Agenda item

Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21

To consider so much of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th February 2020 arising from its consideration of a report of the Executive Director, Resources on the Revenue Budget for 2020/21 and the Capital Strategy 2020-2025, and to pass resolutions thereon as appropriate.

 

 

NOTE: Reports on the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21, updated since submission to the Cabinet so as to include information on the precepts, will be circulated to all Council Members with the Council Summons and can also be viewed at –

http://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=154&MId=7340&Ver=4

 

 

 

Minutes:

7.1

RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Peter Rippon, seconded by Councillor David Baker, that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 4 (Suspension and Amendment of Council Procedure Rules) and 11 (Motions which may be moved without notice):-

 

(a) Council Procedure Rule 17.5 be suspended to remove the 2 minute time limit on the speeches of the movers and seconders of amendments and a new time limit be set whereby a total of 20 minutes will be shared by the mover and seconder of each amendment, and all other speakers shall have 2 minutes;

 

(b) Council Procedure Rule 17.6 be suspended to remove the 25 minute time limit for the item of business; and

 

(c) Council Procedure Rules 17.7(d) and 17.12(a) be suspended to remove the right of reply for the mover of the motion.

 

 

7.2

It was formally moved by Councillor Peter Rippon and formally seconded by Councillor Dianne Hurst, that the following recommendations made by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 19th February, 2020, arising from its consideration of a report of the Executive Director, Resources on the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2020/21 and the Capital Strategy 2020-25, be approved:-

 

 

 

“RESOLVED: That Cabinet recommends to the meeting of the City Council on 4th March 2020:-

 

(a)

to approve a net Revenue Budget for 2020/21 amounting to £420.171m;

 

 

(b)

to approve a Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,621.40 for City Council services, i.e. an increase of 3.99% (1.99% City Council increase and 2% national arrangement for the social care precept);

 

 

(c)

to approve the proposed amendments to the Long Term Empty premium which applies to Council Tax charges in respect of Long Term Empty Dwellings, as set out in paragraph 48 of the Revenue Budget report, with effect from 1 April 2020;

 

 

(d)

to note that the Section 151 Officer has reviewed the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003; and that further details can be found in Appendix 4 and within the Section 25 Statutory Statement on Sustainability of Budget and Level of Reserves from paragraph 15 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(e)

to approve the savings as set out in Appendix 2 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(f)

to approve the revenue budget allocations for each of the services, as set out in Appendices 3a to 3d of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(g)

to note that, based on the estimated expenditure level set out in Appendix 3 to the Revenue Budget report, the amounts shown in part B of Appendix 6 of the report would be calculated by the City Council for the year 2020/21, in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

 

(h)

to note the information on the precepts issued by the South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner and of South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority, together with the impact of these on the overall amount of Council Tax to be charged in the City Council’s area;

 

 

(i)

to approve the proposed amount of compensation to Parish Councils for the loss of Council Tax income in 2020/21 at the levels shown in the table below paragraph 85 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(j)

to approve the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report and the recommendations contained therein;

 

 

(k)

to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report; which takes into account the revisions proposed for 2019/20 onwards;

 

 

(l)

to agree that authority be delegated to the Executive Director, Resources, to undertake Treasury Management activity, to create and amend appropriate Treasury Management Practice Statements and to report on the operation of Treasury Management activity on the terms set out in these documents;

 

 

(m)

to approve a Pay Policy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 8 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(n)

to agree that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017/18 and onwards, approved on 3 March 2017, and implemented for 2018/19 and 2019/20, be also implemented for 2020/21;

 

 

(o)

to approve the contents of the Capital Strategy & Budget Book and the specific projects included in the years 2020/21 to 2024/25; that block allocations are included within the programme for noting at this stage and detailed proposals will be brought back for separate Member approval as part of the monthly monitoring procedures; and

 

 

(p)

to approve the proposed Capital Programme for the 5 years to 2024/25, as per appendix 2 of the Capital report.

 

 

 

 

7.3

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Terry Fox, seconded by Councillor Julie Dore, as an amendment, that the recommendations of the Cabinet held on 19th February, 2020, as relates to the City Council's Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21, be replaced by the following resolution:-

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

 

(1)       places on record its thanks to the staff who continue to serve the Council in these incredibly difficult times, which year-on-year lead to uncertainty about their own futures and those of their colleagues, many of whom are left to pick up an increased workload as a result of cuts to staffing numbers;

 

(2)       notes the following financial assessment for 2020/21:-

 

(i)         resolute financial planning by the Council means that the budget will be balanced, a significant achievement following a decade of austerity and cuts from Central Government;

 

(ii)        however, a further £15 million of savings are required for 2020/21, taking the cumulative total of savings and financial pressures to £475 million over the last 10 years; and

 

(iii)       a rising demand in social care services nationally, along with the decreasing funding allocated by government over the last decade, is seeing councils across the country struggle to cope, and this is why Sheffield City Council has continuously lobbied for fairer funding, particularly for social care, and whilst an additional £12million for social care was announced in the 2019 Spending Round, significant cost and demand pressures completely outstrip this;

 

(3)       notes/believes the following regarding the national political context:-

 

(i)         that councils are bearing the brunt of an austerity programme in its tenth year, and that a decade after we believe the banking sector caused the financial crisis, it is still being paid for by the vast majority of people;

 

(ii)        notes, however, that not everyone is doing badly out of austerity and according to the Office for National Statistics, the average income of the richest fifth rose by 4.7%, whilst the poorest fifth of the population contracted by 1.6% in the financial year ending in 2018 (the most up-to-date information available);

 

(iii)       believes that inequality is rising and public and local services have been badly damaged after a decade of Government-led austerity, moreover the present Government are doing very little to resolve the domestic issues that matter a great deal to the people of Sheffield, such as the continuing and increasing pressures on health and social care services, insufficient housing, lack of support for our skills and young people, the climate emergency, air quality issues and addressing crime and anti-social behaviour;

 

(iv)       believes that the Government has no sustainable plan for local government finance and that the proposed “fair funding” review is likely to make things even worse and could see the removal of deprivation from the funding formula; meaning that urban and poorer areas, such as Sheffield, are likely to see funding taken away to instead benefit rural shire counties, who are predominately under Conservative control;

 

(v)        notes that, despite these factors, the present Administration maintains it has protected front-line services as far as possible and succeeded in protecting services for the most vulnerable; and

 

(vi)       believes that central government needs to move away from successive policies since 2010 which have brought unnecessary, cruel and deeply damaging funding cuts and to instead give public services and local authorities the funding they so desperately need;

 

(4)       notes the following regarding social care:-

 

(i)         under this Administration, the budget for the People Services Portfolio, which provides these care services, has risen by £53 million from £198m in 2017/18 to £251m in 2020/21, enhancing the major principle of this Council of looking after the most vulnerable in our city;

 

(ii)        that ten years of central government forcing councils to slash budgets, coupled with the increased costs in adult and children’s social care, means that councils are, in the words of the Local Government Association (LGA), “close to the edge”, and that the LGA estimate that councils in England face an overall funding gap of £5.8 billion by 2020;

 

(iii)       that there is a wide disparity in the ability of local authorities to raise income from council tax increases; for instance, a 1% rise in Sheffield is worth £2.2 million – less than a 1% rise in Conservative-run Surrey (worth £7.3 million);

 

(iv)       due to the crisis in social care, believes the Council simply has no other option than implement the Government’s adult social care precept council tax rise by 2%, introduced by the Government as a way of passing onto local taxpayers the costs of their own failings to properly fund social care;

 

(v)        believes that despite the national social care crisis and great financial pressures on local authorities, this Administration has worked hard to secure a better long-term future for social care in Sheffield; and

 

(vi)       believes that the Administration’s investment in children’s social care will have a positive and lasting long-term impact as, for example, it is being spent on Children’s social workers, the Successful Families Initiative and fostering campaigns, all of which are aimed at providing the right preventative measures and support services to enable vulnerable children to be supported in the most effective environments;

 

(5)       notes the following regarding Council services and the actions of this Administration to show a real alternative to what it believes are the failed dogma of recent governments:-

 

(i)         by bringing services back “in-house”; housing repairs, IT and Digital services, Human Resources and payroll and setting up an in-house out-of-hours customer services telephone line;

 

(ii)        we are fully accredited as a Foundation Living Wage employer;

 

(iii)       our ethical procurement strategy commits the Council to ensuring high standards of ethical practice in the way it trades, and works with partners, companies and inward investors across the city; and

 

(iv)       we are approved supporters of the TUC Great Jobs Agenda and the Co-Operative Party’s Charter against Modern Day Slavery;

 

(6)       notes the following spending commitments to help the city fight the climate emergency and to protect the city from environmental changes, such as flooding:-

 

(i)         £22.7 million in keeping the city safe from flooding, with widespread investment in Culvert Renewal Programme and flood defences schemes at Lower Don and Upper Don Valley, including the River Loxley;           

 

(ii)        nearly £15 million spent on greening the city’s transport and assisting active travel with more walking routes, segregated cycle lanes and bus lanes;

 

(iii)       over the next 10 years, the Council will plant 100,000 trees as part of the Administration’s Trees and Woodland Strategy;

 

(iv)       ‘Grey to Green’ is delivering improved air quality and safer travel as well, bringing more of this colour into the city centre, turning once dull streets into vibrant public spaces with significant areas of wild flowers, trees and shrubs;

 

(v)        the Council now purchases electricity generated from 100% renewable sources, this is an increase of 81%;

 

