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ANGUS COUNCIL

MINUTE of SPECIAL MEETING of the ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday, 6 March 1997 at 3.30 pm.

Present: Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, HELEN ANGUS, IAN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, WILLIAM DOIG, FRANK ELLIS, JACK GIBB, IAN HUDGHTON, ALEXANDER KING, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, WALLIE LEASK, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, STEWART MOWATT, ROB MURRAY, GEORGE NORRIE, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE, ALEXANDER SHAND, RICHARD SPEIRS, SHEENA WELSH, SANDY WEST and THOMAS I N YOUNG.

Apology: An apology for absence was received from IAN MACKINTOSH.

Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, in the Chair.

1. MINUTES

The minutes of the undernoted special meetings of Committees, all held on 21 February 1997, were submitted and approved:-

(1) Finance and Information Technology Committee

(2) Housing Committee

(3) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee

(4) Social Work Committee

(5) Contract Services Committee

(6) Recreation and Cultural Services Committee

(7) Economic Development Committee

(8) Roads Committee

(9) Planning and Transport Policy Committee

(10) Personnel and Property Services Committee

(11) Policy and Resources

(12) Education Committee

2. REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98

There were submitted (a) Report No 307/97 by the Director of Finance explaining the detailed steps which had already been taken and the steps which still required to be taken with regard to the setting of the Council Tax Charge for Angus Council in respect of the financial year 1997/98 and (b) Report No 308/97 being an updated provisional budget volume for 1997/98.

Councillor King spoke on the difficulties faced by the Council in setting the Council Tax as a result of decisions by Central Government, mentioning, in particular, capital limits, the lack of benefit arising from mis-match adjustments and the criteria adhered to when identifying savings.

Various statements relating to balances, proposed contributions to Council funds, non-collection levels and the Council Tax calculation statement were circulated.

Thereafter, on the motion of Councillor King, seconded by Councillor Hudghton, the Council resolved as follows:-

(i) to note Report Nos 307/97 and 308/97 by the Director of Finance;

(ii) to approve the proposed corporate savings adjustments totalling £985,000 as set out in Section 4 of Report No 307/97;

(iii) to approve the alternative savings package in respect of the Education Department totalling £85,000 as set out in Section 5 of Report No 307/97;

(iv) to approve the proposed internal budget savings refinements within the Education budget as set out in Section 5 of Report No 307/97, following consultation with Members of the JCC (Teachers), noting that such adjustments had a nil overall net effect on the Education base budget;

(v) to approve the 1997/98 net estimated capping expenditure of £112.089 million for Angus Council, which was the precise "Maximum Capping Limit" set by the Secretary of State as shown on Page 5 of the Updated Provisional Budget Volume 1997/98 (Report No 308/97);

(vi) to approve the net estimated expenditure (including non-capping expenditure) of £124.304 million as shown on Page 5 of the Updated Provisional Budget Volume 1997/98 (Report No 308/97);

(vii) to note the position relating to the estimated Angus Council Revenue Fund Balance for 1996/97, and further note the position relating to the estimated deficit expected to accrue from Tayside Regional Council for 1995/96;

(viii) to approve the proposed £2.050 million contribution to Council Funds and Balances;

(ix) to approve the proposed 4% level for Council Tax non-collection in 1997/98, which would result in a Band D equivalent tax base of £36,365;

(x) to approve the Council Tax Calculation Statement (tabled) which encompassed all of the appropriate elements of this decision;

(xi) to agree that the Angus Council Band D Council Tax Charge for 1997/98 be £679.00;

(xii) to note that the transitional District Equalisation Scheme would result in Band D relief of £9.50 in 1997/98 for former Angus District Council taxpayers, and that accordingly the Angus Council Band D Council Tax Charge for 1997/98 for former Angus District Council taxpayers would be abated by £9.50 to a level of £669.50, representing an increase of £29.50 (or 4.6%) on the 1996/97 charge of £640.00 which was abated by £19.00;

(xiii) to note that the transitional District Equalisation Scheme did not apply for former Dundee District Council taxpayers, and that accordingly the Angus Council Band D Council Tax Charge for 1997/98 for former Dundee District Council taxpayers would be £679.00, representing an increase of £20.00 (or 3%) on the 1996/97 charge of £659.00;

(xiv) to note that the Unified Business Rate would be levied at 45.8p in the pound, as prescribed by the Secretary of State for Scotland; and

(xv) to note that the North of Scotland Water Authority (NOSWA) had set a combined Water and Sewerage charge for 1997/98 of £113.76 at Band D, representing an increase of £32.26 (or 39.6%) on the 1996/97 combined rate of £81.50.