Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors A Hodgson, Long, Rebeiro and Ryan.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous Council meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on  8 February 2022 were presented for approval.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2022 be approved.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct (Members are directed to the guidance sheet attached)

There were no declarations of pecuniary or conflicting interests from Members.

To receive petitions from Members of the Council.

The following petition was submitted:

From Cllr O’Nyons - We the undersigned call upon Solihull MBC to introduce speed reduction/traffic calming measures on Wagon Lane.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council or Members of the Cabinet.

The Mayor reminded Members that at the next Council meeting on 5 April 2022 a Council photograph is scheduled to take place before the meeting starts.

The Leader condemned the invasion of Ukraine and stated that the Council stood with the people of Ukraine.

To answer questions asked by residents of the Borough under Standing Order 9 and to hear petitioners or deputations in accordance with Standing Order 12.

No questions or deputations were received.

To answer questions asked under Standing Order 8 by Councillors (30 Minutes)

Cllr L McCarthy to Cllr Hawkins Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Infrastructure

We are fortunate to have many community groups who are keen to arrange activities for their members. However, they are reporting that they are struggling to find a designated coach pick up spot in the town centre. Can the Cabinet Member advise where groups can arrange to be collected by coaches please?

The Cabinet Member responded that identifying suitable coach collection points for community groups wishing to access the town centre will be determined by the size of the vehicle in question, the type of operation as well as the frequency and duration of drop-off and collections required. Typically, due to the impact and space requirements, coach parking within urban town centres is discouraged, which is the case in our town centre, and whilst coach collection can take place on any suitable unrestricted part of the highway, due to the traffic sensitive nature of many roads in our town centre, it is not something that is encouraged by the Councils Highways Management Team.

Cllr L McCarthy sighted a particular community group who had been given conflicting advice by the Council regarding a number of unsuitable pick up spots, and asked if there was a specific location they could use. The Cabinet Member advised that the community group should contact the Highways Management and Parking Services team for advice.

To deal with any motions received.

No Motion was received.

(a) To receive the recommendations of Cabinet and approve the CouncilBudget for 2022/2023, the Medium Term Financial Strategy and theCorporate Capital Strategy, including the Council’s strategy on the flexible use of capital receipts and the annual MRP Statement, and the proposed carbon budget setout in:

(i) The Leader’s Report to the Cabinet meeting on 10 February 2022

(pages 21-28)

(ii) The Cabinet minutes from 10 February 2022 (pages 29-31)

(iii) The Cabinet report from 10 February 2022 on the Budget andMedium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 – 2024/25 (pages 33-122)

(b) To calculate the sums required for the purposes of sections 31A, 31B and

34-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and to set the Council Tax for2022/23 in accordance with section 30 of the same Act. (pages 123-127)

A named vote will be held in relation to (a) and (b) above and on any proposedAmendments

The Leader presented the recommendation from Cabinet in relation to the Council Budget for 2022/2023, the Medium Term Financial Strategy and theCorporate Capital Strategy, including the Council’s strategy on the flexible use of capital receipts and the annual MRP Statement, and the proposed carbon budget.

The Leader moved the recommendation under 9(a) which was seconded by Cllr Sleigh:

(i) Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 – 2024/25, as updated in the Leaders report, and the Capital Strategy (incorporating the Council’s strategy on the flexible use of capital receipts and the annual Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement);

(ii) Approve the fees and charges proposed within each portfolio (Appendix D of the report of the Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive) (viewable on line);

(iii) Approve the Council’s proposed carbon budget, as detailed in the report to the Members Budget Seminar attached at Appendix E of the report of the Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive;

(iv) Approve an increase of 1.99% in the level of the general council tax in 2022/23 (to £1,342.66 at Band D);

(v) Approve  an increase of 1.90% in the social care precept in 2022/23 (to £174.38 at Band D); and

(vi) Approve a budget for 2022/23 of £163.967 million, including the forecast balances on the budget strategy reserve set out in paragraph 3.7 of the Leaders report and funded by a total Band D council tax of £1,517.04.

Following a debate a named vote was held.

The following Members voted in favour of the recommendation:

Cllrs Allsopp, Blunt, Butler, Clements, Cole, Courts, Davis, Dicicco, Gibbin, Gough, K Grinsell, B Grinsell, Hawkins, T Hodgson, Hogarth, Mrs Holl-Allen MBE, Holt, Howell, Mackenzie, Mackiewicz, M McCarthy, Meeson, O’Nyons, Parker, Pinwell, Qais, Rolf, Sandison, Sleigh OBE, P Thomas and Tildesley.

The following Members voted against the recommendation:

Cllrs Allen, Ashraf MBE, Brain, Burn, Caudwell, Groom, Hamilton, Macnaughton, L McCarthy, McLoughlin, Moses, Dr Sexton, Sheshabhatter, K Thomas and Wilson.

Council RESOLVED:

(i) To approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 – 2024/25, as updated in the Leaders report, and the Capital Strategy (incorporating the Council’s strategy on the flexible use of capital receipts and the annual Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement);

(ii) To approve the fees and charges proposed within each portfolio (Appendix D of the report of the Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive) (viewable on line);

(iii)To approve the Council’s proposed carbon budget, as detailed in the report to the Members Budget Seminar attached at Appendix E of the report of the Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive;

(iv) To approve an increase of 1.99% in the level of the general council tax in 2022/23 (to £1,342.66 at Band D);

(v) To approve an increase of 1.90% in the social care precept in 2022/23 (to £174.38 at Band D); and

(vi) To approve a budget for 2022/23 of £163.967 million, including the forecast balances on the budget strategy reserve set out in paragraph 3.7 of the Leaders report and funded by a total  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To deal with any questions by Leaders of political groups to the Leader of the Council, a member of the Cabinet, a Chairman of a Committee, Board, Sub-Committee or Task and Finish Group.

No questions were received.

The Chief Executive to report on any urgent matters.

No urgent matters were reported.

To answer any remaining questions not dealt with under item 7.

No questions remained outstanding.