Agenda item

The Chairman agreed to the adjournment of the meeting for approximately 20 minutes to enable Members to give consideration to the papers which had been circulated immediately prior to the meeting in respect of this item.

Having reconvened the meeting the recommendations from the Cabinet were moved by Councillor R. Hollingworth and seconded by Councillor Mrs. M. A. Sherrey. Councillor Hollingworth referred to the very difficult circumstances in which the Medium Term Financial Plan had been produced, including many changes which had been introduced by the Government at a late stage in the process and thanked officers for their hard work. Councillor Hollingworth referred to the proposal to increase Council Tax by 1.9% in order to maintain a reasonable level of Working Balances and to protect the Council’s position in the event of decisions on funding changes which may be taken by Worcestershire County Council.

An amendment was moved by Councillor P. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor C. J. Bloore that the budget savings and expenditure be varied as follows:

On a requisition made under Council Procedure Rule 17.5, the following details of voting on the amendment were recorded:

For the amendment: Councillors C. J. Bloore, Ms. M. T. Buxton, L. C. R. Mallett, Mrs. C. M. McDonald, P. M. McDonald, Mrs. E. M. Shannon, R. J. Shannon, S. P.  Shannon and C. J. K. Wilson (9);

Against the amendment: Councillors Mrs. S. J. Baxter, Dr. D. W. P. Booth, Mrs J. M. Boswell, J. R. Boulter, J. S. Brogan, M. A. Bullivant, R. A. Clarke, S. R. Colella, Dr. B. T. Cooper, R. J. Deeming, Mrs. R. L. Dent, K. A. Grant-Pearce, Miss P. A. Harrison, R. Hollingworth, Mrs. H. J. Jones, R. J. Laight, P. Lammas, B. Lewis, J. A. Ruck, C. R. Scurrell, Mrs. M. A. Sherrey, Mrs. C.  J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, C. J. Tidmarsh, L. J. Turner, M. J. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (27)

Accordingly the Chairman declared the amendment lost.

The substantive recommendations were put to the meeting whereupon it was

RESOLVED:

1)   the Council determines the level of Council Tax discount to be applied to the prescribed classes of dwellings as defined by the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended) for

a)    Class A [ “second homes with planning restriction”] be set at 0% - no discount

b)    Class B [“second homes without planning restriction”] be set at 0% - no discount

c)    Class C [vacant dwellings] be set at:

a.    Where the dwelling appears in the Valuation List for the first time and it has been continuously unoccupied and substantially unfurnished since the effective date of entry into the list:

                                                  i.    for the first 3 months from the date of entry into the list 100%

                                                ii.    for periods of more than 3 months and for less than 6 months 50%

                                               iii.    for periods of 6 months or more 0% - no discount

b.    Where the dwelling has been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a continuous period of less than 6 months 50%

c.    where the dwelling has been continuously unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 6 months or more 0% - no discount

d.    For the purposes of Class C when considering whether a dwelling falls within the class any period of occupation, not exceeding 6 weeks, during which it was not unoccupied and substantially unfurnished shall be disregarded.

d)    Class D [uninhabitable dwellings] be set at 100%

2)   The powers to reduce the Council Tax payable on a case by case basis , as provided by Section 13A 1(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance and Resources and the Revenue Services Manager;

3)    authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Equalities and       Democratic Services to amend the Scheme of Delegation to Officers to implement (2) above

4)    that the high revenue bids and unavoidable pressures of;

2013/14 £561k as detailed in Appendix 1be approved;

5)    that the use of balances totalling £97,000 for 2013/14 be approved;

6)    that an increase in Council Tax of 1.9% for 2013/14 be approved;

            7)  that the pay policy as set out in Appendix 2 be approved;