Issue - meetings

To consider the Leader’s Budget Report

(Items 13 &14 of the agenda were considered together, as one item).

The Cheshire East Council Budget Report for 2013/2016 had been produced following engagement on the Business Planning Process during January and February 2013. The Budget Report provides financial background to the Medium Term Financial Strategy Report as well as setting out further details of the approach to funding the Three Year Council Plan. The Budget Report set out, in detail, the spending plans and income targets for the financial year starting 1^st April 2013, as well as financial estimates for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 financial years.

The 2013/2016 Budget Report had been reported to Cabinet on 4^th February 2013 and Cabinet had recommended the report to Council for approval. The Budget Report to Council had been updated to reflect the final Local Government Finance Report for 2013/2014. This had been approved by Members of Parliament following a debate in the House of Commons on 13^th February 2013. It was noted, that the impact of the final Settlement was minor and did not impact on any service proposals.

The Leader of the Council also presented his budget report under this item and proposed the recommendations set out in report under items 13 &14 of the agenda.

• The Leader indicated that he and his Cabinet had set out the framework of a new 3 Year Council Plan, which gave a clear strategic direction.  This showed the purpose of the Council, the main outcomes they wanted (to ensure good quality of life for local people in Cheshire East) and the priorities for action to achieve these. 

• It was recognised that, if ambitions to make Cheshire East a better place to live and work were to be realised, a new medium term financial strategy was needed, that would make the best use of the limited resources and would provide tangible value for money for local people in these difficult times.

• He and his Cabinet also set out the principles that would drive the thinking in preparing the Council’s Budget and would guide the difficult decisions that need to be made over where to find savings and to cut costs, whilst also investing in necessary improvements in vital services.