Issue - meetings

To receive a report on the contents of the Pre Budget Report and comments on the proposals in terms of how their impact can be managed.

The Borough Treasurer presented a report on the Pre Budget Report 2011/2012. 

The Pre Budget Report set out the changes that would be made to the revenue and capital budgets to enable a balanced budget to be set. The Report would be used as the basis of an engagement exercise in January and February 2011. 

The Council was facing financial pressures arising from the reduced funding from Government; demographic changes leading to increased service requirements; higher numbers of young people needing protection; impact of severe winters on the road network; and in year spending pressures.

The Key Proposals contained in the Pre-Budget report were:

• No Council Tax Increase
• A Revised Council Tax Base
• Adults – overall budget increasing to recognise £9.8m of growth pressure
• Children and Families – Overall budget increasing to recognise £0.1m of growth pressures
• Places – Overall budget decreasing by £3.7m
• Supporting Service Delivery & Cross Directorate Savings – Decreasing Budget by £11.1m
• No Proposed Supplementary Business Rates being levied in 2011/2012
• Income from charges for Council services to increase in line with inflation
• Council borrowing estimated at £23m

The Trade Union representatives raised a number of points for discussion, including the proposal not to increase the Council Tax and the Government £4.4m funding offer; National No-Domestic Rates allocation; earmarking of reserves for future voluntary redundancies and the % of money put into reserves; and the budget allocated for SEN provision.

RESOLVED:

That the Pre-Budget Report be noted.