Issue - meetings

Executive Committee

Meeting: 30/01/2023 - Council (Item 69)

69 Executive Committee pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered minutes from meetings of the Executive Committee held on 6th December 2022, 13th December 2022 and 10th January 2023. 

 

Council was reminded that at the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 13th December 2022 the Committee had made no recommendations.  These minutes had therefore been shared for Members’ consideration in case there were any questions of clarification on the content and to enable Council to adopt the minutes.

 

During consideration of the minutes of these meetings, the following reports, that had been debated at those meetings, were discussed in detail:

 

Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 to 2025/26 – Update

 

Concerns were raised that the savings detailed in the report could result in staff redundancies as well as a change to the electoral cycle at the Council from a system of elections by thirds.  In addition, some Members raised concerns about the proposed fees for services delivered by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS).

 

Council Tax Base 2023/24

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling highlighted that the Council was required to set the Council Tax Base on an annual basis.  The proposals detailed in the report assumed that the Council would achieve a 98 per cent collection rate, in respect of Council Tax payments during the 2023/24 financial year.  The Council Tax Base had been calculated at £26,304.94.  This was lower than for many other Councils in Worcestershire as the calculations were based on the numbers of Council Tax Band D equivalent properties in the local authority area and the majority of houses in the Borough were classified as Bands A – C.  The lower Council Tax Base placed the Council at a disadvantage and it was suggested that the Council should encourage the Government to take action to change the system.

 

Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/24

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling explained that a draft report on the subject of proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme had been considered by the Executive Committee in October 2022.  The proposed changes had subsequently been the subject of public consultation.  A total of 94 responses had been received during this consultation, of which 87 per cent had expressed support for the proposed changes. 

 

As part of the process, the Council had consulted with all of the precepting authorities.  Worcestershire County Council had responded to Redditch Borough Council and had raised some concerns.  However, the issues raised would be offset by the benefits arising for eligible residents in the Borough.  Members were asked to note that in Worcestershire, only the District Councils in the north of the county had proposed changes to their Council Tax Support Schemes, all of which were designed to benefit vulnerable local residents.

 

Housing Revenue Account Rent Setting Report 2023/24

 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Procurement presented the Housing Revenue Account Rent Setting Report 2023/24.  Members were advised that the report proposed increasing rents for Council house tenants.  The Government had announced that Councils could increase rents for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69