Appendix 2 Opposition Partnership Budget Motion 22 2 24
Argyll and Bute Council · 22 February 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 22 February 2024 and its agenda
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BUDGET MOTION AMENDMENT 22nd February 2024 Argyll and Bute Council: 1) Approves the revenue budget for 2024/25 as set out in the Revenue Budget Overview Report and subject to the decisions outlined below and set out in Appendix 1 below. 2) Approves a base allocation to the Health and Social Care Partnership of £78.611m for 2024/25 Approves indicative base allocations for 2025/26 £78.611m and 2026/27 to be £81.664m The level of future years funding is subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the Council’s overall financial position in future years. 3) Approves the 10% reduction to the Live Argyll Management Fee of £0.363m resulting in a management fee in 2024-25 of £3.266m. 4) a) Rejects the following savings options totalling £0.399 m 202425 010 Strategic Events and Festivals, Community and Third Sector (Education) Grants 202425011 Positive starts b) Accepts all other policy savings options proposals, set out in Appendix 6 of the Revenue Budget Overview report, totalling £0.625m c) Endorses the management/operational savings, set out in Appendix 5 of the Revenue Budget Overview report, totalling £3.950m. 5) Agrees the following additional investments, as set out in the table below and also in the Budget Model at Appendix 1.
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Investing in Argyll and Bute’s Amenities Services £0.045 m One-off or Recurring Funded From £0.045m Environmental Warden to cover the Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Isles area. Makes provision for the employment of an Environment Warden based in the Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Isles area. Recurring (to be baselined) Revenue Budget Cost of living Crisis support £0.350 m £0.050m Argyll and Bute CAB In recognition of the substantial increase in demand during the current Cost of living Crisis One off Unallocated General Fund £0.050m Bute Advice Centre In recognition of the substantial increase in demand during the current Cost of living Crisis One off Unallocated General Fund £0.050m Alienergy In recognition of the substantial increase in demand during the current Cost of living Crisis One off Unallocated General Fund £0.050m Rape Crisis Centre Argyll and Bute To enable the centre to continue to provide much needed support against a background of rising running costs. One off Unallocated General Fund £0.050m Foodbank Contingency Fund Each Area Committee to be allocated £12.5k to provide emergency support in 2024/25 to recognised Food banks and warm space providers who demonstrate they are experiencing financial difficulties. One off Unallocated General Fund £0.100 Cost of Living Contingency Fund Funding earmarked for 25/26. Officers to develop eligibility criteria and means of dispersal for the 25/26 year. One off Unallocated General Fund
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Supporting our Partners and Businesses - £0.248m £0.075m CHArts (Culture, Heritage and Arts ) Agree to the request to provide investment for 2024/25 to support the organisation in delivering targeted support, in communities, to the culture, arts and heritage sector as part of its plans to contribute to overall economic recovery. One-off Unallocated General Fund £0.030m Mid Argyll Community Pool MACPool Agree additional sum of £30k to address increasing utility costs and property repairs. One off Unallocated General Fund £0.030m IJCE MacTaggart Leisure Centre Agree additional funding to support ongoing increases in utility costs One off Unallocated General Fund £0.075 AITC Agree additional funding to support marketing activities. One off Existing Staycation & Marketing Earmarked Reserve £0.010m 8M WORLD CUP Agree funding to support hosting the International Yachting event. One Off Unallocated General Fund £0.028m Screen Machine Agree additional funding to address inflationary cost pressures. One off Unallocated General Fund Total investment in Argyll and Bute Priorities - £0.643 m 6) Approves the following in relation to fees and charges with effect from 1st April 2024 unless otherwise noted: a) Freezing ferry fares on the four Argyll and Bute Council-operated ferry services (Jura, Cuan, Lismore, Easdale) until 31st March 2025 – total financial impact £0.038m. b) Reject the proposal for the fees and charges inflationary increase of 6% and instead propose an increase of 8% and approve the charges that are over and above inflation. Note that this would generate additional income in excess of the 6% contained within the budget pack of £0.078m taking the increased fees and charges for 2024/25 to £0.463m in total. c) Approve the changes proposed to the Social Work fees and charges. d) Approve the recommendation from Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee on 24 January 2024: i)that fees for all Civic Government licences be increased as detailed in Appendix 2 of the Fees and charges report; and ii) that licences currently subject to a fixed three year period and due for renewal in June 2024 continue to be granted on that basis. e) Approve all other charges as noted within the Fees and Charges Schedule 7) Notes the financial risks analysis. 8) Approves the contingency level for the General Fund balance at a level of 2% of net expenditure, equivalent to £6.038m and note the report on reserves and balances.
