Agenda and minutes

To sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 January 2024.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 18 January 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were given by Councillor Booton, Torra, Harper, McKenna, Thompson.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were none.

To consider any urgent business.

There were none.

To consider any questions received from Members of the Council under Council Procedure Rule 2.15.

Twelve questions with notice were received from Members of Council. One was additional and therefore, in accordance with Procedure Rule 2.15.8, was to receive a written response following the meeting with 11 receiving responses at the meeting. Councillor Torra gave her apologies to the meeting. Councillor Proudfoot read out her question on her behalf.

Note: For more information on the response to Council questions, please see the following page on the Council’s website:

https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13260

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Council’s Executive, Committees and Sub-Committees for decision, including:

The meeting of the Executive held on 1 February 2024.

Related Committee agenda, reports and minutes are available here.

Councillor Biggs, the Leader of the Council, proposed the Budget & Capital Programme 2024/25 recommendations as set out in Minute 61 of the Executive meeting held on 1 February 2024. Thanks were given to the Chief Finance Office, the Finance Team, the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Harrison in his capacity of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Members of Council and residents for their contributions to the development of the Budget & Capital Programme for 2024/25.

Councillor Lewanski, the Executive Member for Finance, Governance & Organisation seconded the motion and reserved the right to speak.

Councillor Harrison, in his capacity as the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel and Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, made the following observations about the Budget & Capital Programme for 2024/25:

·       Changes in the budget for savings, income and additional costs had been tested year on year along with the explanations provided. The panel had concluded the additional income and cost increases were reasonable and achievable based on sound financial practices and reasonable assumptions in terms of service delivery. The proposed savings were not expected to have a significant impact on service scope or quality.

·       A number of uncertainties related to assumptions and individual budgets lead to a further review in January 2024 after the Government’s funding announcement. The major areas of risk were recorded as homelessness, support for and provision of temporary accommodation, the housing benefit subsidy, recycling income, the Government’s proposals for the management of waste, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) at the Harlequin theatre and inflation. Whilst the latter had reduced it appeared likely to be longstanding. Therefore, the Panel and Committee refused to make any firm conclusions.

·       The Commercial Strategy included additional income from the Rise when all the units were fully let. Additionally, a provision was made for credit losses associated with the investment in Pathway for Care.

·       The latest position as of January 2024 saw positive changes with a reduced call on earmarked reserves down from £1m to £700K.

Councillor Essex, in his capacity as the Leader of the Green Group, made the following observations about the Budget & Capital Programme for 2024/25:

·       Thanks were given to officers for the preparation of the budget and Councillor Harrison in his capacity as the Chair of the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel. Support was expressed for the Panel’s conclusions.

·       Called for the Council to focus on its own services rather than risky commercial ventures, citing Pathway for Care and Horley Business Park LLP for which there was credit loss provision in the accounts.

·       Welcomed the changes to the empty house property tax and the extension to the Council Tax Discount Scheme. However, called for more to be done to support affordable housing, recycling and action around climate change rather than boosting reserves. Funds allocated to reserves could be used to support residents, the work of Community Development workers and to guarantee continuation of the Household Support Fund for 2024/25.

Councillor Harrison, spoke again but this time in his capacity as the Leader of the Residents’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63a

Related Committee agenda, reports and minutes are available here.

The Council Tax Setting for 2024/25 as contained in Minute 62 was put to a recorded vote:

·       Those Councillors voting for the Council Tax increase for 2024/25 were: Adamson, Ashford, Avery, Baker, Blacker, Biggs, Bray, Buttironi, Chandler, Chester, Cooper, Dwight, Elbourne, Essex, Fairhurst, Green, Harp, Harrison, Hinton, Hudson, Kelly, King (Andrew), King (James), Kulka, Lewanski, Michalowski, Moses, Neame, Parnall, Proudfoot, Ritter, Sachdeva, Sinden, Smith, Stevens, Tary, Thorne and Walsh

·       No Councillors voted against the Council Tax increase for 2024/25.

·       Those Councillors abstaining on the Council Tax increase for 2024/25 were: Humphreys and Khan.

The motion was carried.

Related Committee agenda, reports and minutes are available here.

RESOLVED: to adopt the calendar of meetings for 2024/25 as presented in the agenda.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairmen of Committees or the Managing Director.

The Leader made a statement to the meeting. Sincere thanks were expressed to Councillor Ashford for his tireless work with the Borough’s Community Centres following his having stepped down as the Executive Member for Communities & Leisure. It was noted that Councillor Ashford had created a legacy of improved health and wellbeing.

Additionally, it was announced the Councillor Sinden was the Deputy Mayor Elect for 2024/25. The Councillor’s work in supporting the Mayor’s events during 2023/24 was recognised.

Thanks were given to everyone who had worked hard to make the meeting and the budget debate possible. The Managing Director and her team were specifically thanked for all they continued to do to make the Council the best it could be.

To receive and approve the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

RESOLVED: to approve the Pay Policy Statement as presented in the agenda.

To receive and approve an update to the Council’s Constitution to enable the declaration of casual vacancies under delegated authority.

The update to the Constitution to allow a casual vacancy to be declared under delegated authority was proposed by Councillor Lewanski and seconded by Councillor Harrison.

RESOLVED: to approve the recommendation to amend the Constitution to allow a delegated authority to declare casual vacancies.

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

There were no further announcements.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor thanked Simon Bland, Diane Dunkley and the Economic Prosperity Team for the funds raised through the Reigate & Banstead Business Awards to support his charities; the Royal British Legion and the Lucy Rayner Foundation. The Harlequin Team was also thanked for its charity bucket collection which raised additional funds for the Lucy Rayner Foundation. Two further fundraising events were promoted; a charity quiz night on Thursday 22 February 2024 and a Ladies’ Charity Lunch on 20 March 2024 to be held at Ciao Italia restaurant.