Issue - meetings

(A report of Christine Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development & Section 151 Officer)

Please note that in accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote will be taken on Council Tax recommendations.

(Members are reminded that if they are two months or more in arrears, they must disclose the fact and not vote on any item to set tax or any decision which may affect its calculation)

The Portfolio Holder – Finance presented a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Corporate Development (S151), setting out the proposed charge to be levied on the Council Taxpayers for the services provided in the Borough.

The Boston Borough Council budget for 2024/25 had been considered by the Cabinet on 21^st February 2024 and recommendations had been made to Council in respect of setting the band D Council tax at £216.09, a £7.20 (3.45%) increase on 2023/24. The Budget report was based on the finance settlement advised by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities.

The required resolutions for the approval of the levels of Council Tax are set out in Appendix A within the report.

During the debate the following comments were made;

·         A request was made that, when reviewing the Council Tax Support Scheme within the forthcoming year, the Council consider improving the way that working families were supported. A joint scrutiny project was suggested as part of the consultation.

·         The Portfolio Holder and Officers were again thanked for doing a good job.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Sandeep Ghosh and seconded by Councillor Anne Dorrian.

RESOLVED

The Council approved the recommendations, as follows:

1)    That the formal Council Tax resolutions for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A and summarised at 4.1 be approved; and

2)    That that the charge to be levied on the Council Taxpayers of Boston for services provided in their town (Boston Town Area Committee) be approved at £768,772 for 2024/25. This equates to a Band D equivalent charge of £80.37 (£79.38 for 2023/24), a 1.25% increase.