Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interests in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

Any Member with an affected Interest in a matter must disclose the interest to the meeting.  There is no requirement to withdraw from the meeting when the interest is only an affected interest, but the Monitoring Officer should be notified of the interest, if not previously notified of it, within 28 days of the meeting.

Councillor Dr Barnard declared an affected interest in agenda item 3, Financial Plans and Revenue Budgets 2022/23, by virtue of his role as governor on both Warfield Primary and Garth Hill Secondary Schools as both have been identified to receive funding through the capital programme proposals.

Councillor Bidwell declared an affected interest in agenda item 3, Financial Plans and Revenue Budgets 2022/23, by virtue of his role as a governor at Fox Hill Primary School.

To resolve recommendations in respect of:

·       Capital Programme 2022/23 –2024/25

·       Revenue Budget 2022/23

·       Council Tax 2022/23

The supporting information has been circulated as a supplement and is available with this agenda on the Council website.

The Council considered the report by the Executive Director: Resources which set out the financial plans and revenue budgets for the financial year 2022/23 and the supporting information which presented the Council’s spending plans for 2022/23 and detailed budgets for the General Fund and Capital Programme.

Councillor Heydon referred to the comprehensive speech he had made at the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 and placed particular focus on the following matters:

·       He stated that the Council was focused on value for money, maintaining services and green spaces, and remaining one of the lowest taxed authorities.

·       He stated that the level of council tax was one of the most difficult decisions. Due to future uncertainty about levels of funding the maximum permitted council tax increase of 4.49% in 2022/23 was being proposed.

·       In recognition that some low-income households are already struggling with meeting household bills an additional £100 council tax discount to all working age households receiving council tax support was proposed. This was being funded from Bracknell Forest’s own resources and was completely separate from any other Government schemes.

On the proposition of Councillor Heydon, Executive Member for Transformation and Finance, seconded by Councillor Bettison OBE the recommendations of the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 were moved.

On the proposition of Councillor Temperton, Leader of the Opposition, seconded by Councillor Bidwell the following amendment was proposed:

This Council supports the recommendations submitted by the Executive in respect of the Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25 and the Revenue Budget 2022/23 as set out in pages 19 and 20 of the agenda, with the following amendments (highlighted in bold);

2.2 Revenue Budget 2022/23

i) The budget proposals set out in Table 1 (page 3) of the summary report for Council, subject to the changes identified in sections 3.2(pages 4), 3.3 (pages 4 to 5), 3.4 (pages 5 to 7), 3.6 (pages 7 to 8),3.9 (pages 9 to 11), 7.2 (page 20) and 7.3 (page 20) of the report, plus an additional one-off pressure of £0.100m for improvements to parking on our estates be agreed;

viii) A contribution of £1.560m (after allowing for additional interest from the use of balances) be made from revenue balances to support revenue expenditure. Comprising £775K already in the core budget, plus an extra £677K to cover the reduced Council tax and some for lost interest;

x) The Council’s Council Tax requirement, excluding Parish Council precepts, be set at £70.065m

xi) The Council Tax for the Council’s services for each Valuation Band be set as follows:

That the impact of the above changes be reflected in a revised Council 

Tax Resolution.

On being put to the vote the amendment fell.

As required by legislation a recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion and the voting was as follows:

FOR  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

To consider how to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Independent Remuneration Panel appointed by the Council met in November at the Council’s invitation. The Council was asked to consider the Panel’s recommendations and to decide whether to make any changes to the current allowances scheme.

On the proposition of Councillor Leake, Chair of Employment Committee, seconded by Councillor Allen the recommendations of the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 were moved as follows:

·       all the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in their report, be accepted for implementation from 1 April 2022;

·       the list of approved conferences, set out in Annex B of the agenda report, be approved for insertion in the Scheme; and

·       the Council notes that Hilda Johnston has resigned from the Panel and thanks her for the contribution she made.

On the proposition of Councillor Temperton, Leader of the Opposition, seconded by Councillor Bidwell the following amendment was proposed:

·       all the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in their report, be accepted for implementation from 1 April 2022 excluding the proposal to index Basic Allowance, SRAs, Co-optees’ Allowances, Civic Allowances and payments to Members of Independent Education Panels (paragraph 98 of the report)    

On being put to the vote the amendment fell.

Therefore it was RESOLVED that

i)          all the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in their report, be accepted for implementation from 1 April 2022;

ii)         the list of approved conferences, set out in Annex B of the agenda report, be approved for insertion in the Scheme; and

iii)        the Council notes that Hilda Johnston has resigned from the Panel and thanks her for the contribution she made.

To consider the recommendation from the advisory meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee regarding arrangements for the appointment of local external auditors under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 for the financial years 2023/24 to 2027/28.

The Council considered the recommendation from the advisory meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee regarding arrangements for the appointment of local external auditors under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 for the financial years 2023/24 to 2027/28.

On the proposition of Councillor Allen, Chair of Governance and Audit Committee, seconded by Councillor Heydon the recommendations of the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 were moved.

It was therefore RESOLVED that:

i)          Bracknell Forest remains part of the Public Sector Auditor Appointments (PSAA) collective procurement arrangement to appoint an External Auditor from the 2023/24financial year on the grounds that this approach is most likely to achieve best value in a restricted market and avoids the need and cost of the Council itself undertaking a complex and time-consuming procurement process; and

ii)         the Executive Director: Resources be authorised to progress discussions with other s151 officers in Berkshire and the PSAA around whether a single audit firm should be appointed to cover all authorities in the county area.

To agree the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22.

In accordance with the 2011 Localism Act and in line with the Transparency Regulations the Council is required to publish an annual Pay Statement. The Council considered the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22 for publication.

On the proposition of Councillor Leake, Chair of Employment Committee, seconded by Councillor Allen the recommendation of the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 was moved.

It was therefore RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22 be agreed.    

To advise councillors of the arrangements to recruit a permanent Chief Executive to provide management direction in the delivery of the Council's strategy and fulfil the statutory position of Head of Paid Service.

The Council considered the report advising councillors of the arrangements to recruit a permanent Chief Executive to provide management direction in the delivery of the Council’s strategy and fulfil the statutory position of Head of Paid Service.

On the proposition of Councillor Bettison, Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Birch the recommendations of the Advisory Council meeting held on 23 February 2022 were moved.

It was therefore RESOLVED that

i)          the process by which a new Chief Executive is to be recruited, as set out in paragraphs of the agenda report be noted; and 

ii)         an Advisory Appointment Committee be appointed to support the Council in this appointment process as set out in paragraphs 5.2 to 5.4.