Agenda item

To consider and approve the recommendations from the meeting of Cabinet held on 6 February 2012.

The Cheshire East Council Business Plan for 2012/2015, had been produced following engagement on the Draft Business Plan that was issued in January 2012. The Business Plan had two main elements: the Council’s priorities and the Budget. The document set out, in detail, the spending plans and income targets for the financial year starting 1^st April 2012, as well as financial estimates for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 financial years.

The 2012/2015 Business Plan had been reported to Cabinet on 6^th February 2012 and a report which set out the updated position with regard to Government funding levels was now submitted to Council.

When the report was submitted to Cabinet the Local Government Finance Report for 2012/2013 had not been published or confirmed following a debate in the House of Commons. Prior to the Council meeting both of those stages had been completed and confirmed that the formula and specific grant allocations, which had been included in the Business Plan, remained unchanged from the provisional settlement issued in December 2011.

It was noted that the Government consultation on the adjustment made to funding in relation to Academies and the impact on support functions provided by the local authority had not resulted in any changes to the Council’s funding for 2012/2013.

It was moved and seconded that

“1.        the updated results of the Budget Engagement exercise undertaken by the Council be noted

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

3.         the Business Plan 2012/2015 be approved

4.         the three year Capital Programme for 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 be approved

5.         the Band D Council Tax of £1,216.34 be approved

6.         the Reserves Strategy be approved

7.         the 2012/2013 non ringfenced Specific Grants (excluding DSG)  be noted

8.         the 2012/2013 Dedicated School Grant (DSG) of £193.8m and the associated policy proposals be agreed

9.         the Children and Families Services Portfolio Holder be authorised to agreed 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 2011/12

10.       the Prudential Indicators for Capital Funding be approved

11.       the risk assessment detailed in the report be noted.”

AMENDMENT

The following amendment was moved by Councillor D Flude and seconded by Councillor K Edwards:

Heading, Performance, Customer Services and Capacity, Revenue.

With regard to the review of the Library book fund, which totals £90,000;

The proposed reduction is broken down as follows:

Reference Books £30,000

Adult Lending Books £46,793

Children’s Books £13,207

It is proposed that the intended saving of £13,207 in respect of Children’s Books be removed from the Business Plan, and the funding be found from the Council’s Reserves.

The amendment was carried.

RESOLVED

1.                  That the updated results of the Budget Engagement exercise undertaken by the Council, as set out in appendix A of the report, be noted.

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

3.                  That, subject to the removal of the intended saving of £13,207 in respect of Children’s Books, which was to be found from the Council’s reserves, the 2012/2015 Business Plan, as set out in Appendix B of the report, be approved.

4.                  That the three-year Capital Programme for 2012/2013 to 2014/2015, as set out in Appendix B, Annex 3, paragraphs 88 to 94 and Annex 7 pages 108-116 of the report be approved.

5.           That the Band D Council Tax of £1,216.34, as set out in Appendix

B, Annex 3, paragraphs 57 to 58 of the report (no change from 2011/2012), be approved.

6.            That the Reserves Strategy, as set out in Appendix B, Annex 8 of

            report be approved.

7.                  That the 2012/2013 non-ring-fenced Specific Grants (excluding DSG), asset out in Appendix B, Annex 4 of the report be noted.

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

9.                  That the Children 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.

10.             That the Prudential Indicators for Capital Financing be approved.

           (Appendix B, Annex 6 of the report).

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