The Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor Dobson on his recent winning of the recent by-election in Clayton and Openshaw and welcomed him on his return to the Council.

The Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor Rahman, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Skills who had been declared the national arts champion councillor in the Hears for Arts Awards 2020.  The award had recognised Councillor Rahman as a true champion of the Arts and a huge believer in celebrating the diversity of the city.

The Minutes of meeting held on 29 January 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Council met to consider and set the 2020/21 budget, Council Tax resolution for 2020/21 and Collection Fund budget for 2020/21.  In doing so, the proceedings of the Art Galleries Committee on 12 February 2020 which provided details of the Art Galleries budget for 2020/21 were submitted for approval. In addition, the part proceedings of the Executive on 12 February 2020 were submitted for approval, which contained details on the following:

·                The Councils Budget 2020/21 – Covering Report;

·                Medium Term Financial Plan 2020/21 - 2022/23;

·                Capital Strategy and Budget 2019/20;

·                Council Business Plan 2020/21;

·                Children and Education Budget 2020/21;

·                Adult Social Care and Population Health Budget 2020/21;

·                Manchester Health and Care Commissioning Budget

·                2020/21;

·                Homelessness Budget 2020/21;

·                Neighbourhoods Directorate Budget 2020/21;

·                Growth and Development Budget 2020/21;

·                Corporate Core Budget 2020/21;

·                Dedicated Schools Grant 2020/21;

·                Housing Revenue Account 2020/21 to 2022/23;

·                Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Borrowing Limits and Annual Investment Strategy 2020/21;

·                Budget 2020/21 Public Consultation Outcomes; and

·                Budget 2020/21 Equality Impact Assessment.

The Council also considered the following reports:-

·                The Capital Strategy and Budget 2020/21;

·                The Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Borrowing Limits and Annual Investment Strategy 2020/21; and

·                The Council Tax Resolution 2020/21.

In addition, the Council received the minutes of the Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee on 24 February 2020 that had considered the Budget Report 2020-2021.

Councillor Leese moved the proceedings of the Art Galleries Committee and part proceedings of the Executive, both held on 12 February 2020, the Revenue and Capital Budgets (as amended by the joint report of the City Treasurer, Chief Executive and City Solicitor) and the recommendations as detailed in the above reports, which were seconded by Councillor Ollerhead (Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources).  In seconding the recommendations, Councillor Ollerhead, presented his budget statement for 2020/21 to Council.

Councillor Stanton, Opposition Lead Member on Finance, responded to the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources budget statement for 2020/21.

The Council then considered four amendments to the Council Budget 2020/21.

The first amendment, moved by Councillor Stanton, and seconded by Councillor Kilpatrick was as follows:-

“To allocate a budget of £960,000 phased equally over three years to enable the Council to make available a £10,000pa Green Neighbourhood Investment Fund in each of the 32 wards, encouraging our neighbourhoods to participate in carbon reduction on a community-led basis shaped by the priorities of the Manchester Climate Change Action Plan; to be funded out of the proposed £2.079m contribution to the Business Rates Reserve for 2020/21”.

The second amendment, moved by Councillor Kilpatrick and seconded by Councillor Stanton was as follows:-

“To allocate a budget of £960,000 phased equally over three years to enable the Council to deliver a programme of target hardening (including further alleygating) in areas of benefit; to be funded out of the proposed £2.079m contribution to the Business Rates Reserve for 2020/21 and to allocate a budget of £1.5m to enable the Council to deliver road safety & traffic calming schemes in areas of need; to be funded through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.