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9) Approves the revenue estimates for 2024/25 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £66.399m is funded from Council Tax. Approve the following rates and charges for the year, 2024/25: a) Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band “D” of £1,479.20 representing no increase from 2023-24. b) Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with Section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended. c) Business Rates as determined by Scottish Ministers 10) In respect of the gain received from the reduction in the Strathclyde Pension Employer’s Contribution rate between 17.5% and 6.5% over 2024-25 and 2025-26: a) Approve the use of £2m to be used towards the Council revenue budget each year over the next 4 years. b) From the remaining balance attributable to all Council employees amounting to £5.750m, transfer £2m to the Capital Plan and transfer £3.750m to the Unallocated General Fund. c) Transfer £3.106m of the HSCP gain to the Capital Plan. This leaves £3m for the HSCP to utilise with the release of any funding delegated to the Chief Executive and Directors of the Council in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader, Leader of the largest Opposition and the Policy Lead for Health and Social Care. 11) Approves the capital plan as set out in Appendix 3 of the capital plan summary report, and agrees to address the £29.384m gap as detailed in Appendix 1 below. 12) Approve the recommendation to defer the decision on LEIP until the Council meeting in April remaining fully committed to a new school campus and not a refurbishment. 13) Make provision to allocate £8.859m towards the completion of the capital project at Rothesay Pavilion, noting that a final decision will be taken at Policy and Resources Committee on 9 May 2024 as to whether the project should proceed and on what basis. 14) Approves the Corporate Asset Management Strategy. 15) Notes the Corporate Asset Management plan and the Asset Group Summaries. 16) Notes that the Unallocated General Fund Balance after the proposals contained within this motion is £1.664m. Moved by Cllr Jim Lynch Seconded by Cllr Douglas Philand
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Appendix 1 Revenue Position 2024/25 £000 2025/26 £000 2026/27 £000 2027/28 £000 2028/29 £000 Budget Surplus / (Gap) as per Budget Pack based on Council Tax Freeze (715) (7,320) (12,891) (16,768) (21,987) Reduction in Funding as a result of Local Government Finance Order (65) (65) (65) (65) (65) Fees and Charges Amendments: Increase in Fees and Charges above/below 6% already built in (2%) 78 78 78 78 78 Ferry charges freeze (38) (38) (38) (38) (38) Rejected Policy Savings: Grants gradually reduces over 3 years (299) (299) (299) (299) (299) Positive Starts Community Childminding (100) (100) (100) (100) (100) Funding for Environmental Warden in MAKI ( recurring ) (45) (45) (45) (45) (45) Transfer from General Fund 1,184 0 0 0 0 Revised Budget Position 0 (7,789) (13,360) (17,237) (22,456)
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Capital Budget Position/Other Funding Streams Capital Budget £000 Unallocated General Fund £000 Council SPF Gain £000 HSCP SPF Gain £000 Crown Estates £000 Asset Management Fund £000 Capital Contract Increases EMR £000 Priority Investment Fund £000 As per Budget Pack (29,843) 2,220 5,750 6,106 2,000 2,070 2,703 6,150 Postpone decision re LEIP until April 11,560 Tfr from Crown Estates 2,000 (2,000) Tfr from Capital Contract Increases 820 (820) Tfr from Asset Management Fund 2,070 (2,070) Tfr from Priority Investment Fund 5,606 (5,606) From HSCP One off Pension Fund Gain 3,106 (3,106) Transferred to Capital Budget 2,681 (2,681) Tf from Council SPF Gain to Capital Plan 2,000 (2,000) Tfr from Council SPF Gain to General Fund 3,750 (3,750) CAB (50) Rape Crisis (50) Money Advice (50) AliEnergy (50) Food Bank Contingency Fund (50) Cost of Living Support – Earmarking (100) CHARTS (75) Screen Machine (28) International 8m Association World Cup (Yachting) (10) MAC pool (30) IJCE MacTaggart Leisure Centre (30) Transferred to Revenue Budget (1,184) Adjustment to retain 2% contingency 82 Revised Position 0 1,664 0 3,000 0 0 1,883 544
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