(vi)       established Energy Surgeries and installed Smart Energy Meters for Council tenants – creating up to a 40% saving for tenants, as well as a substantial reduction in wasted energy; and

 

(vii)      plans to implement a Clean Air Zone to improve air quality;

 

(7)       believes that this Administration is improving the living standards for all by driving up growth in our local economy through capital investment – we are investing in exciting developments for the Heart of City II scheme, on the Olympic Legacy Park, Castlegate regeneration, the Knowledge gateway, Charter Square and Fitzalan Square;

 

(8)       notes that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to council housing, despite the challenging financial climate:-

 

(i)         a commitment to provide 3,100 new council houses over the next 10 years to meet the increased demand for affordable housing;

 

(ii)        provide £500 million of investment over the next five years to make sure homes and estates are well maintained; and

 

(iii)       continuing to take a proactive approach to managing our neighbourhoods and supporting our tenants;

 

(9)       notes that the Administration has made provisions to protect those affected by what it believes is the Government’s continued, and botched, rollout of Universal Credit, and has given assurances that no tenant will be evicted for delays in payment that are solely a result of delayed payments in their Universal Credit;

 

(10)     notes that the Administration has maintained the council tax support scheme and increased the council tax hardship fund by £200,000 for 2020/21 meaning the Hardship Fund will total £1.6 million;

 

(11)     notes that the Administration is committed to locality working and empowering our communities, with over £3.2 million spent on locality management, including support for the voluntary sector and localised health schemes;

 

(12)     believes that the Government’s National Funding Formula implementation is being implemented too slowly for schools, and that this will have a significant impact on Sheffield’s primary schools, when what is really required is significant funding increases to all of our schools, with specific additional funding to schools most in need;

 

(13)     notes this Administration is ensuring sufficient school places for children is a key priority; with Sheffield families continuing to have a better chance than most of accessing one of their preferred schools – with 97% of pupils given a secondary school of their choice, and 98% in this year’s intake were able to get a primary school of their choice - both above the national average - and work is well underway to provide more capacity in a number of areas across the city;

 

(14)     notes the Administration is prioritising transport to deliver safe, well maintained streets which enable the city’s on-going development and is exploring more segregated networks for public transport, walking, cycling and private cars to reduce conflict and accidents and promote transport speed, capacity and choice, and that it is this Administration’s aim to deliver an integrated transport system, where different modes of transport complement each other;

 

(15)     notes that this Administration is funding road safety to ensure that Sheffield is moving and freer from accidents and delays, with Sheffield’s neighbourhoods safe and liveable through initiatives such as 20mph speed limits;

 

(16)     notes the results of the Council’s Big City Conversation and believes that in addition to the spending outlined in the 2020/21 Budget, the following additional funding commitments should be made:-

 

(i)         invest an extra £2 million for Young People’s services, with an ambition to mainstream within revenue spending, details of which will be expanded on when the new strategy goes to Cabinet in March;

 

(ii)        to help make Sheffield’s streets safer and cleaner, £2.5 million will be invested in a three year programme to provide an enhanced neighbourhood service focussing on improving the neighbourhood, tackling waste, combating fly tipping and graffiti, housing landlord enforcement and addressing crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB);

 

(iii)       invest an additional £4 million into road safety measures across the city, as the Council’s capacity to make interventions compared with previous years has been massively reduced by austerity, meaning that the Council is currently only able to fund around two to three crossings per year and, as such, this investment will increase the number of interventions for next year, a welcome addition given the increasing backlog;

 

(iv)       to help accelerate efforts to deliver better football facilities at a grassroots level, invest £50,000 to identify priority projects in Sheffield for potential investment;

 

(v)        helping ensure the city’s much loved and successful theatre offer is available for all, by match funding £100,000 towards improving the Montgomery Theatre’s disabled access;

 

(vi)       use £2 million to bring forward an investment programme for district centres and high streets in the city, working with local businesses to invest in some key neighbourhood and district centres to increase footfall in our local shops and leisure outlets;

 

(vii)      following the successful pilots earlier in the year of School Streets – where roads outside of schools are closed during drop-off and pick-up - invest £600,000 further undertakings to address the adverse effects of school traffic and encourage people to choose alternatives to driving to school, and helping to improve localised air quality;

 

(viii)     use £220,000 to restrict vehicle access to part of Carver Street on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm until 6am, by installing automated raise/lower bollards at each end of the target area, thereby improving road safety and helping add to the vibrancy of the area, supporting local businesses and boosting the city’s thriving night-time economy;

 

(ix)       the Council’s capital budget denotes that £43.3 million is provided for climate-related spending and efforts to tackle the climate emergency, but £100,000 is to be invested for wider stakeholder engagement, including the citizens assembly, into ways to manage zero carbon projects and programmes, assist with the Council’s estate energy review, and lead to a Zero Carbon Sheffield Plan;

 

(x)        continued regeneration of the city centre with an additional £150,000 for work packages to promote regeneration in Castlegate;

 

(xi)       every community library in  the city to receive an additional one-off grant of £10,000; and

 

(xii)      £800,000 for funding key infrastructure to support placements for vulnerable children and young adults - including independent living places for children in care, care leavers and those with learning disabilities to be brought forward as part of the Children’s Services Accommodation Strategy, with further investment to be detailed in this Strategy;

 

(17)     notes the following regarding job losses:-

 

(i)         there could be up to 34 redundancies during the financial year 2020/21;

 

(ii)        that this Administration, as in previous years, will take steps to minimise redundancies, such as offering voluntary severance and voluntary early retirement schemes, as well as using vacancies not yet filled; and

 

(iii)       that the Council expresses sincere and heartfelt sympathy to those members of staff who are losing their jobs through redundancy;

 

(18)     notes the following regarding the budget process:-

 

(i)         that thanks is given to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and all of the members involved in this crucial work; and

 

(ii)        that this year’s budget process involved a large consultation process and that the public is thanked for their involvement;

 

(19)     therefore requests the Executive Director, Resources to implement the City Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21 in accordance with the details set out in the reports on the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme now submitted, but with the following amendments:-

 

Revenue Budget Proposals

 

 

2020/21

 

2020/21

Financing and savings proposals

(£'000)

Spending proposals

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

Use of New Homes Bonus

3,200

Young People services

2,000

 

 

Cleaner, safer streets

900

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fly-tipping & low-level crime in streets & district centres

200

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citizens Assembly

100

 

 

 

 

Savings total

3,200

Investments - total

3,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deficit/(surplus)

0

 

Capital Budget Proposals

 

 

2020/21

 

2020/21

Financing of capital proposals

(£'000)

Capital spending proposal

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

Use of unallocated CIL funding

8,790

Cleaner, safer streets

500

 

 

Fly-tipping & low-level crime in streets & district centres

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

Priority highway improvements to improve safety and reduce congestion

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify priority projects in Sheffield for potential investment to accelerate efforts to deliver more and better football facilities at grassroots level

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCC match funding towards refurbishment of Montgomery Theatre, Surrey Street (total est cost £5m)

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Neighbourhood Centres

2,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Streets - Programme of measures at key locations to address adverse effects of school traffic and encourage people to choose alternatives to driving to school

600

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night-time Economy - Safer Carver Street - restricted night-time access via automatic bollards

220

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuation of work packages to promote regeneration in Castlegate & progress new priorities

150

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investment in each of the city's 27 libraries

270

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional investment in infrastructure to support vulnerable children and young adults

800

 

 

 

 

Financing of capital proposals total

8,790

Capital spending total

8,790

 

(20)

approves the contents of the Capital Strategy & Budget Book and the specific projects included in the years 2020/21 to 2024/25, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (19) above, and that block allocations are included within the programme for noting at this stage and detailed proposals will be brought back for separate Member approval as part of the monthly monitoring procedures;

 

 

(21)

approves the proposed Capital Programme for the 5 years to 2024/25, as per appendix 2 of the Capital Strategy report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (19) above;

 

 

(22)

after noting the joint report of the Interim Chief Executive and the Executive Director, Resources, now submitted on the Revenue Budget 2020/21, approves and adopts a net Revenue Budget for 2020/21 amounting to £420.171m, as set out in Appendix 3 of that report, and subsequently amended in the light of paragraph (19) above, as follows:-

 

 

 

 

Appendix 3

Restated

 

 

 

2019/20

 

Summary Revenue Budget

2020/21

 

£000

 

£000

 

 

Portfolio budgets:

 

232,655

 

People

252,582

145,423

 

Place

147,806

2,195

 

Policy Performance and Communications

2,158

39,747

 

Resources (inc. Housing Benefit & Council Tax Collection)

39,704

420,020

 

 

442,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Budgets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Grants

 

-74,437

 

PFI Grant

-74,437

-5,961

 

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

-5,929

-3,261

 

Business Rates Transitional Grant

-5,834

-6,841

 

Small Business Rates Relief

-6,852

-21,896

 

Improved Better Care Fund

-21,896

-1,518

 

Retail Relief

-2,312

0

 

Adult Social Care Grant

-12,242

0

 

Health Income

-2,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Items

 

5,500

 

Redundancy Provision

5,500

5,961

 

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

5,929

-1,138

 

Public Health Savings / re-investments

0

3,000

 

Better Care Fund

3,000

3,290

 

Social Care Demand Contingency

3,290

4,000

 

Strengthening Families  - Think Forward Investment

4,000

25,702

 

Schools and Howden PFI

25,930

900

 

Infrastructure Investment

900

14

 

Payment to Parish Councils

11

1,500

 

Sheffield International Venues

2,800

0

 

Customer Experience Programme

1,500

2,100

 

