Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 August 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 August 2016 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements

Report of the Chief Finance Officer

Purpose of Report

To inform the Budget Planning Committee of the service and financial planning process for 2017/18, the 2017/18 budget strategy and the budget guidelines for service managers to enable the production of the 2017/18 budget. This report is being presented to Executive Committee on 3 October.

The report includes an update on: the most recent Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2017/18.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee is recommended:

1.1      To endorse the contents of the report.

1.2      To note that the following three recommendations will be made in the report being considered by Executive on 3 October and to make any comments for consideration by Executive at this time:

·         To note the updated medium term revenue plan forecast for the Council’s revenue budget for 2017/18 to 2021/22.

·         To endorse the overall 2017/18 budget strategy and service and financial planning process set out in the report.

·         To consider and agree the proposed budget guidelines and timetable for the 2017/18 budget process as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.

Resolved

1)   That the report be endorsed.

2)  That the recommendations being made to Executive on 3 October be noted:

·         That the updated medium term revenue plan forecast for the Council’s revenue budget for 2017/18 to 2021/22 be noted

·         That the overall 2017/18 budget strategy and service and financial planning process be endorsed

·         That the proposed budget guidelines and timetable for 2017/18 budget process be agreed

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report on the Budget Strategy 2017/18 and beyond which informed the Committee of the service and financial planning process for 2017/18, the 2017/18 budget strategy and the budget guidelines for service managers to enable to production of the 2017/18 budget.

In considering the report, members were pleased that front line services would be protected.

In response to members’ comments regarding internal recharging and how it would sit in relation to commercialisation, the Chief Finance Officer explained that when the current year’s accounts had closed, work on recharging would start and feed into commercialisation.

Resolved

(1)   That the contents of the report be endorsed.

(2)   That the following three recommendations be made to Executive

·         That the updated medium term revenue plan forecast for the Council’s revenue budget for 2017/18 to 2021/22 be noted

·         That the overall 2017/18 budget strategy and service and financial planning process be endorsed

·         That the proposed budget guidelines and timetable for 2017/18 budget process be agreed

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

1) That a special meeting of the Committee be arranged, with the Executive, Solihull Partnership and the Head of Regeneration and Housing, to discuss the Cherwell District Council Capital Projects currently being undertaken by the Solihull Partnership.

2) That arrangements be made for a members’ tour of outstanding Capital Projects

3) That subject to resolution (1 and 2) the contents of the Work Programme be noted

In considering the work plan the Committee requested that the Solihull Partnership be invited back to the Committee along with the appropriate Executive Members.  The Committee also requested that a tour of the outstanding Capital Projects be organised to give a better idea of the outstanding projects across the district.

The Chief Finance Officer suggested that due to the settlement technical consultation a further Committee could be scheduled if timings allowed. 

Resolved

(1) That the Solihull Partnership, Executive members and the Head of Regeneration and Housing be invited, to a future meeting, to discuss the those capital projects currently being undertaken by the Solihull Partnership.

(2) That arrangements be made for a members’ tour of outstanding Capital Projects

(3) That subject to resolutions (1) and (2) above the contents of the Work Programme be noted

The following report contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Exempt Appendices of report of Chief Finance Officer.

Resolved

1)  That the exempt appendices be noted

The Committee reviewed the exempt appendices

Resolved

1)  That the exempt appendices be noted

** Please note that the exempt appendices to the exempt report will follow as they are currently being reviewed and finalised **

Exempt report of Chief Finance Officer. 

Resolved

1)  That the Executive be recommended to approve the Exempt Efficiency Plan 2017/18 to 2021/22.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted an exempt report which provided an update on the Coucil’s Efficiency Plan 2017/18 to 2021/22.

The Committee noted and welcomed that the Government was offering a four year settlement, subject to the submission of and Efficiency Plan by 14 October 2016.

The Chief Finance Officer advised the Committee that a Technical Consultation which would look at changes to the established process and last for a period of 6 weeks would commence on 29 September 2016 and officers would be submitting a response on behalf of the Council.

Resolved

(1)  That the Executive be recommended to approve the Efficiency Plan 2017/18 to 2021/22.