Agenda item

Reserved to Council

6.1     Treasury Strategy 2013/14 to 2015/16

6.2     Council Tax – Taxbase and Empty Property Discounts

6.3     Council Tax Reduction (Local) Scheme – Scheme Options

Call-In of Executive Decision

6.4     Gypsy & Traveller Sites In and Around Leicester

Treasury Strategy 2013/14 to 2015/16

The City Mayor submitted a report which sought to establish the strategy for the Council’s borrowing and investments during 2013/14.

The meeting also noted the minute extract from the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 17 January 2013 which was attached to the meeting papers.

Moved by Councillor Cassidy, seconded by Councillor Joshi and carried:-

36.       That Council approve the Treasury Strategy 2013/14 to 2015/16.

Council Tax – Taxbase and Empty Property Discounts

The City Mayor submitted a report regarding the setting of a ‘taxbase’ by the Council and determination of the level of discounts.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Deputy City Mayor and carried:-

37.       That Council:

1.         Endorse a taxbase for 2013/14 of 62,070 properties expressed as the equivalent number of “Band D” properties;

2.         Approve the level of discounts as recommended in section 3.9 of the report submitted to Council.

            Council Tax Reduction (Local) Scheme – Scheme Options

The City Mayor submitted a report outling details of scheme proposals to enable the Council to adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Moved by Councillor Russell, seconded by Deputy City Mayor and carried:

38.       That Council

1.         Approve the adoption of the LocalisationofCouncil TaxReduction Scheme proposals as detailed in Scheme One (details given at paragraph 4.18, page 5) of the report submitted to Council excluding removal of backdating

2.         Approve a £315,000 fund (detailed at paragraph 4.16 page 9 of the report submitted to Council) for the Council Tax discretionary relief fund (also known as Section 13A within the Local Government Finance Act) to financially assist the most vulnerable individuals in the City against the adverse impacts these groups may face following the introduction of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Objection to Decision

Gypsy and Traveller Sites in and around Leicester

Having declared an ‘Other Disclosable Interest’ in the item as a member of the Planning & Development Control Committee Councillors Kitterick, Choudhury, Moore, Mayat, Joshi, Fonseca, Desai and Shelton left the Chamber for the duration of the debate.

Having declared an ‘Other Disclosable Interest’ in the item as her partner worked for the Council in a team that had been involved with issues relating to the matter Councillor Senior withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the debate.

In accordance with Rule 12 of the City Mayor and Executive Procedure Rules, Councillors Westley (Proposer), Byrne (Seconder), Meghani, Dempster and Bhavsar had objected to the decision of the City Mayor of 7 January 2013.

The submitted grounds for objection were:

“that the residents of Beaumont Leys and Abbey Wards have raised a number of concerns that lead us to believe that the decision should be reconsidered.”

A copy of the report and background information considered by the City Mayor and the subsequent decision notice had been circulated, along with a minute extract from the meeting of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Commission on 16 January 2013 which had considered the Call In.

Moved by the Deputy City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Potter and carried:

39.       That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 22 [which provides for speeches of up to 15 minutes], a single extension of time of 10 minutes be granted for the City Mayor’s speech

Moved by Councillor Westley, seconded by Councillor Grant and carried:

40.       That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 22 [which provides for speeches of up to 15 minutes], a single extension of time of 10 minutes be granted for the speech of Councillor Westley.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Waddington:

            That Council endorse the decision taken by the City Mayor on the matter.

AN AMENDMENT

Proposed by Councillor Westley, seconded by Councillor Bhavsar

That the decision taken by the City Mayor with regard to Gypsy and Traveller sites be reconsidered and that these proposals be looked at again in line with his statement to the press which would include privately owned land as well as public.

The Lord Mayor put the amendment to the vote and declared it lost.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Waddington and carried:

41        That Council endorse the decision taken by the City Mayor on the matter.