Other

2,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Financing Costs

 

13,662

 

General Capital Financing Costs

13,662

4,573

 

Heart of the City 2

5,473

13,092

 

Streets Ahead Investment

12,730

18,887

 

MSF Capital Financing Costs

18,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserves Movements 

 

-13,268

 

Contribution from Reserves

-4,851

9,410

 

Reserves Movements Relating to Pensions

8,733

 

 

 

 

403,291

 

Total Expenditure

420,171

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing of Net Expenditure

 

 

 

 

 

-36,893

 

Revenue Support Grant

-37,494

-99,341

 

NNDR/Business Rates Income

-103,828

-42,529

 

Business Rates Top Up Grant

-43,222

-201,090

 

Council Tax income

-207,615

-8,200

 

Collection Fund surplus

-8,236

-15,238

 

Social Care Precept

-19,776

 

 

 

 

-403,291

 

Total Financing

-420,171

 

(23)

approves a Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,621.40 for City Council services, i.e. an increase of 3.99% (1.99% City Council increase and 2% national arrangement for the social care precept);

 

 

(24)

approves the proposed amendments to the Long Term Empty premium which applies to Council Tax charges in respect of Long Term Empty Dwellings, as set out in paragraph 48 of the Revenue Budget report, with effect from 1 April 2020;

 

 

(25)

notes that the Section 151 Officer has reviewed the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003; and that further details can be found in Appendix 4 and within the Section 25 Statutory Statement on Sustainability of Budget and Level of Reserves from paragraph 15 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(26)

approves the savings as set out in Appendix 2 of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (19) above;

 

 

(27)

approves the revenue budget allocations for each of the services, as set out in Appendices 3a to 3d of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (19) above;

 

 

(28)

approves the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report and the recommendations contained therein;

 

 

(29)

approves the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report, which takes into account the revisions proposed for 2019/20 onwards;

 

 

(30)

agrees that authority be delegated to the Executive Director, Resources, to undertake Treasury Management activity, to create and amend appropriate Treasury Management Practice Statements and to report on the operation of Treasury Management activity on the terms set out in these documents;

 

 

(31)

approves a Pay Policy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 8 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(32)

agrees that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017/18 and onwards, approved on 3 March 2017, and implemented for 2018/19 and 2019/20, be also implemented for 2020/21;

 

 

(33)

approves the proposed amount of compensation to Parish Councils for the loss of Council Tax income in 2020/21 at the levels shown in the table below paragraph 85 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(34)

notes the precepts issued by local parish councils which add £654,003 to the calculation of the budget requirement in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

 

(35)

notes the information on the precepts issued by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, together with the impact of these on the overall amount of Council Tax to be charged in the City Council’s area; and

 

 

(36)

notes that, based on the estimated expenditure level of £420.171m set out in paragraph (22) above, the amounts shown in Appendix 6b below would be calculated by the City Council for the year 2020/21, in accordance with Sections 30to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

Appendix 6a

 

CITY OF SHEFFIELD

CALCULATION OF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL TAX FOR 2020/21 REVENUE BUDGET

 

The Council is recommended to resolve as follows:

 

1.

It be noted that on 15th January 2020, the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2020/21

 

 

(a)       for the whole Council area as:

 

£140,243.9406

(item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")); and

 

 

(b)       for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in the attached Appendix 6c.

 

2.

Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council's own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is:

 

£227,390,937

 

 

3.

That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)

£1,437,899,940

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

 

(b)

£1,209,855,000

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

(c)

£228,044,940

being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

 

(d)

£1,626.0591

being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts).

 

(e)

£654,003

being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix 6b).

 

(f)

£1,621.3958

being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

 

4.

To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table overleaf.

 

 

5.

£19,776,453

The amount set by the authority at 2 above, under section 30 of the Act, includes an amount attributable to the adult social care precept.

 

 

6.

That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

Sheffield City Council (Non-Parish Areas)

Valuation Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

Bradfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Bradfield Parish Council

28.49

33.24

38.00

42.74

52.23

61.73

71.23

85.48

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Ecclesfield Parish Council

19.03

22.20

25.37

28.54

34.88

41.23

47.57

57.08

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Stocksbridge Town Council

22.57

26.32

30.08

33.84

41.36

48.88

56.41

67.70

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

 

7.

The Council's basic amount of Council Tax is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, therefore no referendum is required.

 

Appendix 6b

Council Tax Schedule 2020/21

 

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total charge for non-parish areas of Sheffield

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bradfield Parish Council

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

 

 

Appendix 6c

Parish Council Precepts

 

 

2019/20

 

2020/21

Parish Council

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Council Tax Increase

Bradfield

5,757.78

241,250

41.8998

5,122

246,372

5,838.92

249,542

42.7378

4,098

253,640

2.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield

9,238.98

155,374

16.8172

5,141

160,515

9,237.21

263,622

28.5392

4,113

267,735

69.70%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge

3,799.59

124,849

32.8586

3,699

128,548

3,831.33

129,669

33.8443

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total/
Average

18,796.35

504,997

27.0581

13,962

535,435

18,907.46

642,833

33.9989

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

 

7.4

It was then moved by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, as an amendment, that the recommendations of the Cabinet held on 19th February, 2020, as relates to the City Council's Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21, be replaced by the following resolution:-

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

 

 

(1)       would like to thank the staff who have been so helpful and accommodating during this budget setting process, and all of Sheffield City Council’s staff who continue to work so hard for the people of Sheffield;

 

 

 

(2)       condemns the current Government’s plan to restrict local government funding further until the spending review in summer 2020, believing this to be above and beyond what is necessary, forcing local authorities to raise regressive Council Tax, instead of funding local government more fairly out of general taxation;

 

 

 

(3)       particularly condemns the current Government’s approach to funding the NHS and Adult Social Care, and believes that a new long term funding settlement for social care is desperately needed to sustain vital services, particularly for places like Sheffield which have a relatively low council tax base but a high level of need;

 

 

 

(4)       believes that the Liberal Democrat proposal of raising income tax by a penny in the pound nationwide will meet this need for a long term funding settlement and greatly relieve the pressure on adult social care and the NHS;

 

 

 

(5)       believes that Sheffield City Council’s financial situation is aggravated by the potential impact of Brexit, and on the capacity of both the local and national economy to generate the resources that our public services badly need;

 

 

 

(6)       believes that Sheffield City Council's financial situation is further aggravated by the infighting and parochialism of South Yorkshire Labour leaders who have squandered many of the wider benefits of Sheffield City Region, and deprived Sheffield of automatic early access to £10’s of millions of central government funding;

 

 

 

(7)       specifically calls upon the Sheffield City Region Mayor to urgently take action to improve our local bus network, to exercise powers to bring bus services back under local control (franchising), and calls on central government to provide significant long term funding to revitalise local transport;

 

 

 

(8)       believes that although the Council is facing financially difficult times, the current Administration has still had choices about where to spend our money, and have often made the wrong choices over the past nine years, for example:-

 

 

 

(i)         protecting tax payer subsidies for Trade Unions whilst slashing funding to local communities;

 

 

 

(ii)        continuing to spend vast amounts on Council spin doctors whilst cutting front line services;

 

 

 

(iii)       spending millions on costly consultants whilst allowing important road safety schemes to be delayed;

 

 

 

(iv)       spending thousands on hospitality of no-hope investors whilst ignoring struggling local businesses in the city centre and across the city;

 

 

 

(9)       further believes that this city still suffers from the poor choices made by previous Labour Administrations, particularly the financial burden of around £19million every year until 2024 to repay the debt from the major sports facilities associated with the financially disastrous World Student Games, even after Don Valley Stadium has now been demolished, and, further to this, now giving millions to Sheffield International Venues to keep the venues open after years of poor oversight by Sheffield City Council;

 

 

 

(10)     notes that we are in a Climate Emergency and if we do not act now to reduce carbon emissions we will soon be in a Climate Catastrophe;

 

 

 

(11)     believes that this Council currently has no real plan to tackle the climate emergency and is falling behind on its commitments to be carbon neutral by 2030;

 

 

 

(12)     believes the Liberal Democrats are the only party with a full plan to tackle climate change and this budget includes proposals that will help Sheffield achieve its target of carbon zero by 2030 by increasing Sheffield’s tree cover, making recycling easier and investing in infrastructure that will help to mitigate climate change;

 

 

 

(13)     believes that by making Sheffield a greener place to live and supporting community gyms and sports projects, this will improve people’s health and well-being across the city, as well as helping to tackle knife crime by treating it as a public health issue;

 

 

 

(14)     believes that, even more concerning than some of their financial choices, is the way this Administration operates, centralising decision making and often ignoring the concerns and wishes of the people of Sheffield;

 

 

 

(15)     asserts that the purpose of this Council is to represent, work for and be the voice of the people of Sheffield, and that it is important that our decision making reflects the interests of the city as a whole and always putting people at the forefront of our choices;

 

 

 

(16)     further asserts that this could be better achieved by the Liberal Democrat policy of devolving local decision-making to give local areas as much control as possible over decisions that directly affect their communities;

 

 

 

(17)     supports the proposed change to a committee system which would give more control of decision making to all elected councillors and not just a selected few;

 

 

 

(18)     resolves to include in any new system, significant delegation of powers and budgets to formal Area Committees which comprise all the elected members in an area, allowing local communities a more direct path to decisions made about their futures;

 

 

 

(19)     understands the huge financial strain this Council has been put under by central government cuts to local government and that this was needed to reduce the deficit bought on by recession;

 

 

 

