Decisions

To accept the fee proposal received from Calfordseadon ltd to act as Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Engineering consultants for the redevelopment of the former Monkscroft School Site and for CBC to enter contract with them.

To award individual grants of up to £10,000, with a maximum total value of £100,000 to SME organisations. The Cheltenham Zero Business Fund (UKSPF funded) supports energy efficiency measures in the Borough.

In addition: to award individual grants of up to £10,000, with a maximum total value of £22,194.30 to community organisations. This money comes from the underspend of the 22/23 Cheltenham Zero Community Fund pot and supports energy efficiency measures in the Borough.

CZ Business Fund Panel agreed to award the below amounts:

£7400 – Twigworth Development Limited – For solar panels on a multi let office space

£7,400 -  Beechurst Serviced Apartments – emissions reduction project for serviced apartments to include solar, gas removal and electrification and EV charging points.

£10,000 – The Cotswold Bed Company Limited – Funding to support work to power their compressors by solar power

£3,669.43 - Poco Culina – Creation of an energy efficient and sustainable commercial kitchen

£2,050 – MIMMO Studios – Funding for LED lighting, efficient heating / cooling fans and draft proofing

£10,000 – The Curious Café & Bistro – Solar PV and battery project

£4,642.34 – Albright product design limited – Fabric first energy efficiency improvements to building.

£10,000 – The Leckhampton Surgery – Solar PV project.

£2,995 – Rowan Gymnastics Club – Cycle shelter project

£3,836 – Vision 21 Gloucestershire – Funding for LED lighting, infrared room heaters and HVO trial of a diesel vehicle.

£1,470 – Original Consultants Ltd – EV charging points project.

£9,757 – Willans LLP Solicitors – Solar PV energy reduction project

£10,000 – Zigs Exercise – Fabric first project to make businesses premises more energy efficient.

£5,000 - Albright IP Limited – Installation of accessible EV charges in office car park.

£1,794.88 - Purslane Restaurant – Fabric first project to install insulation and LED light fittings.

£10,000 - The Richard Pate School – Project to replace old floodlights to LED fittings to reduce energy use.

Funding granted from the CZ Community grants underspend:

£10,000 – Sandford Lido Limited – Solar panel car port project

£6,097 – East Gloucestershire Club Ltd – Conversion of metal halide bulbs to new energy efficient LEDS in the floodlights of four outdoor tennis courts.

£6,097 – Christ Church Cheltenham – Solar PV project.

That Claire Hughes is appointed as Non-Executive Director of Ubico Limited for Cheltenham Borough Council.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets said that now that the budget had been agreed, Members were required to formally approve the total council tax for the residents of Cheltenham for the coming year.  This includes the council tax requirements of the county council, Police and where relevant, parishes.

There were no questions or debate on this item.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the formal Council Tax resolution at Appendix 2 is approved and the commentary in respect of the increase in Council Tax at Paragraph 6 of Appendix 2 is noted. 

For (unanimous):  Andrews, Atherstone, Babbage, Baker, Boyes, Britter, Chelin, Chidley, Clucas, Collins, Dobie, Fisher, Harman, Harvey, Hay, Horwood, Jeffries, Lewis, McCloskey Pineger, Seacome Smith, Tailford, Tooke, Wheeler, Wilkinson Williams, Willingham

To consider the recommendations

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets invited any questions on the item.  There were none.

RESOLVED THAT: Council is recommended to:

1.    approve the final HRA budget proposals (shown at Appendix 2);

2.    approve a rent increase of 7.7% for social rent homes, affordable rent homes and shared ownership homes and changes to other rents and charges as detailed within the report;

3.    approve the HRA capital programme as shown at Appendix 3 and the detailed capital programme at Appendix 4;

4.    approve the HRA’s Asset Management Plan (AMP) to 2028 at Appendix 5;

5.    note the revised HRA forecast for 2023/24.

To consider the recommendations

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets apologised for the extraordinary meeting, due to the  last-minute funding support for local authorities announced by the government.  He said officers had taken a bit more time to get the budget right.  The paperwork had been circulated, and he said he would present a full report at Council, but was happy to take any questions.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing asked about the difficulties in preparing the budget within the timetable given to us by government as a result of their late declaration.  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets confirmed that it is always a challenge, particularly with the one-year settlements of the last few years, and declarations are always made too late in the process.  It would make officers’ jobs a lot easier if these came earlier, and multi-year settlements would also be very helpful.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities said that, working with the Local Government Association on different matters, she sees council after council unable to meet their obligations, and looking at what officers and Cabinet colleagues have achieved in Cheltenham, she had to say what a good job they have done with the budget – not only investing in council housing, but also in families, children, communities and a host of organisations and facilities around the country which other councils are closing down.  She thanked them all for the commitment, consideration and hard work.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets thanked her for her comments.

RESOLVED THAT: Council is recommended to:

1.    approve the revised budget for 2023/24 which is reported as part of the budget monitoring process for 31 December 2023 in Section 6;

2.    consider the budget assessment by the Section 151 Officer at Appendix 2 in agreeing the following recommendations:

3.    approve the final budget proposals including a proposed council tax for the services provided by Cheltenham Borough Council of £237.68 for the year 2024/25 based on a Band D property (an increase of 2.99%), as detailed in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.6;

4.    approve the savings / additional income totalling £2,741,000 and the budget strategy at Appendix 4;

5.    approve the revenue growth items totalling £158,000 at Appendix 5;

6.    approve the capital programme at Appendix 6;

7.    approve the use of reserves and general balances and note the projected level of reserves, as detailed at Appendix 7;

8.    approve the programmed maintenance programme at Appendix 8;

9.    approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) detailed in Appendix 9;

10.approve the flexible use of capital receipts strategy as detailed in Appendix 10;

11.note that the Council will remain in the Gloucestershire business rates pool for 2024/25;

12.approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25, including the continued payment of a living wage supplement at Appendix 11;

13.note the responses to the questions raised during the budget consultation in Appendix 12;

14.approve the proposed fees and charges schedule for 2024/25 at Appendix 13, subject to appropriate consultation where required;

15. approve a level of supplementary estimate of £100,000 for 2024/25 as outlined in Section 18.