Agenda item

To consider the recommendations from Cabinet

Consideration was given to the recommendation from Cabinet in respect of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2015/16 to 2017/18.

The following key proposals had been included:

§  An additional £6.5m would be spent on improving our highways.

§  Annual spending on Adult Social Care would be increased by over £1m.

§  Council tax was proposed to be frozen for a fifth consecutive year, saving local taxpayers £210 on average per year if inflationary increases had been applied.

§  Net Revenue spending was being reduced by £7.7m to deliver a balanced position in 2015/16.

§  External loans would be reduced by £8.5m.

Appendix A to the Cabinet report summarised the resolutions that Cabinet were requested to recommend to Council.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy Report for the period 2015/16 to 2017/18 was set out at Appendix B.

The Finance Portfolio Holder, Councillor Raynes had indicated at the Cabinet meeting that since the MTFS report and budget had been produced, the Council had received confirmation that it would receive an additional £241,000 as part of the final settlement. It was proposed that the whole amount would be transferred to the Council’s emergency assistance earmarked reserve to allow this additional funding to be called on when needed.

Councillor Raynes had also referred to a proposed saving of £100,000 for Home to School Transport which was referred to in the report. This saving had in fact already been achieved by other methods.

The final version of the budget report had been updated to reflect these changes and to correct any minor typographical errors.

Government regulations required the recording in the minutes of how each Member voted on any decision relating to the Budget or Council Tax. Accordingly, a recorded vote was carried out in respect of this item, with the following results:-

For

Councillors C Andrew, Rachel Bailey, Rhoda  Bailey, G Barton, D Brown, L Brown, J Clowes,  H Davenport, S Davies, R Domleo, J P Findlow, W Fitzgerald, H Gaddum,  S Gardiner, P Groves, J Hammond, M Hardy, P Hayes,  P Hoyland, O Hunter, M Jones, F Keegan, A Kolker, W Livesley, J Macrae,  D Marren, P Mason, R Menlove, G Merry, B Moran, P Raynes,  J Saunders,  M Simon, L Smetham, D Stockton, A Thwaite, D Topping,  G Wait, G M Walton, M J  Weatherill, R West, P Whiteley, S Wilkinson,J  Wray

Against

D Brickhill, B Burkhill,  R Fletcher, D Hough, S Jones, D Neilson, M Parsons, B Silvester.

Not voting

D Bebbington, P Butterill, R Cartlidge, S Corcoran, K Edwards, P Edwards, I Faseyi, D Flude, M Grant, A Harewood, K Hickson, S Hogben, J Jackson, L Jeuda, D Mahon, A Moran, B Murphy, D Newton.

The motion was declared carried by 44 votes for, 8 against, with 18 not voting.

RESOLVED

That the following be approved:-

1.    The Revenue estimates for the 2015/16 budget and the medium term Capital Programme estimates 2015/18, as detailed in the Medium Term Financial Strategy Report 2015/18 (Appendix B), as adjusted for the home to school transport narrative change and minor typographical errors.

2.    B and D Council Tax of £1,216.34 (no change since 2010/11) (Appendix B, Section 2 of the report).

3.    The 2015/16 non ring-fenced Specific Grants, and that any amendments to particular grants will be reported to Council if further information is received from Government Departments or other funding bodies (Appendix B, Annex 7 of the report).

4.    The 2015/16 Capital Grants, and that any amendments to particular grants will be reported to Council if further information is received from Government Departments or other funding bodies (Appendix B, Annex 8 of the report).

5.    The relevant Portfolio Holder to agree the use of additional Specific Grants received in conjunction with the Finance Portfolio Holder as further updates to the 2015/16 funding position are received.

6.    The recommended Prudential Indicators for Capital Financing (Appendix B, Annex 10 of the report).

7.    The Safeguarding Children and Adults Portfolio Holder to agree any necessary amendment to the 2015/16 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) of £160.6m and the associated policy proposals, in the light of further information received from DfE, pupil number changes, further academy transfers and the actual balance brought forward from 2014/15 (Appendix B, Annex 7 of the report).

8.    The recommended Reserves Strategy, and the proposals to create an earmarked reserve of £1.0m for planning appeals and staffing restructure, and to make further contributions from general reserves of £0.45m to the Sustainable Investment reserve, and £0.25m to the Insurance and Risk reserve (Appendix B, Annex 12 of the report).

9.    That the additional £241,000 received as part of the final settlement be transferred to the Council’s emergency assistance earmarked reserve to allow this additional funding to be called on when needed.

     Council also recognised that Cabinet had noted: -

1.    The Budget Engagement exercise undertaken by the Council, as set out in Appendix B, Annex 2 of the report.

2.    The comments of the Council’s Chief Operating Officer (Section 151 Officer), contained within the MTFS Report, regarding the robustness of estimates and level of reserves held by the Council based on these budget proposals (Appendix B of the report, Comment from the Chief Operating Officer).

3.    The risk assessment detailed in the MTFS Report (Appendix B of the report, Annex 5).

4.    That the estimates and profiling contained within the proposed Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2017/18 reflect the scale of ambition and future investment plans of the Council. The programme may vary to take advantage of external funding opportunities, maximise private sector investment, prudential borrowing considerations, operational capacity and to ensure optimal delivery of the overall programme (Appendix B of the report, Annex 11).

5.    That projects will be robustly governed through the Executive Monitoring Board. The Council’s Finance Procedure Rules will always apply should any changes in spending requirements be identified (Appendix B of the report, Annex 11).