fair share. Local governments in developing countries and the UK alike would benefit from a fair tax system where multinational companies pay their fair share, enabling authorities around the world to provide quality public services. The UK government must listen to the strength of public feeling and act to end the injustice of tax dodging by large multinational companies in developing countries and the UK.”

A debate took place, after which a recorded vote was taken as follows: For: Councillors J.B. Beaumont, C. Bennett, I.C. Bonner, S. Doughty, P.M. Elliott, D. Fowler, J. Glass, W.J. Hancox, D. Harvey, B.L. Hawkes, J. Haynes, P.D. Hickling, J.A. Jackson, K.A. Kondakor, A.A. Lloyd, I.K. Lloyd, B.J. Longden, S.J. Margrave, D.C. Navarro, C.S. Phillips, N.J.P. Phillips G.D. Pomfrett, J. Sheppard, J.A. Tanday and R.A. Taylor Against: None Abstentions: Councillors J. Foster, R. Tromans and K.D. Wilson

- 93 - RESOLVED that: (a) the motion be accepted; and (b) the motion be sent to various Government Ministers and the responses be submitted to Council.

_______________________

Mayor