(20)     however, believes that there is a better, different way for a city council to operate and that this budget amendment demonstrates that it is possible, even in difficult times, to be responsive and work with local people;

 

 

 

(21)     believes that local Councillors and local people are often best placed to take decisions over the things that affect them and their local areas and therefore wants to revolutionise how decisions are made in this Council, by devolving real budgets over to communities, to be spent on their priorities, not the Labour Party’s;

 

 

 

(22)     asserts that, by making some simple savings and spending the same money differently, the Liberal Democrat alternative budget would:-

 

 

 

(a)       Demand a better environment   

 

 

 

(i)         double the city’s current tree planting target to 200,000 trees over the next 10 years;

 

 

 

(ii)        recognise that walking and cycling is by far the best way to travel for the environment and for the health of people in Sheffield and would devote 10% of city wide CIL in major cycling schemes to encourage uptake of cycling and improve safety for cyclists and walkers on our roads;

 

 

 

(ii)        use 20% of city wide CIL for infrastructure that will help to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as planting trees, flood defences and improved moorland management;

 

 

 

(iv)       invest in the creation of an energy efficiency service in the Council’s Private Sector Housing service which will provide the go to place for people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes;

 

 

 

(v)        improve Sheffield’s recycling record by committing more than £600k to  increasing the types of plastic that can be recycled here in our city;

 

 

 

(vi)       invest more than £500k on increasing the size of the blue bin so up to 10% of households in Sheffield are able to recycle cardboard and paper more easily;

 

 

 

(vii)      commit more than £250k to keep all Sheffield City Council recycling centres open seven days a week to improve access for everyone;

 

 

 

(viii)     increase the number of on street recycling bins across Sheffield by replacing single bins for rubbish only with double bins for rubbish and glass, paper and plastic, making it easier for people to recycle;

 

 

 

(ix)       investigate a food waste collection scheme to help people in Sheffield lower their wastage and use the food waste to generate electricity or fertilise farmer’s fields;

 

 

 

(x)        investigate a reverse vending recycling system where people will receive a cash reward for recycling cans and plastic bottles;

 

 

 

(xi)       clean up Sheffield by investing £150k in a task force to crack down on litter, fly tipping, graffiti and dog mess, and reversing a cut to this budget;

 

 

 

(xii)      create a £50k fund available to local communities from a ‘Greener Sheffield’ pot, an additional pot of money to decide how best they would like to invest in their environment;

 

 

 

(xiii)     investigate providing all schools with air-quality monitors to educate children on the importance of air quality and to monitor carbon levels around schools; and

 

 

 

(xiv)     start a climate warden scheme, giving local people the support to clear icy footpaths and roads in their local communities, support communities in times of severe flooding and help with adapting to a changing climate;

 

 

 

(b)       Demand a Better Council

 

 

 

(i)         increase the neighbourhood portion of CIL from 15% to 30% for use by local communities to spend money on infrastructure and fully compensate them for the disruption and pressures that come from big developments in their area;

 

 

 

(ii)        create a fund available to local councillors to use on projects and capital investments in their wards, through boosting ward pots to £10,000 in every ward; and

 

 

 

(iii)       allocate 50k towards reinstating community assemblies;

 

 

 

(c)       Demand better health and social care

 

 

 

(i)         invest £250k in a pot of money that community groups who provide sports activities can bid for, in recognition that knife crime is a public health issue and these groups and projects are vital to reduce knife crime in Sheffield;

 

 

 

(ii)        support Sheffield’s foster carers, who look after some of our city’s most challenging and vulnerable children, and encourage more people to sign up to become foster families with a discretionary reimbursement of Council Tax; this has the potential to save the Council significant sums in reducing the amount spent on agency foster placements;

 

 

 

(iii)       invest over £60k in Sheffield Young Carers so they can provide their service users’ free bus travel across Sheffield;

 

 

 

(iv)       support Citizen’s Advice Bureau with an increase of £50k in grant funding; and

 

 

 

(v)        invest £50k for an extra member of staff in the Council’s Private Sector Housing team to deal with some of the problems in the city’s fast growing private housing sector;

 

 

 

(d)       Demand a more successful Sheffield

 

 

 

(i)         invest £1million in local and district shopping centres to support businesses outside the city centre, in Woodseats, Chapeltown, Hillsborough, Woodhouse and Mosborough;

 

 

 

(ii)        reinstate a free city centre bus service to reduce journeys by car into the city centre and encourage more visitors to our vibrant shopping, eating and entertainment districts; the buses will be electric and run every 15 minutes around the city;

 

 

 

(iii)       invest £1million in all road safety schemes, such as traffic systems, pedestrian crossings and school crossing patrols, paying particular attention to where the community have made a call for a particular scheme in their area;

 

 

 

(iv)       put aside extra funding for more school crossing wardens to help children get to school safely;

 

 

 

(v)        use 10% of the unallocated community infrastructure levy (CIL) money to support small business infrastructure to allow the city’s independent businesses to flourish by amending the Regulation 123 list which governs how CIL can be spent; and

 

 

 

(vi)       support Associate Libraries and their volunteers by providing £133k’s worth of professional librarian support;

 

 

 

(23)     believes that the people of Sheffield deserve a City Council that provides good value for money for all residents of Sheffield, is open for business, is responsive to and works with the people of Sheffield and protects our natural environment and heritage which make our city such a great place to live;

 

 

 

(24)     therefore requests the Executive Director, Resources, to implement the City Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21 in accordance with the details set out in the reports on the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme now submitted, but with the following amendments:-

 

Revenue Budget Proposals

 

 

2020/21

2020/21

 

 

 

 

Financing and savings proposals

(£'000)

Spending proposals

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant for local sports clubs and community groups to bid on for sport activities

250

 

 

 

 

Allocate part of the New Homes Bonus

1,288

Reinstatement of community assemblies

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private housing sector officer

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

An energy efficiency advice service for householders

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

100% Council tax relief for Foster Carers (up to Band D)

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free bus pass for members of Sheffield Young Carers

60

 

 

 

 

Reduce posts within the Communications team

75

Provide additional professional librarian support for associate libraries

133

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase grant to Citizen's Advice Bureau

50

 

 

 

 

Withdraw funding from Sheffield City Partnership Board

10

Invest in crossing patrols for schools which currently fall below threshold for wardens, and where road safety conditions allow

40

 

 

 

 

Delete 3 senior manager posts

100

Big Sheffield Clean Up / Greener Sheffield Fund Group 

 

 

 

 

Remove Leader's policy officer post (6 month saving)

25

Additional spending on walking and cycling schemes

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse cut in fly tipping and graffiti contract budget

9

 

 

 

 

Cut to taxpayer subsidy to trade unions

325

Reinstate snow wardens/ Climate Wardens

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create a Greener Sheffield fund

50

 

 

 

 

Cuts to Special Responsibility Allowances for cabinet advisors

54

Replace 50 single street bins with double aperture bins with recycling facility

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double tree strategy planting target

95

 

 

 

 

Reallocation of unutilised funds - Invest in Sheffield fund

430

Reinstatement of free, city centre electric bus - revenue element
Every 30min

285

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate reverse vending machines

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate food waste collection scheme

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase funding for the Environmental Enforcement team for a "Clean Up Sheffield" task force with target of 25% recovery via fines for littering, fly tipping, dog fouling and graffitti.

150

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increased blue bin capacity collection - revenue costs of providing bigger blue bins to the first 10% of households who request them

286

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explore air quality monitors for schools

25

 

 

 

 

Sub-total firm savings

2,307

Sub-total firm commitments

2,092

 

The following savings schemes require the agreement of new contract, or actions to be agreed with other bodies.  Consequently the following investments are proposed conditionally on the successful implementation of these schemes.

 

Set a modest savings target for shared services with other Local Authorities in Sheffield City Region

100

Increase the types of plastic that can be recycled in Sheffield - eg yoghurt pots, carrier bags, margarine tubs, food trays and bottle tops (half year)

675

 

 

 

 

Pay review - forego assumed 2% pay increase for staff on salaries above £60k

85

Keep recycling centres open seven days a week (half year)

271

 

 

 

 

Re-negotiate Increments for 2020/21 (9 month implementation)

875

Additional spending on road safety schemes to be allocated over the year

330

 

 

 

 

Sub-total conditional savings

1,060

Sub-total conditional commitments

1,275

 

 

 

 

Savings total

3,367

Investments - total

3,367

 

 

 

 

                       

 

Deficit/(surplus)

0

 

Capital Budget Proposal

 

 

2020/21

2020/21

 

 

 

 

Financing of capital proposals

(£'000)

Capital spending proposal

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

Financed from unallocated new homes bonus

670

Road Safety

670

 

 

 

 

City Wide CIL money required for top up of ward pots

78

Increase ward pots to £10,000 across the city as a minimum (to be used for capital purposes)

78

 

 

 

 

Financed from unallocated new homes bonus

720

Reinstatement of free, city centre electric bus - capital element

720

 

 

 

 

Financed from unallocated new homes bonus

595

Provide bigger blue bins to the first 10% of households that request them

595

 

 

 

 

Financed from unallocated CIL

1000

Local and District Centres - Woodseats, Chapeltown and  Hillsborough

1000

 

 

 

 

Devote 10% of City Wide CIL on an ongoing basis, funds available currently

cost neutral

Walking, Cycling and Active Travel Schemes, based on 10% of CIL

cost neutral

 

 

 

 

Devote 20% of City Wide CIL on an ongoing basis, funds available currently

cost neutral

Green Infrastructure Funding, based on 20% of CIL.

