Issue - meetings

To consider and to recommend to Council the 2012/12 Business Plan.

During discussion of this item Councillor D Flude declared a personal interest.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Business Services on the Business Plan for 2012/15 which had been produced following engagement on the draft Business Plan issued in January.  The two main elements of the plan were the Council’s priorities and the budget.  The document set out in detail the spending plans and income targets for the financial year from 1 April 2012 as well as estimates for the following two financial years. 

It was noted that the Governments final formula grant allocations for 2012/13 had not yet been formally confirmed and the Business Plan was based on the provisional settlement issued on 8 December 2011.  In addition consultation on funding in relation to Academies still needed to be fed into the final settlement.  Any changes would however be notified to the Council at its meeting on 23 February 2012.

Each Portfolio Holder presented the key points of the budget for the area within their purview and answered questions from visiting members on specific points.

RESOLVED

1. That the results of the Budget Engagement exercise undertaken by the Council (Appendix A of the report) be noted.

2. That the comments of the Director of Finance and Business Services (Chief Finance Officer), regarding the robustness of estimates and level of reserves held by the Council based on this budget (Appendix B of the report, Comment from Director of Finance & Business Services) be noted.

3. That Council be recommended to approve:

a)     the 2012/2015 Business Plan (Appendix B of the report);

b)     the three-year Capital Programme for 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 (Appendix B, Annex 3, paragraphs 88 to 94 and Annex 7, pages 108 to 116 of the report);

c)      a Band D Council Tax of £1,216.34 (no change from 2011/2012) (Appendix B, Annex 3, paragraphs 57 to 58 of the report);

d)     the Reserves Strategy (Appendix B, Annex 8 of the report);

e)     the 2012/2013 non ringfenced Specific Grants (excluding DSG) (Appendix B, Annex 4 of the report). (Any amendments to particular grants in the light of further information received from Government Departments or other funding bodies will be reported to Council);

a)     the Prudential Indicators for Capital Financing (Appendix B, Annex 6).

4. That the 2012/2013 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) of £193.8m and the associated policy proposals (Appendix B, Annex 7, page 89 of  the report) be agreed.

5. That the Children’s and Family Services Portfolio Holder be authorised to agree any necessary amendment to the DSG position in the light of further information received from DfE, pupil number changes, further academy transfers and the actual balance brought forward from 2011/2012.

6. That the risk assessment detailed in Appendix B, Chapter 4 of the report be noted.