Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 273 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 February 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2010/11 to 2012/13 and set out the remaining options for consideration in relation to the Strategic Budget Review.

The report indicated that the Council was required to set a budget and Council Tax for 2010/11 by 10 March 2010; and that under legislation, the Cabinet’s recommended budget was required to be scrutinised independently, prior to approval by full Council.

The report further indicated that whilst there was uncertainty around external revenue support from Government beyond 2010/11, it was important not to underestimate the budget issues for future years; and that the aim was to provide a fuller picture across the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan, rather than just for 2010/11.

The Committee considered a supplementary report which had been considered by Cabinet and which provided an update on the budget position following consideration by the Leaders Group, and Minute No. 273 of the Cabinet held on 4 February 2010, which had resolved that:

“(1)      the latest position for the 2010/11 - 2012/13 Medium Term Financial Plan following the Council Meeting on 14 January 2010 be noted;

(2)            the final Revenue Settlement position be noted;

(3)       that the application of £2.3m of Area Based Grant resources to the 2010/11 budget be confirmed;

(4)       the Council be recommended to approve the total savings of £400,000 from the Technical Service Environment and Routine Maintenance budgets and the removal of the inflation provision for Private and Voluntary Sector Community Care Providers set out in Annex 1 of the supplementary report;

(5)       the budget scenario set out in Annex 2 of the supplementary report be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) for consideration and it be requested to note that the illustrative Council Tax increases under the scenario would be

                        Sefton Council Services                    2.5%

                        Levies                                                 0.4%

                        Fire and Police                         0.3%

                        Total                                                    3.2%

(6)       officers be requested to continue to review all savings options and assumptions in order to achieve a total Council Tax increase of less than 3% inclusive of levies and precepts;

(7)       the latest schedule of Levies and Parish precepts set out in Annex 3 of the supplementary report be noted;

(8)       officers be requested to consider the implications of making a substantial allocation of one-off resources to invest in highways maintenance following the recent bad weather and submit a report to the next Cabinet meeting on 4 March 2010;

(9)       it be noted that the Chief Executive will report on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of financial reserves for the budget proposals to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) and Full Council;

(10)     the Strategic Budget Review (SBR) options detailed in Table 1 of Appendix B to the report be deferred for consideration at the Cabinet meeting on 4 March 2010;

(11)     the Action  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 70 of the Council meeting held on 14 January 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2010/11 to 2012/13 and set out the remaining options for consideration in relation to the Strategic Budget Review.

It was noted that the Council is required to set a Budget and Council Tax for 2010/11 by 10 March 2010 at the latest and that the Cabinet's recommended budget had to be scrutinised independently (prior to approval by Full Council).  The report indicated that the proposed budget would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) on 16 February 2010.

The Chief Executive circulated a supplementary report at the meeting, which provided an update on the budget position following consideration by the Leaders Group.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the latest position for the 2010/11 - 2012/13 Medium Term Financial Plan following the Council Meeting on 14 January 2010 be noted;

(2)      the final Revenue Settlement position be noted;

(3)      that the application of £2.3m of Area Based Grant resources to the 2010/11 budget be confirmed;

(4)      the Council be recommended to approve the total savings of £400,000 from the Technical Service Environment and Routine Maintenance budgets and the removal of the inflation provision for Private and Voluntary Sector Community Care Providers set out in Annex 1 of the supplementary report;

(5)      the budget scenario set out in Annex 2 of the supplementary report be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) for consideration and it be requested to note that the illustrative Council Tax increases under the scenario would be

          Sefton Council Services                2.5%

          Levies                                         0.4%

          Fire and Police                            0.3%

          Total                                           3.2%

(6)      officers be requested to continue to review all savings options and assumptions in order to achieve a total Council Tax increase of less than 3% inclusive of levies and precepts;

(7)      the latest schedule of Levies and Parish precepts set out in Annex 3 of the supplementary report be noted;

(8)      officers be requested to consider the implications of making a substantial allocation of one-off resources to invest in highways maintenance following the recent bad weather and submit a report to the next Cabinet meeting on 4 March 2010;

(9)      it be noted that the Chief Executive will report on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of financial reserves for the budget proposals to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) and Full Council;

(10)    the Strategic Budget Review (SBR) options detailed in Table 1 of Appendix B to the report be deferred for consideration at the Cabinet meeting on 4 March 2010;

(11)    the Action Points identified for each SBR option in Table 2 of Appendix B to the report be recommended to the Council for implementation;

(12)    the progress being made in the Terms and Conditions negotiations with the Trade Unions be welcomed and the consideration of the remaining "amber/red" SBR options,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 273