Cost neutral

 

 

 

 

Devote 10% of City Wide CIL on an ongoing basis, funds available currently

cost neutral

Small business infrastructure, funded from 10% of CIL

cost neutral

 

 

 

 

Devote 30% of CIL to the neighbourhood portion on an ongoing basis

cost neutral

Increase neighbourhood portion of CIL from 15% to 30%

cost neutral

 

 

 

 

Financing of capital proposals total

3,063

Capital spending total

3,063

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Transport Plan Budget Proposal  

 

 

 

 

 

Financing of capital proposals

(£'000)

Capital spending proposal

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

Re-allocate decision making over £1.3 million of transport funding away from Cabinet Member to local communities to be allocated via the LAP

Cost neutral

Nil

cost neutral

 

 

 

 

Financing LTP proposals total

0

LTP spending total

0

 

 

(25)

approves the contents of the Capital Strategy & Budget Book and the specific projects included in the years 2020/21 to 2024/25, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (24) above, and that block allocations are included within the programme for noting at this stage and detailed proposals will be brought back for separate Member approval as part of the monthly monitoring procedures;

 

 

(26)

approves the proposed Capital Programme for the 5 years to 2024/25, as per appendix 2 of the Capital Strategy report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (24) above;

 

 

(27)

after noting the joint report of the Interim Chief Executive and the Executive Director, Resources, now submitted on the Revenue Budget 2020/21, approves and adopts a net Revenue Budget for 2020/21 amounting to £420.601m, as set out in Appendix 3 of that report, and subsequently amended in the light of paragraph (24) above, as follows:-

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 3

Restated

 

 

 

 

 

2019/20

Summary Revenue Budget

2020/21

£000

 

£000

 

Portfolio budgets:

 

232,655

People

251,346

145,423

Place

149,070

2,195

Policy Performance and Communications

2,080

39,747

Resources (inc. Housing Benefit & Council Tax Collection)

38,272

420,020

 

440,768

 

 

 

 

Corporate Budgets:

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Grants

 

-74,437

PFI Grant

-74,437

-5,961

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

-5,929

-3,261

Business Rates Transitional Grant

-5,834

-6,841

Small Business Rates Relief

-6,852

-21,896

Improved Better Care Fund

-21,896

-1,518

Retail Relief

-2,312

0

Adult Social Care Grant

-12,242

0

Health Income

-2,600

 

 

 

 

Corporate Items

 

5,500

Redundancy Provision

5,500

5,961

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

5,929

-1,138

Public Health Savings / re-investments

0

3,000

Better Care Fund

3,000

3,290

Social Care Demand Contingency

3,290

4,000

Strengthening Families  - Think Forward Investment

4,000

25,702

Schools and Howden PFI

25,930

900

Infrastructure Investment

900

14

Payment to Parish Councils

11

1,500

Sheffield International Venues

2,800

0

Customer Experience Programme

1,500

2,100

Other

2,600

 

 

 

 

Capital Financing Costs

 

13,662

General Capital Financing Costs

13,662

4,573

Heart of the City 2

5,473

13,092

Streets Ahead Investment

12,730

18,887

MSF Capital Financing Costs

18,816

 

 

 

 

Reserves Movements 

 

-13,268

Contribution from Reserves

-2,939

9,410

Reserves Movements Relating to Pensions

8,733

 

 

 

403,291

Total Expenditure

420,601

 

 

 

 

Financing of Net Expenditure

 

 

 

 

-36,893

Revenue Support Grant

-37,494

-99,341

NNDR/Business Rates Income

-104,258

-42,529

Business Rates Top Up Grant

-43,222

-201,090

Council Tax income

-207,615

-8,200

Collection Fund surplus

-8,236

-15,238

Social Care Precept

-19,776

 

 

 

-403,291

Total Financing

-420,601

 

(28)

approves a Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,621.40 for City Council services, i.e. an increase of 3.99% (1.99% City Council increase and 2% national arrangement for the social care precept);

 

 

(29)

approves the proposed amendments to the Long Term Empty premium which applies to Council Tax charges in respect of Long Term Empty Dwellings, as set out in paragraph 48 of the Revenue Budget report, with effect from 1 April 2020;

 

 

(30)

notes that the Section 151 Officer has reviewed the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003; and that further details can be found in Appendix 4 and within the Section 25 Statutory Statement on Sustainability of Budget and Level of Reserves from paragraph 15 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(31)

approves the savings as set out in Appendix 2 of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (24) above;

 

 

(32)

approves the revenue budget allocations for each of the services, as set out in Appendices 3a to 3d of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (24) above;

 

 

(33)

approves the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report and the recommendations contained therein;

 

 

(34)

approves the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report, which takes into account the revisions proposed for 2019/20 onwards;

 

 

(35)

agrees that authority be delegated to the Executive Director, Resources, to undertake Treasury Management activity, to create and amend appropriate Treasury Management Practice Statements and to report on the operation of Treasury Management activity on the terms set out in these documents;

 

 

(36)

approves a Pay Policy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 8 of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendment outlined in paragraph (24) above relating torelating to salary reductions;

 

 

(37)

agrees that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017/18 and onwards, approved on 3 March 2017, and implemented for 2018/19 and 2019/20, be also implemented for 2020/21, subject to the amendment outlined in paragraph (24) above relating to Special Responsibility Allowances cuts;

 

 

(38)

approves the proposed amount of compensation to Parish Councils for the loss of Council Tax income in 2020/21 at the levels shown in the table below paragraph 85 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(39)

notes the precepts issued by local parish councils which add £654,003 to the calculation of the budget requirement in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

 

(40)

notes the information on the precepts issued by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, together with the impact of these on the overall amount of Council Tax to be charged in the City Council’s area; and

 

 

(41)

notes that, based on the estimated expenditure level of £420.601m set out in paragraph (27) above , the amounts shown in Appendix 6b below would be calculated by the City Council for the year 2020/21, in accordance with Sections 30to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

Appendix 6a

CITY OF SHEFFIELD

CALCULATION OF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL TAX FOR 2020/21 REVENUE BUDGET

 

The Council is recommended to resolve as follows:

 

1.

It be noted that on 15th January 2020, the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2020/21

 

(a)       for the whole Council area as:

 

£140,243.9406

(item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")); and

 

(b)       for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in the attached Appendix 6c.

 

 

2.

Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council's own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is:

 

£227,390,937

 

 

3.

That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

 

(a)

£1,436,417,940

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

 

 

 

(b)

£1,208,373,000

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

 

 

(c)

£228,044,940

being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

 

 

 

(d)

£1,626.0591

being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts).

 

 

 

(e)

£654,003

being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix 6b).

 

 

 

(f)

£1,621.3958

being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

 

 

 

4.

To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table overleaf.

 

 

 

5.

£19,776,453

The amount set by the authority at 2 above, under section 30 of the Act, includes an amount attributable to the adult social care precept.

 

 

6.

That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

 

 

Sheffield City Council (Non-Parish Areas)

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

Bradfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Bradfield Parish Council

28.49

33.24

38.00

42.74

52.23

61.73

71.23

85.48

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Ecclesfield Parish Council

19.03

22.20

25.37

28.54

34.88

41.23

47.57

57.08

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

Valuation Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Stocksbridge Town Council

22.57

26.32

30.08

33.84

41.36

48.88

56.41

67.70

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

7.

The Council's basic amount of Council Tax is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, therefore no referendum is required.

 

Appendix 6b

Council Tax Schedule 2020/21

 

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total charge for non-parish areas of Sheffield

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bradfield Parish Council

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

 

Appendix 6c

Parish Council Precepts

 

2019/20

2020/21

Parish Council

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Council Tax Increase

Bradfield

5,757.78

241,250

41.8998

5,122

246,372

5,838.92

249,542

42.7378

4,098

253,640

2.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield

9,238.98

155,374

16.8172

5,141

160,515

9,237.21

263,622

28.5392

4,113

267,735

69.70%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge

3,799.59

124,849

32.8586

3,699

128,548

3,831.33

129,669

33.8443

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total/
Average

18,796.35

504,997

27.0581

13,962

535,435

18,907.46

642,833

33.9989

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

 

7.5

It was then moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, seconded by Councillor Paul Turpin, as an amendment, that the recommendations of the Cabinet held on 19th February, 2020, as relates to the City Council's Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21, be replaced by the following resolution:-

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

(1)       continues to condemn the cuts to local authority funding over the past 10 years, which is a political choice by central government, and applauds the efforts of politicians and campaigners calling for an alternative to this policy;

 

(2)       believes that Sheffield’s citizens have suffered through continual cuts to council funding - and consequently to services to the public;

 

(3)       believes that central Government has utterly failed to address the growing and substantial crisis in the care of older and disabled people and that, even passing on extra costs through council tax increases, the sum raised is still wholly inadequate to meet the cost of social care;

 

(4)       notes, however, that long-term, outsourced contracts with big private businesses have not taken an equivalent share of the cuts; and that long-term costs of finance stretch into Sheffield’s future until 2057;

 

(5)       therefore recognises that, despite Government suggestions to the contrary, we believe austerity and its effects are not going away and that Elected Members in Sheffield, however difficult the crisis we face, have a responsibility to do the best we can for the people of Sheffield, prioritising the available resources to protect communities and the most vulnerable and working towards a more equitable and resilient city;

 

(6)       accordingly, thanks the officers of the Council, voluntary and private sectors directly affected by the austerity programme, for the way they have responded to the increasing cuts and made sacrifices;

 

(7)       welcomes the progress now being made on issues in previous amendments submitted by the Green Group, including:-

 

(i)         webcasting of council meetings;

(ii)        mental health resilience work in schools;

(iii)       steps towards re-opening the Don Valley Railway;

(iv)       significantly increased funds to support the least well-off with council tax bills; and

(v)        funding to prepare brownfield sites for development, in order to save greenfield locations;

 

(8)       believes that the city’s resilience will be tested by the climate crisis and is therefore disappointed that, despite declaring a “climate emergency” over a year ago, no proposals appear in the Administration’s revenue budget to address the climate emergency;         

 

(9)       will therefore provide funding to recruit an entire team of environmental sustainability officers to address the need for warmer homes; locally-owned, clean energy production; increased active travel and public transport; and to support businesses and householders to make carbon-reducing changes in response to the climate emergency;

 

(10)     regrets the lost opportunity of jobs in the renewable energy industry and thousands of cheaper energy bills for council tenants when proposed by Green Councillors in 2014; but will still promote energy efficiency schemes in maintained schools by using £500,000 of unallocated Community Infrastructure Levy receipts;

 

(11)     will go further and set aside £1 million of unallocated New Homes Bonus to introduce solar panels on council housing, to generate energy and to reduce tenants’ bills;

 

(12)     will build climate resilience into the city’s housing stock by ensuring that all funding for new-build council housing is only used for housing designed at high standards of thermal efficiency, so that future tenants do not risk fuel poverty;

 

(13)     will earmark £1 million of Local Transport Plan funding for active travel schemes, including providing cyclists with the protection of segregated cycle lanes and secure bike storage, thereby increasing the numbers of Sheffield citizens cycling to work and contributing towards improved physical and mental health and better air quality;

 

(14)     will recognise the failure to build this city’s cycling infrastructure and will therefore appoint a cycling officer to promote the ability of Sheffield residents to choose this form of transport;

 

(15)     further, will earmark £50,000 to purchase e-cargo bikes to allow the Council, businesses and organisations to carry goods around the city in a cleaner, quieter, more sustainable way;

 

(16)     will put £500,000 of unused Community Infrastructure Levy funding to invest in electric vehicle charging points;

 

(17)     will ensure that all future Local Transport Plan spending is used only on sustainable modes of transport that do not have any adverse impact on air quality;

 

(18)     in line with this principle, will encourage use of public transport by providing free bus and tram travel on the six Sundays before Christmas, in place of the current subsidy for free car parking in the city centre;

 

(19)     believes the public is becoming more aware and concerned at the dangers of illegal levels of air pollution and will therefore invest in public-facing visual displays on the city’s air quality monitoring stations, to ensure the public can see and monitor the measure of air pollution affecting them in real time;

 

(20)     will stop reimbursing car-parking claims for Elected Members who do not have a blue badge;

 

(21)     will tackle what we believe to be the increasing scourge of dangerous and irresponsible parking, by creating 6new jobs for parking enforcement officers, to be provided with e-bikes instead of patrol cars, where possible;

 

(22)     will develop proposals to introduce a workplace parking levy for larger employers, in order to generate additional long-term revenue to invest in the city’s public transport, whilst improving air quality and encouraging more active forms of travel to work;

 

(23)     will reduce the price of residents’ parking permits to 2010 levels and dissuade commuters from driving into the city centre by increasing on-street parking by 40p, meaning that people living in some of the most congested and polluted areas of the city are not subsidising other transport services;

 

(24)     will re-introduce the FreeBee bus service in the city centre, operating every 10 minutes, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, by investing in 3 new electric buses owned directly by the local authority;

 

(25)     will take steps to increase the potential for more affordable housing in the city by funding a pilot project of a small number of energy-efficient “container homes”, such as those already being pioneered at Heeley City Farm;

 

(26)     will create an additional officer post to bring empty homes back into use, in order to tackle the blight and waste of empty houses and increase housing supply with far less energy consumption than new buildings;

 

(27)     will fund an additional post to help tenants and take enforcement action on substandard rented housing in the private sector;

 

(28)     will take further steps to open up the workings of democracy by increasing the number of public tours to show off the Town Hall and its heritage, building on Sheffield’s success with Heritage Open Days;

 

(29)     recognises the cultural and economic importance of the city’s heritage and will therefore expand skills in the Planning Service with funding for a dedicated heritage officer;

 

(30)     asserts that in a properly regulated planning system, it is essential that developers comply with planning conditions and will therefore fund an additional planning enforcement officer to maintain high standards for the benefit of the public;

 

(31)     will maximise the expertise of our planning officers and bring fees for pre-application planning advice for larger property developers into line with other major cities;

 

(32)     will cut political spin from the Town Hall and will remove the posts of Group Policy Officers from the Council payroll, requiring politicians to do their own research and press work;

 

(33)     notes that evidence to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee about governance was clear that the public want to see more active work in local areas and will therefore reverse the Administration’s proposed cut to locality working;

 

(34)     will also reverse the Administration’s funding cut to the Upperthorpe Healthy Living Centre;

 

(35)     will support the voluntary sector by increasing funding for advice centres, which was previously cut by this Administration, thus protecting jobs and helping people facing the real difficulties of universal credit;

 

(36)     recognises the number of people in serious financial hardship and therefore welcomes the further £200,000 increase in the Council Tax hardship fund, as proposed in Green Party Councillors’ budget proposals in recent years, to protect more of the 30,000 poorest families in the city;

 

(37)     recognises the particular difficulties faced by young people leaving care setting up their own homes for the first time and will therefore set aside funds to meet council tax bills paid until the age of 25;

 

(38)     recognises the ongoing value of the city’s library service and rewards the hard work of volunteers who have supported their local branch libraries by providing funding to ensure a paid, professional librarian in every branch library;

 

(39)     will pilot the development of a “Library of Things” in a staffed library to reduce individual consumption of occasionally-used household items;

 

(40)     notes that Green councillors first proposed a Living Wage in 2008 to address low pay and will now tackle the principle of income inequality head-on by reducing the pay of senior officers on salaries over £50,000 a year, narrowing the gap between the highest and lowest paid in the Council to within a 10:1 ratio;

 

(41)     will further reduce eight posts in the HR function to protect frontline services;

 

(42)     notes that the proposals in this amendment will provide over £1 million in every future year for social care;

 

(43)     will promote health, activity and fun by funding outdoor gym equipment in the city’s parks and developing the network of park runs throughout the whole city, working alongside community organisations;

 

(44)     will commemorate the very origins of a municipal authority for public health by providing the public with clean, fresh water through the provision of new drinking fountains in major parks, thereby reducing waste and litter from single-use disposable plastics;

 

(45)     will support these further improvements in the city’s parks by increasing parking charges in them;

 

(46)     will also invest in planting trees bearing edible fruit in open spaces and parks, to be decided and distributed fairly on a Ward basis;

 

(47)     will promote the city’s economic opportunity of specialist tourism by engaging two part-time ecologists to market and lead specialist nature tours on Sheffield’s nearby and unique moorland, thereby generating further income for the Council and for the city’s economy;

 

(48)     will fund an extra four Police Community Safety Officers (PCSOs) and employ four Safer Neighbourhoods Officers, with a focus on youth work, to support young people and their families;

 

(49)     will support the many voluntary, business and public sector agencies trying to address homelessness, substance misuse, anti-social behaviour and aggressive begging in the city centre, by providing funds for a new worker under the Help Us Help umbrella;

 

(50)     will put further resource into prevention work by supporting an additional substance misuse worker;

 

(51)     notes that these proposals will result in a net gain of 34 permanent jobs, in addition to the increased employment in the voluntary sector and from capital investment;

 

(52)     recognises the hard work of Sheffield citizens who have highlighted the economic risks attached to fossil fuels and the need for Sheffield City Council to do business ethically, and welcomes the inclusion, in its Treasury Management Strategy, of commitments not to hold any direct investments in fossil fuels or companies involved in tax evasion or grave misconduct;

 

(53)     approves the updating of the statutory Regulation 123 list to include the spending of unallocated Community Infrastructure Levy within the limits set out above;

 

(54)     therefore requests the Executive Director, Resources, to implement the City Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21 in accordance with the details set out in the reports on the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme now submitted, but with the following amendments:-

 

Revenue Budget Proposal

 

2020/21

2020/21

Savings proposals

(£'000)

Spending proposals

(£'000)

Remove Elected Members' car parking claims

 2

Recruitment of a 6 person sustainability team (1xG10, 4xG8 and 1xG5 - 9 months allowing for recruitment of full team)

 209

 

 

 

 

Additional 40p on street parking charge

738

Cycling officer (grade 8)

47

 

 

 

 

Increase fees for pre-application planning advice for larger property developers

73

Free Christmas bus / tram travel on 6 Sundays before Christmas

66

 

 

 

 

Remove Group Policy Officers (half year saving)

80

Recruitment of 6 extra parking enforcement officers at net £3k each

18

 

 

 

 

Reduce pay on employees paid over £150,000 by 20% (assume 6 month saving)

88

Workplace Parking Levy Study. (Grade 8 post to develop work)

47

 

 

 

 

Reduce pay on employees paid over £100,000 by 15% (assume 6 month saving)

47

Reduce Parking Permit Fees to 2010 levels

298

 

 

 

 

Reduce pay on employees paid over £50,000 by 10% (assume 6 month saving)

939

Re-introduce the Free Bee Bus - low emission vehicle at 10 minute frequency, 12 hrs/ day , 6 days / week.

