Minutes:
Councillor Hebb introduced the
report and stated that this was a budget for residents, and would
benefit elderly residents, mental health provision, infrastructure,
leisure provision, air quality, and other Council services. He
stated that the Council provided both statutory and discretionary
services for residents, and due to continued service review, the
budget would be balanced for the next
three years. He stated that Council would have a surplus of
£4.1million in 2020/21, a surplus of £1.4million in
2021/22, and a small surplus in 2022/23. Councillor Hebb compared
this to the budget in 2016/17 when services such as street
cleaning, the environment, and PCSO’s could not be funded, and the Council were running a
deficit. He stated that Thurrock were one of the lowest unitary
authorities in the country in terms of council tax, but were still
able to fund additional services from the General Fund such as new
policing teams, anti-social behaviour enforcement, and mental
health provision for schools. He highlighted that 97% of other
council’s had been unable to raise council tax under
inflation, and the proposed 1.49% council tax increase would be
ring-fenced for areas such as social services, and environmental
enforcement.
Councillor Hebb highlighted that the majority of councils
experienced pressure regarding social care funding, but Thurrock
had been able to continue to fund good quality services for elderly
and vulnerable residents. He stated that the proposed 2% social
care precept increase would go to services that needed it the most,
such as an additional 5% funding for the Adults, Housing and Health
directorate. He explained that Thurrock were also committed to
working with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and had
promised an additional £700,000 for new police officers, as
well as the additional 20,000 police officers promised nationally
by the Prime Minister. He felt that these new police officers would
make town centres safer and green spaces more accessible for
residents. He added that £600,000 funding was also being given to the Youth Offending team to
reduce reoffending rates and deter crime; and £600,000 was
being given to deter illegal car parking on green spaces. He added
that £400,000 was being spent on
air quality, such as by implementing a new tree planting strategy,
new cycle ways, and new ‘switch-off’ engine zones. He
felt that this would have a positive impact on resident’s
health, as it would improve air quality and reduce the rates of
COPD.
Councillor Hebb added that £500,000 was
also being given to tackle mental health problems across the
borough, by introducing an early intervention mental health
service, which would intercept crises earlier. He mentioned that
regeneration projects were also occurring across the borough, and
improvements would be made to leisure
and sports facilities, to ensure residents remained in the borough
for their sport.
Councillor Hebb moved onto outline the capital plan, as good
infrastructure was needed to ensure that
residents could access services. He highlighted that a number of
infrastructure projects were already underway, such as the
Purfleet-on-Thames regeneration scheme,
Grays underpass, Stanford-le-Hope interchange, new educational
facilities, Aveley community hub
regeneration, Civic Offices redevelopment, A13 widening scheme,
regeneration for Tilbury Riverside Centre, and works to prevent
northbound HGV access through Aveley.
He added that work was also being
undertaken to reduce the amount of rubbish that ended up in
landfill, such as a new pilot scheme that had been rolled out to
increase recycling in flats. Councillor Hebb also outlined
proposals for new schemes in Coalhouse Fort, and thanked the work
of the volunteers. He added that paving replacement schemes
would also be undertaken in areas where
footpaths were becoming loose.
The Leader highlighted that there had been no council tax increase
last year, and this year the council tax was
not being raised to its maximum level, but the council were
still providing a surplus budget. He highlighted that some of the
surplus money was being used to buy machinery to make the
clean-up of graffiti more efficient, and
felt that this would improve the look of Thurrock. He stated that
these proposals would be going to Full Council for agreement in two
weeks’ time.
Councillor Watkins thanked Councillor Hebb and the wider finance
team for their hard work in preparing the budget, and felt that
there was a positive financial outlook that supported vulnerable
residents. He felt that although the decision to increase council
tax was not an easy one, and would affect residents, the
ring-fenced approach ensured that support would be available for
the most vulnerable residents. He added that it was good to see the
surplus being invested into strategies,
such as the new tree planting strategy and air quality. He
supported the capital projects outlined, particularly the new
scheme for increasing recycling in flats, which had seen a
successful pilot in 2019. The Leader added that £30million
was also coming into the budget through investments, which helped
ensure that council tax was not raised
to its maximum level. He stated that the adult social care precept
would be ring-fenced, which ensured a smoother process for the
department to access the money and spend it on services. He added
that the Police, Fire and Crime Commission was also raising its
council tax precept, and although this was not the decision of
Thurrock Council, it would ensure the police and fire services
could continue their good work. Councillor Hebb summarised and
stated that there had been significant service reform to ensure
every service was fit for purpose.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
1. Considered the comments from Corporate Overview and Scrutiny
Committee as set out in Section 12 of the report.
2. Proposed a 2% council tax increase towards the cost of Adult
Social Care.
3. Proposed a 1.49% council tax increase to meet the increasing
costs and demands of all other services, and to move the council
towards greater financial sustainability for the medium to longer
term.
4. Noted the budget report set out through the report and
appendices.
5. Recommended to Full Council the capital proposals set out in the
report.
6. Considered and allocated the budgeted surplus for 2019/20 as set
out in Section 3.
7. Endorsed the Thurrock 2020/21 Schools Funding Formula to
be implemented as stated in Section 9,
this being consistent with Cabinet’s decision made in
December 2018.
8. Endorsed the Early Years Funding Formula for 2020/21, as shown
in Appendix 6, and allowed the Schools Forum to consider that the
rates to be implemented can be made
permanent, following review of the January 2020 census data.
Reason for decision: as outlined in the
report
This decision is subject to
call-in
Supporting documents: