Issue - meetings

Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2022/23 – 2024/25 and Council Tax 2022/23

 

 

Meeting: 03/03/2022 - Council (Item 105)

105 Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2022/23 – 2024/25 and Council Tax 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 109 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 February 2022 the Council considered the report of the Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided:

 

  • An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2022/23 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2023/24 to 2024/25.
  • An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2022/23.
  • The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.
  • The proposed Budget for 2022/23; and
  • The proposed Capital Programme for 2022/23.

 

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

 

The following appendices were attached to the report:

 

Appendix A

Individual School Budgets 2022/23

Appendix B

Draft Council Budget Summary 2022/23

Appendix C

Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25

 

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough

 

That in respect of:

 

(A)

the Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2023/24 to 2024/25:

 

(1)

the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 be noted;

 

(2)

the Revenue Budget for 2022/23 be approved and officers be authorised to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report;

 

(3)

the continuation of the Framework for Change 2020 Programme (as described in Section 3 of the report) and the 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)

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

 

(5)

the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets, as detailed in Section 11 of the report be noted;

 

(6)

the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report, including a fully funded supplementary revenue estimate of up to £3.030m for the Leeds Family Valued Programme across 2021/22 to 2023/24 (Section 12 of the report) be approved; and

 

(7)

subject to the recommendations above the overall Council Tax resolution for 2022/23 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts be approved; 

 

(B)

the Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25:

 

(1)

the full list of projects in Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105

Meeting: 10/02/2022 - Cabinet (Item 109)

109 Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2022/23 – 2024/25 and Council Tax 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 34 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 February 2022 the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided:

 

  • An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2022/23 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2023/24 to 2024/25.
  • An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2022/23.
  • The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.
  • The proposed Budget for 2022/23; and
  • The proposed Capital Programme for 2022/23.

 

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

 

The following appendices were attached to the report:

 

Appendix A

Individual School Budgets 2022/23

Appendix B

Draft Council Budget Summary 2022/23

Appendix C

Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25

   

 

Decision Made:     

 

That:

 

(1)

the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 be noted;

 

(2)

the Budget Plan for 2022/23, including the Revenue Budget, allocation of specific grants (section 12), and Capital Programme (Appendix C), be recommended to Council and that officers be authorised to undertake the necessary actions to implement the recommendations;

 

(3)

the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets (Section 11) be noted; and

 

(4)

the commencement / continuation of all appropriate activity within Framework for Change 2020, as detailed in the report, including, for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners about contractual and policy changes be approved.

 

Reasons for the Decisions:

 

The recommendations in this report provide the basis on which the Budget Plan will be balanced for the financial year 2022/23 and will ensure that the Council’s statutory obligations are met. In addition, it begins the planning for the financial strategy for the following two 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 this report has taken due consideration of all financial issues in its development.  No additional options are available for inclusion. 

 

 

 

Meeting: 08/02/2022 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) (Item 34)

34 Robustness of the 2022/23 Budget Estimates and the Adequacy of Reserves – Local Government Act 2003 - Section 25 pdf icon PDF 334 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that explained that on 10 February 2022, Cabinet would be asked to recommend to Council a Budget Plan for 2022/23; that on 3 March 2022, the Council would be asked to consider and approve the Budget Plan for 2022/23 – 2024/25 and the level of Council Tax for 2022/23; and provided the Committee with:

 

  • An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2022/23 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2023/24 to 2024/25.
  • An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2022/23.
  • The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.
  • The proposed Budget for 2022/23; and
  • The proposed Capital Programme for 2022/23.

 

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

 

The following appendices were attached to the report:

 

Appendix A

Individual School Budgets 2022/23

Appendix B

Draft Council Budget Summary 2022/23

Appendix C

Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25

 

This report would also be considered by Cabinet and Council at their meetings to be held on 10 February and 3 March 2022 respectively.

 

The report concluded by requesting the provision any comments to Cabinet regarding the Budget Plan for 2022/23 – 2024/25 and setting the Council Tax for Sefton Council for 2022/23.

         

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

 

·       in respect of the financial settlement for schools next year was there any additional provision for the ongoing impact of covid to support supply teachers who may be required

·       in respect of income from the Strand Shopping Centre reference was made to the forecast that losses of £1.700m would be experienced in 2021/22; that the current business case forecast that this income loss would reduce by £1.200m in 2022/23 (to £0.500m); but would increase again by £0.300m in 2023/24 (to £0.800m)

·       Analysis of the Council’s budget was complex and at times it could be difficult for Members to adequately scrutinise proposals

·       The potential for a waterway between the Strand shopping centre and the new Everton football ground at Bramley Moore dock; and the wider regeneration impact the football ground proposal could have on the south Sefton area

·       The setting and collection of business rates

·       The Council’s recovery policy to pursue council tax and business rate arrears

·       The receipt of New Homes Bonus payment and how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34