Agenda item

To receive the report of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 7 February 2022 (attached).

Councillor Worden, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee reported the Committee’s recommendations on the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2027/28 to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 7 February 2022 (circulated previously).

It was proposed by Councillor Wilkinson and seconded by Councillor Bushell “that the recommendations in minutes 106 (f) to (j) of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 7 February 2022 in relation to the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2027/28 be adopted and that the proposed increase in coastal car park fees only be accepted if a solid agreement was in place with Devon County Council to provide additional parking enforcement officers to monitor and enforce parking on County highways in coastal areas and confirmation of this agreement be brought back to the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration prior to any car parking fees being increased”.

In response to questions, the Director of Resources advised the following:

·       The proposed increase in 17 additional full time equivalent staff would be distributed across a number of teams. 4 posts would be apprentices and 13 would be new substantive posts.

·       The Council received a small amount of recycling credits back from Devon County Council for recycling green waste. The net cost of providing the green waste collection service to the Council was £47 per household.  The Council currently charged £40. Therefore the service was currently being subsidised by Council Tax payers.  By increasing the fee to £45 would almost cover the Council costs to provide the service. Other Devon Local Authorities were already charging £45 and Torridge District Council would be charging £50 in 2023/24.

·       Borrowing costs were built into financial modelling. When the Tarka Leisure Centre scheme was approved in 2019, the borrowing costs were built into the overall cost of the project.  Forecast borrowing modelling was used for both the Tarka Leisure Centre and Green Lanes Shopping Centre schemes and an estimated increase in borrowing rates was included within the modelling. The interest rates for long term borrowing over a 40-50 year period did not change at such a high rate compared to short term borrowing.  The forecast borrowing model assumed a higher rate of interest.

·       The Pilotage boat served the estuaries between the rivers Taw and Torridge and was used to assist the larger boats.  The costs were shared with Torridge District Council.

 In response to questions, the Chief Executive advised the following:

·       If Council approved the proposed increase in coastal car parks during the summer months, then the Council would receive the additional income to enable enforcement to be undertaken by either Devon County Council or North Devon Council. Discussions had taken place with Devon County Council regarding North Devon Council increasing its staff and having the authority to enforce on street parking also.  Additional enforcement would only be undertaken if the proposed increase in coastal car park fees was approved.

Council noted that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which came into force on 25 February 2014 and the Constitution, Council was required to take a recorded vote when setting its budget and Council Tax.

Voting on the motion:

Voting for the motion: Councillors Barker, Bushell, Campbell, Cann, Davies, Fowler, Gubb, Henderson, Hunt, Knight, Ley, Lofthouse, Lovering, Mack, Mackie, Patrinos, Pearson, Roome, D. Spear, L. Spear, Topham, Topps, Tucker, Walker, Wilkinson, Worden, Yabsley and York.

Voting against the motion: Councillor Turton

Abstained from voting on the motion: Councillor Lane

Totals: 28 For, 1 Against and 1 Abstained

The motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in minutes 106 (f) to (j) of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 7 February 2022 in relation to the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2027/28 be adopted and that the proposed increase in coastal car park fees only be accepted if a solid agreement was in place with Devon County Council to provide additional parking enforcement officers to monitor and enforce parking on County highways in coastal areas and confirmation of this agreement be brought back to the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration prior to any car parking fees being increased.