Agenda and decisions

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the County Council held on 19 December 2023. 

The minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the County Council held on 19 December, 2023 were confirmed as correct.

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Sonia Williams declared a personal interest as the wife of the Portfolio Member for Finance.

The Chief Officers declared a significant personal interest in Item 12– Pay Policy Statement 2024 and left the meeting during discussion and voting thereon.

To receive any petition in accordance with Paragraph 4.1.11 of the Constitution.

None received.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer, as presented to the Executive on 20 February 2024.

It was unanimously RESOLVED to accept the Treasury Management Mid-year Review Report for 2023/2024.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer, as presented to the Executive on 20 February 2024.

It was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2024/2025.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer, as presented to the Executive on 29 February 2024.

It was unanimously RESOLVED to accept the Capital Strategy for the financial years 2024/25 to 2028/2029.

(a)       Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2024/25 

         To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151

         Officer, as presented to the Executive on 29 February 2024.

(b)       Capital Budget 2024/25      

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151

         Officer, as presented to the Executive on 29 February 2024.

(c)       Council Tax Resolution 2024/25

    To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151

         Officer.

It was RESOLVED:-

·       To approve the capital budget for 2023/2024.

·       To accept the draft Council Tax Resolution as (c) in the Agenda.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer, as presented to the Executive on 20 February 2024.

dIt was unanimously RESOLVED:-

·       To approve the Council’s draft Strategic Equality Plan for 2024-2028;

·       To authorise Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to complete and publish the Plan by 31 March, 2024.

To submit a report by the Chief Executive.

It was unanimously RESOLVED :-

·       To note the outcome of the Polling District and Polling Places Review;

·       That the final proposals set out in Appendix 1 regarding polling districts, polling places and polling stations be approved.

To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

It was unanimously RESOLVED:-

·       To amend the name of SACRE to SAC and for its terms of reference to be included in the Council’s Constitution by the Monitoring Officer, in accordance with the legislative requirement for SAC;

·       That on the basis that the local authority must take all reasonable steps to secure that the membership is broadly proportionate to the strength of each religion, denomination, or non-religious philosophical conviction in its local area, the membership of SAC includes a total of 9 seats, made up of 6 seats to the current members and an additional 3 new seats appointed to representatives from: Humanists UK, Islam and Jehovah’s Witness.

·       To conduct a further review, within 6 months, of the current Christian seats (thus excluding Jehovah’s Witnesses from the next consultation) following comments made when SACRE was consulted and the figures that have been received.

To submit a report by the Head of Profession - HR and Transformation.

It was RESOLVED to endorse the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2024/2025.