427

 

 

 

 

Remove 8 posts in HR (assume half-year saving)

161

Additional Empty Homes Officer to bring empty properties back into use (grade 7)

42

 

 

 

 

Increase parking fees in parks from 50p to £1 per hour

86

Additional post in Private Sector Housing (grade 5)

31

 

 

 

 

Remove  free city centre parking at Christmas

40

Increased Town Hall tours

5

 

 

 

 

Heritage officer (grade 8)

47

 

 

 

 

Extra Planning enforcement officer (grade 7)

42

 

 

 

 

Reverse cut to Locality team (BIP reference 36)

26

 

 

 

 

Reverse cut to Upperthorpe HLC. BIP ref 38.

25

 

 

 

 

Increase funding to voluntary sector for advice work

40

 

 

 

 

Provide Young Care Leavers with a fund to cover Council Tax bills

30

 

 

 

 

Staff for branch libraries (based on 16 PT members of staff)

335

 

 

 

 

Library of Things pilot

30

 

 

 

 

Investment in parks, including maintenance of drinking fountains (8k) & gym equipment (4k), & developing park runs in all areas of the city

86

 

 

 

 

Ecology officers to promote nature tourism (2 half-time g8 posts)

47

 

 

 

 

Four extra Police Community Safety Officers

138

 

 

 

 

Four Safer Neighbourhoods officers (grade 6)

140

 

 

 

 

Help Us Help worker (grade 5) to assist DACT with admin work, liaison and co-ordination with relevant agencies.

31

 

 

Additional substance misuse worker in DACT

47

 

 

 

 

Savings - subtotal

2,254

 Spending - subtotal

2,254

 

Capital Budget Proposals

 

2020/21

2020/21

Savings proposals

(£'000)

(£'000)

 

 

 

 

Use of unallocated New Homes Bonus

1,000

Introduce further Solar Panels on the HRA Estate

1,000

Use of unallocated New Homes Bonus

1,080

Purchase of 3 x Electric Freebee buses

1,080

Reprioritise funding for acquiring new council homes

250

Fund to establish low-energy "container homes" pilot

250

Use of unallocated Local Transport Plan spending

1,000

Improved transport infrastructure, including segregated cycle lanes & bike storage

1,000

Use of unallocated New Homes Bonus

50

Purchase of new e-cargo bikes

50

Use of unallocated Local Transport Plan spending

54

Air Quality Monitoring Digital Displays

54

Use of unallocated CIL

500

Energy efficiency for schools fund

500

Use of unallocated CIL

500

Fund to provide Electric Vehicle charging points

500

Use of unallocated CIL

40

Outdoor gym equipment in parks

40

Use of unallocated CIL

100

Provision of fruit trees on a ward basis

100

Use of unallocated CIL

24

Drinking Fountains for City Centre & parks

24

Financing of capital proposals total

4,598

Capital spending total

4,598

 

 

(55)

approves the contents of the Capital Strategy & Budget Book and the specific projects included in the years 2020/21 to 2024/25, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (54) above, and that block allocations are included within the programme for noting at this stage and detailed proposals will be brought back for separate Member approval as part of the monthly monitoring procedures;

 

 

(56)

approves the proposed Capital Programme for the 5 years to 2024/25, as per appendix 2 of the Capital Strategy report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (54) above;

 

 

(57)

after noting the joint report of the Interim Chief Executive and the Executive Director, Resources, now submitted on the Revenue Budget 2020/21, approves and adopts a net Revenue Budget for 2020/21 amounting to £420.171m, as set out in Appendix 3 of that report, and subsequently amended in the light of paragraph (54) above, as follows:-

 

 

 

Appendix 3

Restated

2019/20

Summary Revenue Budget

2020/21

£000

£000

Portfolio budgets:

232,655

People

250,638

145,423

Place

147,122

2,195

Policy Performance and Communications

2,080

39,747

 

Resources (inc. Housing Benefit & Council Tax Collection)

39,209

 

 

 

 

420,020

439,050

Corporate Budgets:

Specific Grants

-74,437

PFI Grant

-74,437

-5,961

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

-5,929

-3,261

Business Rates Transitional Grant

-5,834

-6,841

Small Business Rates Relief

-6,852

-21,896

Improved Better Care Fund

-21,896

-1,518

Retail Relief

-2,312

0

Adult Social Care Grant

-12,242

0

Health Income

-2,600

 

Corporate Items

5,500

Redundancy Provision

5,500

5,961

New Homes Bonus (LGF)

5,929

-1,138

Public Health Savings / re-investments

0

3,000

Better Care Fund

3,000

3,290

Social Care Demand Contingency

3,290

4,000

Strengthening Families  - Think Forward             Investment

4,000

25,702

Schools and Howden PFI

25,930

900

Infrastructure Investment

900

14

Payment to Parish Councils

11

1,500

Sheffield International Venues

2,800

0

Customer Experience Programme

1,500

2,100

Other

2,600

Capital Financing Costs

13,662

General Capital Financing Costs

13,662

4,573

Heart of the City 2

5,473

13,092

Streets Ahead Investment

12,730

18,887

MSF Capital Financing Costs

18,816

Reserves Movements 

-13,268

Contribution from Reserves

-1,651

9,410

Reserves Movements Relating to Pensions

8,733

403,291

Total Expenditure

420,171

Financing of Net Expenditure

-36,893

Revenue Support Grant

-37,494

-99,341

NNDR/Business Rates Income

-103,828

-42,529

Business Rates Top Up Grant

-43,222

-201,090

Council Tax income

-207,615

-8,200

Collection Fund surplus

-8,236

-15,238

Social Care Precept

-19,776

-403,291

 

Total Financing

-420,171

 

 

(58)

approves a Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,621.40 for City Council services, i.e. an increase of 3.99% (1.99% City Council increase and 2% national arrangement for the social care precept);

 

 

(59)

approves the proposed amendments to the Long Term Empty premium which applies to Council Tax charges in respect of Long Term Empty Dwellings, as set out in paragraph 48 of the Revenue Budget report, with effect from 1 April 2020;

 

 

(60)

notes that the Section 151 Officer has reviewed the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003; and that further details can be found in Appendix 4 and within the Section 25 Statutory Statement on Sustainability of Budget and Level of Reserves from paragraph 15 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(61)

approves the savings as set out in Appendix 2 of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (54) above;

 

 

(62)

approves the revenue budget allocations for each of the services, as set out in Appendices 3a to 3d of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendments outlined in paragraph (54) above;

 

 

(63)

approves the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report and the recommendations contained therein;

 

 

(64)

approves the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy set out in Appendix 7 of the Revenue Budget report, which takes into account the revisions proposed for 2019/20 onwards;

 

 

(65)

agrees that authority be delegated to the Executive Director, Resources, to undertake Treasury Management activity, to create and amend appropriate Treasury Management Practice Statements and to report on the operation of Treasury Management activity on the terms set out in these documents;

 

 

(66)

approves a Pay Policy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 8 of the Revenue Budget report, subject to the amendment outlined in paragraph (54) above relating tosalary reductions;

 

 

(67)

agrees that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017/18 and onwards, approved on 3 March 2017, and implemented for 2018/19 and 2019/20, be also implemented for 2020/21;

 

 

(68)

approves the proposed amount of compensation to Parish Councils for the loss of Council Tax income in 2020/21 at the levels shown in the table below paragraph 85 of the Revenue Budget report;

 

 

(69)

notes the precepts issued by local parish councils which add £654,003 to the calculation of the budget requirement in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

 

(70)

notes the information on the precepts issued by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, together with the impact of these on the overall amount of Council Tax to be charged in the City Council’s area;

 

 

(71)

notes that, based on the estimated expenditure level of £420.171m set out in paragraph (57) above, the amounts shown in Appendix 6b below would be calculated by the City Council for the year 2020/21, in accordance with Sections 30to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

 

Appendix 6a

 

CITY OF SHEFFIELD

CALCULATION OF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL TAX FOR 2020/21 REVENUE BUDGET

 

 

The Council is recommended to resolve as follows:

 

1.

It be noted that on 15th January 2020, the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2020/21

 

 

 

(a)       for the whole Council area as:

 

140,243.9406

(item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")); and

 

 

 

(b)       for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in the attached Appendix 6c.

 

 

2.

Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council's own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is:

 

£227,390,937

 

 

3.

That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

 

 

(a)

£1,434,699,940

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

 

 

 

(b)

£1,206,655,000

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

 

 

(c)

£228,044,940

being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

 

 

 

(d)

£1,626.0591

being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts).

 

 

 

(e)

£654,003

being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix 6b).

 

 

 

(f)

1,621.3958

being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

 

 

4.

To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table overleaf.

 

 

5.

£19,776,453

The amount set by the authority at 2 above, under section 30 of the Act, includes an amount attributable to the adult social care precept.

 

 

6.

That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

 

 

Sheffield City Council (Non-Parish Areas)

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

Bradfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Bradfield Parish Council

28.49

33.24

38.00

42.74

52.23

61.73

71.23

85.48

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

Valuation Band

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Ecclesfield Parish Council

19.03

22.20

25.37

28.54

34.88

41.23

47.57

57.08

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

Valuation Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

Stocksbridge Town Council

22.57

26.32

30.08

33.84

41.36

48.88

56.41

67.70

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

Aggregate of Council tax requirements

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

7.

The Council's basic amount of Council Tax is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, therefore no referendum is required.

