Agenda item

To outline the three year Capital Strategy for 2019 to 2022, including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) and to set out the funding framework for the Council’s three year Capital Programme for 2019 to 2022.

(All Members had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer to speak and vote on this item).

(Councillor James Fredrickson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 15 by virtue of the fact that he was employed by Gigaclear. As his interest was personal and prejudicial he left the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting on the matter).

(Councillor Fredrickson left the meeting at 7.40pm)

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 15) which outlined the three year Capital Strategy for 2019 - 2022, including the minimum revenue provision (MRP) and set out the funding framework for Council’s three year capital programme for 2019 - 2022.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Anthony Chadley and seconded by Councillor Lynne Doherty:

That the Council:

“approves the Capital Strategy and Programme 2019/20 to 2021/22.”

Councillor Chadley explained that the Capital Programme was designed to deliver the key priorities for improvement set out in the Council Strategy including improving educational attainment and closing the educational attainment gap, infrastructure improvements in relation to roads, safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, supporting communities to help themselves and generating income. The three year Programme was also aligned to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

It was noted that there was one figure missing from the 5^th column on the 1^st line of figures on page 93 (Capital Strategy and Programme Appendix E): Council funded spend on OT Equipment (in Adult Social Care) in 2020/21 should be £609,480. This error did not affect the text of the report, but created errors in appendices D and E (on pages 92, 93 and 101 of the Council Agenda).

AMENDMENT: Proposed by Councillor Graham Jones and seconded by Councillor Anthony Chadley:

That the Council:

“award Volunteer Centre West Berkshire an additional capital allocation of £5,000 in 2019/20 to be funded from the Corporate Allocation fund shown on page 99 of the agenda.”

Councillor Graham Jones stated that this amendment was proposed in recognition of the important work undertaken by the Voluntary Centre and had been included as an amendment after a meeting with representatives of the organisation.

The Amended Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.17.3 it was requisitioned that the voting on the Amendment be recorded. The names of those Members voting for, against and abstaining were read to the Council as follows:

FOR the Motion:

Councillors Steve Ardagh-Walter, Peter Argyle, Howard Bairstow, Pamela Bale, Jeff Beck, Dominic Boeck, Graham Bridgman, Jeff Brooks, Paul Bryant, Anthony Chadley, Keith Chopping, Jeanette Clifford, Hilary Cole, James Cole, Richard Crumly, Lee Dillon, Lynne Doherty, Billy Drummond, Adrian Edwards, Sheila Ellison, Dave Goff, Clive Hooker, Carol Jackson-Doerge, Marigold Jaques, Mike Johnston, Graham Jones, Rick Jones, Tony Linden, Mollie Lock, Tim Metcalfe, Ian Morrin, Graham Pask, Anthony Pick, Garth Simpson, Richard Somner, Anthony Stansfeld, Quentin Webb, Emma Webster and Laszlo Zverko.

AGAINST the Amendment:

None

ABSTAINED:

None

AMENDMENT: Proposed by Councillor Lee Dillon and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks:

That the Council:

“Adds the following to the guiding principles on page 80

(11) To prioritise projects that address the social needs within West Berkshire whilst still delivering an income stream. “

Councillor Lee Dillon stated that he felt that it would be useful to insert this principle so that the social value of projects would be taken into consideration.  Councillor Graham Jones commented that he was concerned that the inclusion of this amendment might have the opposite effect to that which was intended. Councillor Jones therefore proposed that the amendment be withdrawn and discussed outside the chamber. Councillor Dillon agreed to this suggestion.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.15.2 it was requisitioned that the voting on the Amendment be recorded. The names of those Members voting for, against and abstaining were read to the Council as follows:

The debate then returned to the substantive motion. Councillor Lee Dillon stated that in general he supported the motion which would help to improve the district’s schools, roads and environment. He was however disappointed to note that although £200k had been set aside for works in Newbury Town entre the same could not be said of Thatcham, Theale and Hungerford.

Councillor Chadley stated that he would be willing to discuss funding for projects in Thatcham outside of  the meeting.

The Substantive Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.17.3 it was requisitioned that the voting on the Amendment be recorded. The names of those Members voting for, against and abstaining were read to the Council as follows:

FOR the Motion:

Councillors Steve Ardagh-Walter, Peter Argyle, Howard Bairstow, Pamela Bale, Jeff Beck, Dominic Boeck, Graham Bridgman, Jeff Brooks, Paul Bryant, Anthony Chadley, Keith Chopping, Jeanette Clifford, Hilary Cole, James Cole, Richard Crumly, Lee Dillon, Lynne Doherty, Billy Drummond, Adrian Edwards, Sheila Ellison, Dave Goff, Clive Hooker, Carol Jackson-Doerge, Marigold Jaques, Mike Johnston, Graham Jones, Rick Jones, Tony Linden, Mollie Lock, Tim Metcalfe, Ian Morrin, Graham Pask, Anthony Pick, Garth Simpson, Richard Somner, Anthony Stansfeld, Quentin Webb, Emma Webster and Laszlo Zverko.

AGAINST the Amendment:

None

ABSTAINED:

None

(Councillor Fredrickson returned to the meeting at 8.10pm)

The meeting was adjourned from 8.10pm to 8.18pm