Budget speech 2nd March 2009
FELLOW COUNCILLORS, I am pleased to be able to stand before you
tonight to present the Council’s budget and to set the level of Council Tax for
the forthcoming year.
You will all be aware of the Credit Crunch and the economic recession that is
affecting the nation and this Council is not immune to its effects. It brings with
it an enormous challenge – one which we can either tackle head on and deal
with or alternatively, shy away from and hope for the best.
My style is one that demands that we meet the challenge head on and deal
with it, even if that means taking difficult and tough decisions. My colleagues
and I have risen to the challenge and charged our officers to take the
necessary look at all the Council’s expenditure to ensure that we are not
faced with even harder and tougher decisions in two year’s time.
Of course it is not only costs that become critical during a recession. We are
also faced with reduced income as economic activity in the country starts to
dry up.
Income from planning applications, building control, land charges and
investments has drastically reduced whilst our costs have risen, particularly in
the areas of power, fuel and utilities.
We have, therefore, two principle options open to us, either reduce costs or
increase Council Tax. In my mind to increase Council Tax to a level that
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would mean no change to the way we operate and to what we fund is simply
not an option.
The average working man and woman in this district are
already under enormous financial pressure and are having to make spending
cuts. This Council will do the same to ensure that any Council Tax increase is
kept to a minimum.
I do not intend to spend hours giving a nuts and bolts breakdown of the
savings we intend to implement because you will all have had a chance to
monitor and comment on these as they have passed through the various
committees.
What I do intend to spend time on are those areas where I know there is real
concern amongst both members of the public and some of our own
Councillors.
I do believe from comments made to me both verbally and by email that
members of this Council recognise what a difficult task I face and I am of the
belief that you all understand that I will always act in the best interests of the
Council Tax payer and trust you will support that stance.
Let us now look at what we are doing to rise to the challenge facing us.
Firstly, - our Waste Management Strategy.
It was an election promise in our manifesto that a Conservative administration
would provide free green bins to the over 65s. This we intend to do. But after
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careful consideration and extensive consultation, we have decided that we
can do better than that.
We are going to offer free green bins to every
household in the district who would like one. This will offer the opportunity to
this Council to join our neighbours in East Lindsey and North Kesteven in
becoming one of the top 5 recycling authorities in the country.
Of course, there is a huge resource implication in this initiative but we can
meet this by changing the way we operate our waste collections.
When we consulted with the public the overwhelming majority said they would
be happy to move to a ‘triple bin’ fortnightly collection. Those people who did
express concerns were in the main, either those who did not presently benefit
from having wheelie bins and in their case there will be no change to the
service they presently receive OR people with 3 or more children who were
concerned about the bin capacity. I can tell you that the size of the household
waste bin can be increased and also where capacity is an issue, those
households will be entitled to extra bins at no extra charge.
Trinity Arts Centre
You all know that regrettably the Arts Council has withdrawn its funding from
Trinity Arts Centre. In doing so they have saddled this Council with the very
real problem of either increasing our funding to cover the shortfall, which in
the present economic climate where we are trying to reduce expenditure, not
increase it, is virtually impossible without serious ramifications elsewhere. Or
to look at how we can operate Trinity Arts at a lower level whilst maintaining
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its benefit to the community. To that end I have commissioned a review of
Trinity Arts Centre and its functions.
I can tell you that the present use and programme will continue until
September this year and there will be no changes made before this. After
September I believe we can continue to operate the Trinity Centre for the
community and offer it as a rental facility for touring companies. This will
mean that the Council will not provide the infrastructure required to house and
produce touring shows.
But this option would allow amateur groups to
continue putting on performances in the auditorium.
These groups would
work in partnership with the Centre and provide volunteer support to manage
the facility during performances and to undertake the audience booking role.
This option keeps the building operational, available for external productions,
ensures ongoing facilities management and maintains current security levels,
and I have provided within this year’s budget sufficient funding to ensure this
happens.
Gainsborough Adventure Playground Association
I am aware of the depth of feeling that surrounded our decision to reduce the
amount of funding being given to the Gainsborough Adventure Playground
Association.
Let me say right from the outset, I and my colleagues fully
recognise and support the work that GAPA undertake. However, they are not
alone in undertaking good and valuable work across the District and if they
are to be funded from the public purse they are required to present a business
case to support this funding.
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Although this business case has been requested, to date none has been
received.
Councillor Rawlins, in her role as Chairman of Resources has reviewed
GAPA’s last set of year end filed accounts and these show GAPA has net
assets at 31st March 2008 of £392,812. However, from attendances of 12,976
to the site and 799 children registered to GAPA the total profit from income
generated was £2,946. There appears to be no effort to identify those people
who could and would pay for their services. At the present time this facility is
unsustainable and is dependent upon public funding to the tune of £151,587.
A business case is, I believe essential if they are to justify this level of funding.
To that end the administration are prepared to offer GAPA £29,000 for the
year 2009./10 and, if an acceptable business case is presented, to consider
further funding.
Caistor Area Office
Having carried out an in depth survey of the usage of the Caistor Area office it
has been decided to close this outreach facility. However, in order to mitigate
the loss of this facility and, having listened to the views and submissions of
Councillors Strange and Lawrence we will be having a Council Officer
available for three half days a week at the Caistor Hub. The Market Rasen
office will of course be fully open and it is hoped that people will be able to
make use of that when the Hub is not manned.
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Marshalls Sports Ground
As you may know, Marshall’s Sports Ground is being ceded to Gainsborough
town Council who have agreed to take over the ground without the benefit of a
new changing facility.
approximately
This new building was set to cost £890,000 with
£500,000
being
provided
from
the
Council’s
Capital
Programme.
It is difficult to justify spending this amount of money on a facility which we
then immediately give away. However, I am also very aware how important
this facility is to the future of the sports ground.
We have now, using our business contacts and acumen, identified a potential
solution. The Football Foundation have agreed to leave their offer of funding
on the table for a further 4 to 5 weeks. We have identified an external funder
who have indicated they may be willing to contribute up to 60% of the required
balance, leaving the Council to fund the other unfunded balance. If these
negotiations can be brought to a successful conclusion I shall be pleased to
announce that we shall deliver the new facilities at Marshall’s Sports Ground.
This administration is committed to delivering Fairness to the Tax Payer
through:

Equality and Diversity

Performance
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
Service Standards

Value for Money

Access

Environment
This is what the budget strives to do and in my opinion does deliver.
This administration has by working closely with our officers managed to
reduce the Council’s expenditure by approximately 10% which bridges the
funding gap and gives us a sustainable budget for the forthcoming year and
for future years and I am pleased to recommend to this Council that the
Council Tax increase be 1.61% and ask that you approve that along with all
the recommendations contained in Paper B.
CLOSE
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