Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive communications from the Chairman and/or the Leader of the Council.

Calendar of Meetings 2013/14

The Chairman reported that, as previously notified to Members, there had been some errors in the calendar of meetings 2013/14 agreed at the last meeting. Copies of the correct version had been tabled.

Resolved

(1)               That the updated version of the calendar of meetings 2013/14 (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed.

Member Briefing

The Chairman advised Members that the briefing on the Implications of the Local Settlement due to take place after the Council meeting would no longer be taking place due to the snow. It would be rearranged in due course.

Snow

The Chairman reported on the action being undertaken by the Incident Management Team (IMT) to assess the on-going situation in relation to service delivery and safety in light of the extreme weather. Council joined the Chairman in commending officers for their continued hard work during the adverse weather conditions and noted that the majority of staff had successfully made it to the office.  

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 17 December 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

a)         Minutes of Executive, Lead Member Decisions and Executive Decisions not included in the 28 day notice

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of the meetings of the Executive and Lead Member Decisions as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received and to report that since the last meeting no decisions have been taken by the Executive which were not included in the 28 day notice.

b)         Minutes of Committees

The Leader of the Council to formally propose that the minutes of committees as set out in the Minute Book (circulated separately) be received.

a)                 Minutes of the Executive, Lead Member Decisions and Executive Decisions made under Special Urgency

Resolved

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive and Lead Member decisions as set out in the Minute Book be received and that it be noted that since the last meeting of Council, no Executive decisions had been taken that were subject to the special urgency provisions of the Constitution.

b)                 Minutes of Committees

Resolved

That the minutes of Committees as set out in the Minute Book be received.

a)         Written Questions

            To receive any written questions and answers which have been submitted with advance notice in accordance with the constitution. A written response to the question will be circulated at the meeting.

b)         Questions to the Leader of the Council

The Chairman to invite questions to the Leader of the Council (including any matters arising from the minutes).

Following a response to their question being provided members will be entitled to a follow up or supplementary question.

c)         Questions to Committee Chairmen on the minutes

The Chairman to invite questions to Chairmen of Committees on any matter arising from the minutes of their committee (if any).

a) Written Questions

There were no written questions.

b) Questions to the Leader of the Council

Questions were asked and answers received on the following issues:

Houses in multiple occupation: Councillor Woodcock

c) Questions to Committee Chairmen on the minutes

There were no questions to Committee Chairmen on the minutes of meetings.

To debate any motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the constitution.

There were no motions.

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

Summary

This Report informs Members of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme that will be introduced from 1 April 2013, and seeks authority for the Director of Resources and Head of Finance and Procurement to make the necessary arrangements for implementation and to enable the setting of the 2013/14 taxbase.

Recommendations

The Council is recommended:

(1)               To approve the introduction of a local council tax reduction scheme as set out in Para 2.2 to 2.12 for the year 1^st April 2013 to 31^st March 2014 and implement the scheme with effect from 1^st April 2013.

(2)               To allow for further amendments to the scheme up to and including 31^st January 2013 as regulations are finalised, delegating authority to amend to the Director of Resources and the Head of Finance and Procurement in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

(3)               To delegate authority to the Director of Resources and the Head of Finance and Procurement to make amendments as required to the local CTRS Regulations in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

(4)               To resolve to amend the proposed changes to Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions as detailed in Appendix 1.

(5)       To delegate approval of the NNDR1 form to the Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

The Head of Finance and Procurement submitted a report which informed Members of the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme that would be introduced from 1 April 2013, and sought authority for the Director of Resources and Head of Finance and Procurement to make the necessary arrangements for implementation and to enable the setting of the 2013/14 taxbase.

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Financial Management explained that from April 2013 council tax benefit would be replaced by a locally defined council tax reduction scheme with a 10% reduction in Government funding.

District councils in Oxfordshire, the County Council and Thames Valley Police had worked together to develop a scheme which would primarily mirror the existing council tax benefit regulations with some small amendments. Rather than make reductions in the level of support that customers would receive, for year of the scheme, additional income would be generated using technical changes to council tax discounts and exemptions.

Resolved

(1)               That the introduction of a local council tax reduction scheme for the year 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 the implementation scheme with effect from 1 April 2013 be approved.

(2)               That authority be delegated to the Director of Resources and the Head of Finance and Procurement, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to make further amendments to the scheme up to and including 31 January 2013 as regulations are finalised.

(3)               That authority be delegated to the Director of Resources and the Head of Finance and Procurement, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to make amendments as required to the local Council Tax Reduction Scheme Regulations.

(4)               That the proposed changes to Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions as detailed in Appendix 1 (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(5)       That authority for approval of the Nation Non Domestic Rate 1 form be delegated to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

Summary

To consider the calculation of the council tax base for 2013/14

Recommendations

Council is recommended:

(1)               To approve the report of the Head of Finance and Procurement, made pursuant to the Local Authorities [Calculation of Tax Base] [England] Regulations 2012  and the calculations referred to therein for the purposes of the Regulations;

(2)               To resolve that, in accordance with the Regulations, as amended, the amount calculated by Cherwell District Council as its council tax base for the year 2013/2014 shall be 46,672; and

(3)               To resolve that the tax base for the parts of the area be in accordance with the figures shown in column 13 of Appendix 2.

(4)       To delegate authority to the Director of Resources and Head of Finance and Procurement to make any changes to the tax base if required as a result of the consideration of agenda item 11 on Council Tax Reduction Scheme in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management.

The Head of Finance and Procurement submitted a report which sought consideration of the calculation of the council tax base for 2013/14. The taxbase would be used to calculate council tax amounts for council tax setting purposes at the February meeting of Council.

Resolved

(1)               That the report of the Head of Finance and Procurement, made pursuant to the Local Authorities [Calculation of Tax Base] [England] Regulations 2012 and the calculations referred to therein for the purposes of the Regulations be approved.

(2)               That it be agreed that, in accordance with the Regulations, as amended, the amount calculated by Cherwell District Council as its council tax base for the year 2013/2014 shall be 46,672.

(3)               That it be agreed that the tax base for the parts of the area be in accordance with the figures shown in column 13 of Appendix 2 (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(4)       That authority be delegated to the Director of Resources and Head of Finance and Procurement, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to make any changes to the tax base if required as a result of the consideration of agenda item 10 on Council Tax Reduction Scheme.