Agenda for Council on Thursday, 10th February, 2022, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre Folkestone

Contact: Jemma West 

Media

Items
No. Item

52.

Declarations of Interest

Members of the Council should declare any discloseable pecuniary interest or any other significant interests in any item/s on this agenda.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Rolfe, Gane and Mullard made voluntary declarations in respect of the Budget Strategy 2022/23 (Minute No 56), and the update to the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme (Minute No 57) as they are Directors of Oportunitas, but had been given dispensations by the Audit and Governance Committee.

 

Councillors Shoob and Mrs Hollingsbee also made voluntary declarations in respect of the Budget Strategy 2022/23 (Minute No 56), and the update to the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme (Minute No 57) as they are directors of the Otterpool Park LLP.

53.

Change in Governance arrangements - Progress of the Governance Working Group

This report summarises the work of the group to date and sets out the various governance models available.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report summarised the work of the group to date and set out the various governance models available.

 

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Whybrow; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/21/22 be received and noted.

2.         That the work of the Governance Working Group be noted.

3.         That the next steps, set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report be noted.

 

(Voting figures: 25 for, 0 against, 2 abstentions).

 

(Councillors Brook and Miss Carey were not present for the vote on this item).

54.

Appointment of external auditor

This report sets out an update on the options available and a recommended course of action regarding the appointment of the External Auditor to the Council, following consideration by the Audit & Governance Committee on 8 December 2021 (AuG/21/19).

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report set out an update on the options available and a recommended course of action regarding the appointment of the External Auditor to the Council, following consideration by the Audit & Governance Committee on 8 December 2021 (AuG/21/19).

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,  

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/21/26 be received and noted.

2.         That the recommendation of the Audit & Governance Committee to enter into the procurement exercise led by the Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors (option 3) be accepted for a period of five financial years from 1st April 2023.

 

(Voting figures: 28 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

(Councillor Miss Carey was not present for the vote on this item).

55.

Senior management restructure

This report seeks the council’s approval to meet the costs of the redundancy (of the post) of the Director of Transformation & Transition.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report sought the council’s approval to meet the costs of the redundancy (of the post) of the Director of Transformation & Transition.

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.     That report A/21/25 be received and noted.

2.          That the redundancy of the Director of Transformation and Transition be approved with the associated costs to be funded through the use of flexible capital receipts and added to the Medium Term Capital Programme.

 

(Voting figures: 20 for, 0 against, 9 abstentions).

 

56.

Budget Strategy 2022/23

The Budget Strategy takes account of current and future financial issues, sets out the underlying assumptions and initial budget-setting proposals and provides a timetable for delivering a balanced budget in 2022/23.

 

This Budget Strategy sets out the guidelines for preparing the 2022/23 Budget. It supports the Corporate Plan and aligns with the direction and objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Budget Strategy takes account of current and future financial issues, sets out the underlying assumptions and initial budget-setting proposals and provides a timetable for delivering a balanced budget in 2022/23.

 

This Budget Strategy set out the guidelines for preparing the 2022/23 Budget. It supports the Corporate Plan and aligns with the direction and objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Budget Strategy for 2022/23 be adopted

 

(Voting figures: 24 for, 5 against, 0 abstentions).

57.

Update to the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme

This report updates the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme for the five year period ending 31 March 2027. The General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme is required to be submitted to full Council for consideration and approval as part of the budget process. The report also updates Members on the required capital budget and proposed funding for the Princes Parade scheme following the two stage procurement process for the construction contract and the anticipated residential development capital receipts.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report updated the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme for the five year period ending 31 March 2027. The General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme is required to be submitted to full Council for consideration and approval as part of the budget process. The report also updated Members on the required capital budget and proposed funding for the Princes Parade scheme following the two stage procurement process for the construction contract and the anticipated residential development capital receipts.

 

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Whybrow;

 

That the following recommendation be inserted as recommendation two (and subsequent recommendations be renumbered):

 

“That Princes Parade (Princes Parade Leisure and Housing Development) allocated budget of £45,400,579 be deleted and that a future capital programme considers the required budget for a leisure centre on an alternative site, probably at Martello Lakes”.

 

In accordance with the council procedure rule 17.5 five members present demanded a recorded vote.

 

FOR: Councillors Davison, Fuller, Gane, Keen, Keutenius, J Martin, McConville, Meade, Prater, Shoob, Treloar, Whybrow and Wing (13).

  

AGAINST: Councillors Mrs Berry, Brook, Miss Carey, Collier, Field, Goddard, Godfrey, Hills, Mrs Hollingsbee, P Martin, Meyers, Monk, Mullard,  Peall, Rolfe and Wimble (16).

 

ABSTENTIONS: None (0).

 

(Voting figures: 13 for, 16 against, 0 abstentions).

 

The amendment was therefore LOST.

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Godfrey; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/21/27 be received and noted.

2.         That the updated General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme be approved, as set out in appendix 1 to the report.

 

In accordance with the council procedure rule 17.5 five members present demanded a recorded vote.

 

FOR: Councillors Mrs Berry, Brook, Miss Carey, Collier, Field, Goddard, Godfrey, Hills, Mrs Hollingsbee, P Martin, Meyers, Monk, Mullard,  Peall, Rolfe and Wimble (16).

  

AGAINST: Councillors Davison, Fuller, Gane, Keen, Keutenius, J Martin, McConville, Meade, Prater, Shoob, Treloar, Whybrow and Wing (13).

 

ABSTENTIONS: None (0).

 

(Voting figures: 16 for, 13 against, 0 abstentions).