Agenda item

Report of the Head of Corporate Support

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Support which provided details of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2015 announced on 25 November 2015, and the subsequent financial settlement for 2016/17 and its impact on the two-year financial plan; the progress in the achievement of the approved savings for 2015/16 (and any residual savings carried forward from previous years); other financial risks elsewhere in the budget; the current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection; the proposed purchase of two Ultra Low Emission vehicles for inclusion in the Capital Programme; new car parking charges at specific locations and the progression of a Traffic Regulation Order to set the charges on the specified car parks; and the proposed acceptance of grant funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change for vulnerable occupiers (across the Liverpool City Region) of properties that do not currently have gas central heating.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       the details of the Comprehensive Spending Review, announced on 25 November 2015, and the impact of the subsequent financial settlement for 2016/17 on the two-year financial plan be noted;

(2)       the progress to date on the achievement of approved savings for 2015/16 and residual savings carried forward from previous years be noted;

(3)       the wider financial pressures being experienced in the remainder of the Budget be noted;

(4)       the forecast position on the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates be noted;

(5)       approval be given to the provision of two Ultra Low Emission pool vehicles, as outlined in paragraph 7 of the report, and the inclusion of £10,712 in the Capital Programme;

(6)       approval be given to the recommendations of the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services for the introduction of car parking charges at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and Blucher Street, Waterloo; Burbo Bank, Blundellsands and Sumner Road, Formby as set out in paragraph 8 of the report; and the progression of a Traffic Regulation Order to set the charges on the above car parks; and

(7)       approval be given to the acceptance of the offer of grant funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change for vulnerable occupiers (across the Liverpool City Region) for properties that do not currently have gas central heating; and to the inclusion of the scheme in the Capital Programme and the Council’s role of Accountable Body for the scheme.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the latest position on the achievement of savings for the current financial year and to identify wider budget pressures being experienced elsewhere in the budget. To provide an update on the forecast outturn position on the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates.To enable the leasing of two low emission vehicles to be used as pool cars and to approve new car park charges at specific locations as set out in the report. To approve the inclusion of a gas central heating project for vulnerable residents of the Liverpool City Region in the Capital Programme and the Council’s role of Accountable Body for the scheme.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.