Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 127 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which advised that to comply with statute, the Chief Financial Officer was required to report to Council prior to the approval of the budget and the setting of the Council Tax, to give assurance that the budget was robust and that there were adequate reserves and balances.

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

RESOLVED:

(1)      it be noted that the Local Government Act 2003, (Section 25 as amended) requires the Chief Financial Officer to report formally the issues of an opinion as to the robustness of the estimates made and the tax setting calculations; and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves; and

(2)      the Council be recommended to have regard to the matters raised in the report during the final stages of determining the budget for 2023/24.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 43 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services held on 7 February 2023, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which advised that to comply with statute, the Chief Financial Officer was required to report to Council prior to the approval of the budget and the setting of the Council Tax, to give assurance that the budget was robust and that there were adequate reserves and balances. 

Decision Made: That:

Reasons for the Decisions:

The Local Government Act 2003, (Section 25 as amended) requires the Chief Financial Officer to report formally on the issues contained within this report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services on the robustness of the 2023/24 Budget Estimates and the Adequacy of Reserves – Local Government Act 2003 - Section 25

The report indicated that to comply with statute, the Chief Financial Officer was required to report to Council prior to the approval of the budget and the setting of the Council Tax, to give assurance that the budget was robust and that there were adequate reserves and balances.

The report concluded that as a result of considering the issues contained within the report, it was the view that the budget proposed was a robust budget package whilst also ensuring that there were adequate General Balances to draw on if the service estimates turned out to be insufficient; and that this opinion was provided in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003. 

This report would also be considered by Cabinet and Council at their meetings to be held on 9 February and 2 March 2023 respectively.

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

·       the cost implications of aligning the Medium-Term Financial Plan to the improvement plan proposed by the DfE commissioner

·       the role of the Schools’ Forum and its decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and High Needs Funding 

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that the Local Government Act 2003, (section 25 as amended) requires the Chief Financial Officer to report formally on the following issues:

and that the Council is requested to have regard to the matters raised in this report during the final stages of determining the budget for 2023/24.