Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

Further to Minute No. 103 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 February 2021 the Council considered the joint report of the Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided:

·       an assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2021/22 Budget Plan and preparation for the three-year budget period 2022/23 to 2024/25;

·       an update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2021/22;

·       the Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan;

·       the proposed Budget for 2021/22; and

·       the proposed Capital Programme for 2021/22.

The report set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating and indicated that the Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The report also indicated that the Council’s Framework for Change Programme was a comprehensive and ambitious programme that sought to support the delivery of the Council’s core purpose; and that as would be expected with a programme of this size and complexity that spanned a number of financial years, the detailed proposals had been and would continue to be the subject of change as they were developed and ultimately implemented. 

It was moved by Councillor Fairclough, seconded by Councillor Hardy 

That:

(A)          in respect of the Budget 2021/22 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2022/23 to 2024/25:

(1)           the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2021/22 to 2024/25, be noted;

(2)           the Revenue Budget for 2021/22 and authorisation for officers to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report, be approved;

(3)           the continuation of the Framework for Change 2020 Programme (as described in Section 3) and agreement to the commencement of all appropriate activity as detailed, including for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners and contractual changes as the programme develops, be approved;

(4)           the current levels of trade union facility time and associated arrangements for the whole period of the budget plan for 2021/22 – 2024/25, be approved;

(5)           it be noted that officers will comply with agreed HR policies and procedures including relevant consultation with Trade Unions and reports to the Cabinet Member Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services as required;

(6)           the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets (Section 12), be noted;

(7)           the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report (Section 13), be noted;

(8)           the overall Council Tax resolution for 2021/22 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts, be approved;

(B)          in respect of the Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2022/23:

(1)           the supplementary capital estimate of £12.750m for the Street Lighting Asset Project detailed in Section 17 of the report be approved; and

(2)           all of the remaining capital schemes as detailed in Section 17 of the report along with the full list of other projects  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the joint report of the Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided:

·       an assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2021/22 Budget Plan and preparation for the three-year budget period 2022/23 to 2024/25;

·       an update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2021/22;

·       the Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan;

·       the proposed Budget for 2021/22; and

·       the proposed Capital Programme for 2021/22.

The report set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating and indicated that the Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The report also indicated that the Council’s Framework for Change Programme was a comprehensive and ambitious programme that sought to support the delivery of the Council’s core purpose; and that as would be expected with a programme of this size and complexity that spanned a number of financial years, the detailed proposals had been and would continue to be the subject of change as they were developed and ultimately implemented. 

Decision Made:      That:

Reasons for Decision:

The recommendations in the report provide the basis on which the Budget Plan will be balanced for the financial year 2021/22 and will ensure that the Council’s statutory obligations are met. In addition, it begins the planning for the financial strategy for the following three years to give the Council sufficient time to identify specific proposals to deliver financial sustainability over that period.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council is legally required to set a balanced budget each year and the report has taken due consideration of all financial issues in its development.  No additional options are available for inclusion.