Decision details

To respond to the budget consultation.

The committee received a report on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2022/23 – 2025/26. As part of the consultation process the committee was asked to provide comments and feedback to the Corporate Policy Committee on proposals related to the responsibilities of the committee.

Concerns were raised by Members that the provisional settlement from Government referred to items over a number of years, but the detail of allocations to individual local authorities only related to the 2022/23 financial year. It was noted that it is not unusual for Government to only give one-year allocations, and that whilst the Council must continue to plan for the medium term the settlement creates limited scope for sustainable changes.

A question was raised in respect of the rationale for putting the compensation for under-indexing the multiplier, which related to Business Rates income, into the Collection Fund Reserve, rather than the General Fund. It was agreed that a written response would be provided outside of the meeting and circulated to committee members.

The following comments were raised by committee:

It was felt that the core headings within the Budget Engagement document did not always align with the proposals listed and therefore the information did not flow for the reader. It was proposed that, in addition to the headings with respect to the Council’s vision, in future documents supplementary wording could be added under each heading to cover the main services relating to each of the Corporate Priorities.

There was some discussion in respect of the one-year settlement funding from Government, and the services this funding could be put towards. The committee agreed that it would like the following items to be considered for funding at the next stage of MTFS development:

-          Landlord Licensing Scheme

-          Invest to Save Projects

RESOLVED (unanimously):

1.    That the committee noted the MTFS 2022 to 2026 Consultation Document (Appendix 1 of the report).

2.    That the following proposals rolling forward from the MTFS 2021-25 relevant to the committee (as part of Appendix 1 (Appendix A of the report) be noted.

25) Transfer of Congleton Visitor Information Centre

49) Estates Transformation - Office Accommodation

51) Neighbourhood Estate Review

80) Tatton Park

81) Asset / Service Transfer

3.    That the impact of the local government financial settlement as provided at Appendix 2 on the MTFS Consultation Document be noted.

4.    That the minutes of the meeting form the consultation response of the Committee for consideration by the Corporate Policy Committee, including:

a.    That consideration be given to providing a budget for development of the Landlord Licensing Scheme in the final MTFS;

b.    That officers be asked to bring forward proposals for Invest to Save projects for inclusion in the final MTFS;

c.    That the Committee’s comments with regard to the Budget Engagement document be noted for future reference.