 

Appendix 6b

Council Tax Schedule 2020/21

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheffield City Council

1,080.93

1,261.10

1,441.24

1,621.40

1,981.70

2,342.03

2,702.32

3,242.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority

49.73

58.01

66.30

74.59

91.17

107.74

124.32

149.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

132.03

154.03

176.04

198.04

242.05

286.06

330.07

396.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total charge for non-parish areas of Sheffield

1,262.69

1,473.14

1,683.58

1,894.03

2,314.92

2,735.83

3,156.71

3,788.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bradfield Parish Council

1,291.18

1,506.38

1,721.58

1,936.77

2,367.15

2,797.56

3,227.94

3,873.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield Parish Council

1,281.72

1,495.34

1,708.95

1,922.57

2,349.80

2,777.06

3,204.28

3,845.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge Town Council

1,285.26

1,499.46

1,713.66

1,927.87

2,356.28

2,784.71

3,213.12

3,855.76

 

Appendix 6c

Parish Council Precepts

 

2019/20

 

2020/21

Parish Council

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Tax Base

Council Tax Income (£)

Council Tax Band D (£)

CTS Grants

Total Precept

Council Tax Increase

Bradfield

5,757.78

241,250

41.8998

5,122

246,372

5,838.92

249,542

42.7378

4,098

253,640

2.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesfield

9,238.98

155,374

16.8172

5,141

160,515

9,237.21

263,622

28.5392

4,113

267,735

69.70%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stocksbridge

3,799.59

124,849

32.8586

3,699

128,548

3,831.33

129,669

33.8443

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total/
Average

18,796.35

504,997

27.0581

13,962

535,435

18,907.46

642,833

33.9989

11,170

654,003

25.65%

 

7.6

After contributions from 32 Members, the amendment moved by Councillor Terry Fox was put to the vote and was carried.

 

 

7.6.1

The votes on the amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

 

 

 

For the amendment (43)

-

Councillors Chris Rosling Josephs, Sophie Wilson, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan, Jackie Drayton, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Anne Murphy, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Andy Bainbridge, Moya O’Rourke, Alan Law, Abtisam Mohamed, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, Jim Steinke, Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Jack Scott, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Mike Chaplin, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, Julie Grocutt, Francyne Johnson, Ben Curran, Neale Gibson, Adam Hurst, Mick Rooney and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Against the amendment (26)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery.

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained from voting on the amendment (10)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Tony Downing) and Councillors Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Paul Turpin, Peter Garbutt, Alison Teal and Jack Clarkson.

 

 

7.7

The amendment moved by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones was then put to the vote and was negatived.

 

 

7.7.1

The votes on the amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

 

 

 

For the amendment (26)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery.

 

 

 

 

 

Against the amendment (42)

-

Councillors Chris Rosling Josephs, Sophie Wilson, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan, Jackie Drayton, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Anne Murphy, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Andy Bainbridge, Moya O’Rourke, Abtisam Mohamed, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, Jim Steinke, Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Jack Scott, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Mike Chaplin, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, Julie Grocutt, Francyne Johnson, Ben Curran, Neale Gibson, Adam Hurst, Mick Rooney and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained from voting on the amendment (10)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Tony Downing) and Councillors Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Paul Turpin, Peter Garbutt, Alison Teal and Jack Clarkson.

 

 

 

 

7.8

The amendment moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson was then put to the vote and was negatived.

 

 

7.8.1

The votes on the amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

 

 

 

For the amendment (8)

-

Councillors Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Paul Turpin, Peter Garbutt and Alison Teal.

 

 

 

 

 

Against the amendment (69)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Sophie Wilson, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan, Jackie Drayton, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Anne Murphy, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Andy Bainbridge, Vic Bowden, Moya O’Rourke, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Alan Law, Abtisam Mohamed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, Kevin Oxley, Jim Steinke,  Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Jack Scott, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Mike Chaplin, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Julie Grocutt, Francyne Johnson, Ben Curran, Neale Gibson, Alan Hooper, Adam Hurst, Mike Levery, Mick Rooney and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained from voting on the amendment (2)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Tony Downing) and Councillor Jack Clarkson.

 

 

 

 

7.9

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

(1)       places on record its thanks to the staff who continue to serve the Council in these incredibly difficult times, which year-on-year lead to uncertainty about their own futures and those of their colleagues, many of whom are left to pick up an increased workload as a result of cuts to staffing numbers;

 

(2)       notes the following financial assessment for 2020/21:-

 

(i)         resolute financial planning by the Council means that the budget will be balanced, a significant achievement following a decade of austerity and cuts from Central Government;

 

(ii)        however, a further £15 million of savings are required for 2020/21, taking the cumulative total of savings and financial pressures to £475 million over the last 10 years; and

 

(iii)       a rising demand in social care services nationally, along with the decreasing funding allocated by government over the last decade, is seeing councils across the country struggle to cope, and this is why Sheffield City Council has continuously lobbied for fairer funding, particularly for social care, and whilst an additional £12million for social care was announced in the 2019 Spending Round, significant cost and demand pressures completely outstrip this;

 

(3)       notes/believes the following regarding the national political context:-

 

(i)         that councils are bearing the brunt of an austerity programme in its tenth year, and that a decade after we believe the banking sector caused the financial crisis, it is still being paid for by the vast majority of people;

 

(ii)        notes, however, that not everyone is doing badly out of austerity and according to the Office for National Statistics, the average income of the richest fifth rose by 4.7%, whilst the poorest fifth of the population contracted by 1.6% in the financial year ending in 2018 (the most up-to-date information available);

 

(iii)       believes that inequality is rising and public and local services have been badly damaged after a decade of Government-led austerity, moreover the present Government are doing very little to resolve the domestic issues that matter a great deal to the people of Sheffield, such as the continuing and increasing pressures on health and social care services, insufficient housing, lack of support for our skills and young people, the climate emergency, air quality issues and addressing crime and anti-social behaviour;

 

(iv)       believes that the Government has no sustainable plan for local government finance and that the proposed “fair funding” review is likely to make things even worse and could see the removal of deprivation from the funding formula; meaning that urban and poorer areas, such as Sheffield, are likely to see funding taken away to instead benefit rural shire counties, who are predominately under Conservative control;

 

(v)        notes that, despite these factors, the present Administration maintains it has protected front-line services as far as possible and succeeded in protecting services for the most vulnerable; and

 

(vi)       believes that central government needs to move away from successive policies since 2010 which have brought unnecessary, cruel and deeply damaging funding cuts and to instead give public services and local authorities the funding they so desperately need;

 

(4)       notes the following regarding social care:-

 

(i)         under this Administration, the budget for the People Services Portfolio, which provides these care services, has risen by £53 million from £198m in 2017/18 to £251m in 2020/21, enhancing the major principle of this Council of looking after the most vulnerable in our city;

 

(ii)        that ten years of central government forcing councils to slash budgets, coupled with the increased costs in adult and children’s social care, means that councils are, in the words of the Local Government Association (LGA), “close to the edge”, and that the LGA estimate that councils in England face an overall funding gap of £5.8 billion by 2020;

 

(iii)       that there is a wide disparity in the ability of local authorities to raise income from council tax increases; for instance, a 1% rise in Sheffield is worth £2.2 million – less than a 1% rise in Conservative-run Surrey (worth £7.3 million);

 

(iv)       due to the crisis in social care, believes the Council simply has no other option than implement the Government’s adult social care precept council tax rise by 2%, introduced by the Government as a way of passing onto local taxpayers the costs of their own failings to properly fund social care;

 

(v)        believes that despite the national social care crisis and great financial pressures on local authorities, this Administration has worked hard to secure a better long-term future for social care in Sheffield; and

 

(vi)       believes that the Administration’s investment in children’s social care will have a positive and lasting long-term impact as, for example, it is being spent on Children’s social workers, the Successful Families Initiative and fostering campaigns, all of which are aimed at providing the right preventative measures and support services to enable vulnerable children to be supported in the most effective environments;

 

(5)       notes the following regarding Council services and the actions of this Administration to show a real alternative to what it believes are the failed dogma of recent governments:-

 

(i)         by bringing services back “in-house”; housing repairs, IT and Digital services, Human Resources and payroll and setting up an in-house out-of-hours customer services telephone line;

 

(ii)        we are fully accredited as a Foundation Living Wage employer;

 

(iii)       our ethical procurement strategy commits the Council to ensuring high standards of ethical practice in the way it trades, and works with partners, companies and inward investors across the city; and

 

(iv)       we are approved supporters of the TUC Great Jobs Agenda and the Co-Operative Party’s Charter against Modern Day Slavery;

 

(6)       notes the following spending commitments to help the city fight the climate emergency and to protect the city from environmental changes, such as flooding:-

 

(i)         £22.7 million in keeping the city safe from flooding, with widespread investment in Culvert Renewal Programme and flood defences schemes at Lower Don and Upper Don Valley, including the River Loxley;           

 

(ii)        nearly £15 million spent on greening the city’s transport and assisting active travel with more walking routes, segregated cycle lanes and bus lanes;

 

(iii)       over the next 10 years, the Council will plant 100,000 trees as part of the Administration’s Trees and Woodland Strategy;

 

(iv)       ‘Grey to Green’ is delivering improved air quality and safer travel as well, bringing more of this colour into the city centre, turning once dull streets into vibrant public spaces with significant areas of wild flowers, trees and shrubs;

 

(v)        the Council now purchases electricity generated from 100% renewable sources, this is an increase of 81%;

 

(vi)       established Energy Surgeries and installed Smart Energy Meters for Council tenants – creating up to a 40% saving for tenants, as well as a substantial reduction in wasted energy; and

 

(vii)      plans to implement a Clean Air Zone to improve air quality;<

Supporting documents: