Minutes:
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 23rd November, it had agreed a target for the rates increase for 2019/20 to be in the region of 1.98% and that the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources should bring a further report to the December meeting which would deliver the target rate increase.
Accordingly, the Director submitted a report in this regard which recommended that the Committee:
1. Agree that the decisions in relation to the setting of the district rate as set out below should not be subject to call-in because it would cause an unreasonable delay which would be prejudicial to the Council’s and the public’s interests in striking the rate by the legislative deadline of 15 February 2019.
2. Agree the following departmental growth proposals, which were presented to Committee at its meeting on the 23 November 2018.
Departmental Proposals
3. Planning and Technical Support Officers: £102,150 (Planning Committee)
4. Regeneration Support Staff: £107,010 (City Growth and Regeneration Committee)
5. Regeneration - Housing and Infrastructure: £100,000 (City Growth and Regeneration Committee)
6. Legal and Civic Services: £120,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)
Priority Areas
7. Area Based Festivals: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)
8. City Deal: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)
9. Capital Financing: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)
10. Agree to recommend the following cash limits for 2019/20 subject to the impact of the decisions made on items 3 to 9 above.
a. A cash limit of £42,292,987 for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for 2019/20, including £3,270,000 for Belfast Investment Fund and £1,500,000 for City Deal.
b. A cash limit of £80,614,500 for the People and Communities Committee for 2019/20.
c. A cash limit of £17,118,371 for the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for 2019/20.
d. A cash limit of £1,609,861 for the Planning Committee for 2019/20.
e. A Capital Financing Budget of £21,524,022 for 2019/20
11. Noted the next steps to setting the district rate outlined in paragraph 3.37 of the report.
After discussion it was,
Moved by Councillor Long,
Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McDonough-Brown),
That priority area 7 – Area Based Festivals: £500k be not included in the Revenue Estimates and that the rise in rates be set at 1.67%.
On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the proposal and thirteen against and it was declared lost.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Attwood,
Seconded by Alderman Browne,
That the £500k allocated for priority area – Area Based Festivals be reallocated to an anti-poverty crisis and prevention fund.
On a vote by show of hands five Members voted for the proposal and eleven against and it was declared lost.
Further Proposal
Moved by Councillor Craig,
Seconded by Councillor Reynolds,
That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations in relation to the setting of the district rate as set out in points one through to eleven.
On a vote by show of hands twelve Members voted for the proposal and five against and it was declared carried.
Supporting documents: