Agenda and draft minutes

Consideration was given to:

·       The Housing Revenue Account budget for 2024/25;

·       The proposed rent changes from 1 April 2024, in line with the Government’s policy on rent setting;

·       The detailed proposals for the 2024/25 HRA fees and charges;

·       The proposed Housing Capital Programme for 2024/25 and the indicative programme for the period 2025/26 – 2028/29.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

(i)              That the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

(ii)             That the 7.7% rent increase from 1 April 2024, as detailed at Appendix 3 of the report, be approved.

(iii)           That the HRA service charges as detailed in Appendix 4 of the report, be approved.

(iv)           That the Housing Capital Programme for the five years 2024/25 to 2028/29 as set out in Appendix 5 of the report, be approved.

Consideration was given to the Capital Programme for the next five years to provide significant investment within the Borough to support the Council’s strategic approach to Making Gateshead a Place Where Everyone Thrives.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

(i)              That the capital programme for 2024/25 be approved.

(ii)             That the provisional programmes for 2025/26 to 2028/29 be approved.

(iii)           To note the provisional capital financing required for the programme, as set out in Appendix 3, and to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Resources & Digital to enter prudential borrowing which is consistent with the requirements of the Capital Programme and Council’s Treasury Management Strategy.

Consideration was given to the level of fees and charges across all Council services for 2024/25.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

(i)              That the fees and charges, as set out for 2024/25 in Appendix 2, be approved.

(ii)             To authorise the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital to make any necessary adjustments to correct any errors in the schedule of Fees and Charges.

(iii)           That the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital be delegated to set revised charges for Adult Social Services in consultation with the Strategic Director, Integrated Adults and Social Care Services and the Adult Social Care Portfolio Holder.

Consideration was given to the Budget and Council Tax level for 2023/24. As part of the Council Tax setting process approval was sought for the prudential indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

(i)              To approve the recommendations as set out in section 30 of the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 20.4, a recorded vote was taken as follows:

Councillors for the recommendation: - A Douglas, A Geddes, B Goldsworthy, B Oliphant, C Buckley, C Donovan, D Bradford, D Burnett, D Robson, D Weatherley, E McMaster, F Geddes, G Haley, G Kasfikis, H Kelly, H Weatherley, J Adams, J Eagle, J Gibson, J Green, J McCoid, J McElroy, J Simpson, J Turnbull, J Turner, K Henderson, K McCartney, K Walker, L Caffrey, L Moir, M Brain, M Gannon, M Goldsworthy, M Hall, M McNestry, P Burns, R Mullen, S Dickie, S Gallagher, S Green, S Potts, S Ronchetti, T Graham, W Dick.

Councillors against the recommendation: - A Ord, A Wintcher, C Ord, D Duggan, D Welsh, J Wallace, I Patterson, L Brand, M Ord, J Mohammed, P Maughan, P Craig, P Diston, R Beadle, V Anderson.

The recommendation was duly carried.

Cabinet made the following recommendations to Council:

1)         That Gateshead’s Band D council tax for 2024/25 is increased by 4.99% (including a 2% adult social care precept charge) to £2,173.77.

2)         The revenue estimates of £306,277,247 for 2024/25 are approved.

3)         The budgeted use of £6.834 million Earmarked Reserves in 2024/25 be approved (comprising of £0.299 million Financial Risk and Resilience, £1.535 million Thrive, and £5 million Budget Sustainability).

4)         That the proposed budgets and the indicative schools funding, including the summary of budget cuts presented in Appendix 2 be agreed.

5)         That the outcome of budget consultation outlined in Appendix 4 be noted.

6)         To note the conclusions of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital in respect of the robustness of budget estimates and adequacy of reserves outlined in Appendix 5.

7)         That the prudential and treasury indicators set out in Appendix 7 to this report be agreed.

8)         That the method of calculating the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 8 be approved.

9)         That it be noted that at its meeting on 23 January 2024, Cabinet agreed the following amounts for the year 2024/25 in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B (3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:

(a)   54,041.1 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as its Council Tax base for the year;

(b)   1,227.7 for Lamesley Parish being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amount of its Council Tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate.

10)     That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL79