Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 November 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor P Groves – Finance and Assets Portfolio older

J Clowes – Adults Health and Leisure Portfolio Holder

R Bailey – Children and Families Portfolio Holder

P Findlow – Performance Portfolio Holder

David Brown -  Highways Portfolio Holder

Peter Gosling - Principal Manager, Adult Social Care

Susanne Antrobus - Senior Lawyer

Gill Betton – Head of Service - Children's Development & Partnerships

Natalie Robinson – Business Manager Communications

Julian Cobley - Head of Investment

Steve Reading - Principal Accountant

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To consider a report of the Chief Operating Officer.(to follow)

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Operating Officer on the Council’s Corporate Plan for the years 2016/17 to 2019/20 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19.

The provisional funding announcements of 17^th December 2015 had confirmed that local government spending would continue to reduce through to 2019/20. However, the Government approach had changed, and the reduction in grant had been greater than forecast in the Council’s Pre-Budget report (October 2015) as the potential income from Council Tax increases had been factored in to the settlement for the first time. The report submitted to this meeting was based on the Provisional Settlement, which therefore still required parliamentary approval, and included the following headlines:

·         An additional £33m would be spent on improving highways;

·         Net Revenue spending on services was being reduced by £2.1m to deliver a balanced position in 2016/17;

·         Capital spending on infrastructure and regeneration projects would increase by £60.5m from 2015/16 third quarter review budget;

·         Value for money would continue to be supported through management of Council investments. This would include the reduction of external loans by a further £6m;

·         Reliance on Central Government grants would reduce by £16.3m;

·         Funding for essential local services would require a proposed Council tax increase of 3.75% from £1,216.34 to £1,261.95 for a Band D property.

The Committee reviewed the various elements of the budget consultation report on a section by section basis, and representatives of  each of the service areas was invited to explain the principal elements of the budget proposals as they related to their service area and were then questioned by Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED –That the report be received and noted

To consider a report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Operating Officer setting out the Council’s financial and non financial performance at the third quarter stage of 2015/16 and highlighted the latest progress towards achieving the Council’s Residents First Outcomes as described in the Council’s three year plan 2013 to 2016.

The third quarter review had forecast an underspend of £0.3m . This represented a variance of only 0.1% against a net budget of £246.6m.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Corporate Resources and Stewardship

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED –

(a)  – That the work programme be noted

To note the current forward plan, identify any new items, and to determine whether any further examination of new issues is appropriate.

The Committee reviewed the forward plan.

RESOLVED – that the forward plan be received and noted.