Agenda item

Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2023/24 – 2025/26 and Council Tax 2023/24

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services on the Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2023/24 – 2025/26 and Council Tax 2023/24.

 

The report provided:

 

·       an assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2023/24 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2024/25 to 2025/26

·       an update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2023/24 and 2024/25

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

·       the proposed Budget for 2023/24; and

·       the proposed Capital Programme for 2023/24 

 

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

 

Attached as appendices to the report were the  individual school budgets 2023/24; budget saving proposals; draft Council budget summary 2023/24; and the Capital Programme 2023/24 – 2025/26

 

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

 

(A)

In respect of the Budget 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2024/25 to 2025/26 to:

 

(1)

note the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2023/24 to 2025/26;

 

(2)

approve the Revenue Budget for 2023/24 and authorise officers to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report;

 

(3)

approve the commencement of all appropriate activity required to implement the budget savings proposals as detailed in the report, including for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners and contractual changes as the programme develops;

 

(4)

note that officers would 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.

 

(5)

note the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets (Section 12);

 

(6)

approve the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report (Section 13); and

 

(7)

Approve, subject to the recommendations above, the overall Council Tax resolution for 2023/24 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts;

 

(B)

In respect of the Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2025/26 to approve for inclusion within the Capital Programme the full list of projects in Appendix D; and

 

(C)

In respect of Business Rates (Removing Schools Discretionary Top Up Relief) to approve the removal of the discretionary business rates relief awards currently given to voluntary aided / church schools with effect from 1 April 2024 (Section 18).

 

The Committee was requested to consider the proposals within the report and to provide any comments to Cabinet which could be considered as part of the formal approval of the Budget Plan for 2023/24 – 2025/26 and the Council Tax for 2023/24.

 

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

 

·       the need for the Social Worker Academy to be successful to reduce the reliance on agency workers; and retention initiatives to ensure staff stayed with Sefton

·       concern that neither the Autumn Statement or Settlement mentioned the Public Health Grant and therefore no information was available on the national totals or individual allocations

·       was rental income from the Strand Shopping Centre more adversely affected than other similar sectors during the pandemic; and

·       the effects of businesses struggling during the pandemic and its impact on Business Rates collection performance; and the consequent increase in Business Rates appeals provision

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)

the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2023/24 to 2025/26 be noted; and

 

(2)

the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services and his staff be thanked for the production of the detailed reports for consideration at this meeting and their overall efforts in formulating the Council’s budget for consideration by Council.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: