Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1YN
Contact: Diane Adshead
Link: Meeting Video
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Apologies for absence: Members are requested to advise Democratic Services of any apologies for this meeting. Minutes: Councillors P Collins, Galligan, Guest, Marshall, Ramsdale, E Rigby, Taylor and Wakefield. |
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The minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2023 are attached. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
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Announcements from the Mayor: Minutes: (a) Mayor’s Breakfast: The Mayor advised the Council of a Mayor’s Breakfast that would take place on Monday, 11 March 2024 at 7.30am – 10am in the Legends Bar at Leigh Sports Village, with donations in aid of the Mayor’s Charity being collected on the door.
(b) New Year’s Honours List: On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated the following recipients, who received Honours in the King’s New Year’s Honours List:-
· Yvonne Fovargue MP, on receiving a CBE for political and public service; · Daniel Hill, on receiving an MBE for charitable services to bereaved families; · Kenneth and Sheila Ince, on receiving MBEs for services to young people in the borough of Wigan; and · Roy Wood, on receiving a BEM for services to wrestling and young people.
On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated everyone involved in attaining these awards.
(c) Jane Daniels: On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated Jane Daniels who had competed in her first Dakar motorcycle race. During the event, she showed incredible character in coming to the aid of her team-mate by towing him – an act that led to Jane being awarded the DARE award for the ‘Dakar Spirit’. Jane was crowned the Women’s Champion and top British finisher and the Mayor had the privilege of meeting her recently to congratulate her personally. (d) Mayor’s Ball: The Mayor advised the Council that the Mayor's Ball would again be organised by the Charity Committee and be held on Saturday 13 April 2024 at DW Stadium, Wigan.
The event would be a black-tie ball and the proceeds from the event would go to the Mayor's Charity, with tickets being available via the Charity Trustees.
(e) Sporting Achievements: On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated Wigan Warriors RLFC on winning the World Club Challenge on Saturday 24 February at the DW Stadium, beating the NRL Grand Final winners, Penrith Panthers 16-12. Congratulations to Wigan Warriors. |
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Constitutional Issues: |
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Dates and Times of Meetings 2024/25 Report of the Assistant Director – Legal, Governance and Elections is attached. Additional documents: Minutes: The Council considered a report of the Assistant Director – Legal, Governance and Elections (Monitoring Officer), Janet Davies, which set out the proposed timetable of meetings for 2024/25 municipal year.
Resolved: The Council agrees the proposed timetable of meetings for 2024/25 municipal year, with the proviso that any necessary changes be incorporated at the appropriate time.
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Policy Framework or Budget Framework items: |
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Revenue and Capital Budget Framework and Council Tax Setting Report of the Director – Resources and Legal is attached. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Council considered a report of the Director – Finance and Legal, Tony Clarke, which presented to Council, the Council Tax resolutions for 2024/25 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan.
The report also requested that the Council:-
· reviewed the robustness and adequacy of Council reserves as indicated by the Council’s Chief Finance officer under section 25 of the Local Government Finance Act 2003; · set the Prudential Indicators and Capital Programme and adopted the minimum revenue provision policy; and · reviewed the Council’s Pay Policy.
The report had been considered by the Cabinet on 15 February 2024 (minutes 75, 76 and 77 refer) and the decision of the Cabinet thereon, was set out in the minutes of the meeting and in the minutes of the Cabinet with Confident Council Scrutiny Committee meeting held later that day (minutes 81, 82 and 83 refer).
The reports and minutes of both meetings had been circulated to all Members of the Council. In particular, the Council noted that the Confident Council Scrutiny Committee had considered the Cabinet’s proposals at the evening meeting and had accepted them.
The Executive Leader (Councillor Molyneux), seconded by Councillor Rehman, moved a motion for the Council to accept the budget proposals as set out in the report. In doing so, the Executive Leader and all members of the Cabinet gave a presentation to all Members.
Councillor Watson moved the following amendment to the budget, which was seconded by Councillor Fish:-
“The Independent Network would like to propose to invest £1million from the reserves to be spent in the borough as a short-term fund in order to invest to save.
This would allow £40K per ward to be invested in the much-needed infrastructure. This could include the likes of pothole repair, benches, grit bins, waste bins, planters and waste amnesties.”
The Director – Finance and Legal confirmed that the amendment would lead to a balanced budget.
On the amendment being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost (a named vote is attached).
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the original motion and the report. There was a general consensus from Members that the proposed budget was a fair and conscientious budget, which put the needs of the residents of the borough first.
The Mayor then put the Executive Leader’s original motion to the vote and declared it carried (a named vote is attached).
Resolved:- The Council approves:-
(1) the proposals set out in the report now submitted as part of the budget framework;
(2) the estimated capital expenditure in the three years 2024/25 to 2026/27 is determined at £201,570,000, £203,924,000 and £53,726,000 respectively;
(3) the estimated capital financing requirement for the three years 2024/25 to 2026/27 is determined at £614,632,000, £718,435,000 and £714,164,000 on 31 March of each respective year;
(4) the estimated ratios of capital financing costs to net revenue streams is set for three years 2024/25 to 2026/27 at 6.80%, 7.34% and 7.56% for the respective years for non-housing revenue account services ... view the full minutes text for item 48(a)
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