Agenda item

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement and Head of Transformation

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to set the Council’s General Fund Budget and to seek formal adoption of all parts of the Council’s financial plans for the 2015-16 budget year.

The report also details the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2015-16 which have now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council.  The proposed business plan sits alongside the proposed budget for 2015-16 so as to demonstrate that the Council adopts a strategic and integrated approach to managing all of its resources by aligning the development and delivery of the Council’s strategic business priorities and key outcomes to the proposed budget.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To consider the contents of this report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2015-16 and to formally record that consideration.

1.2      To approve the 2015-16 General Fund Budget (in table 1) and 2015-16 Capital Programme (in Appendix 1) proposed by the Executive on 2 February 2015.

1.3       To approve the Collection Fund Estimates contained in Appendix 2

1.4         To approve the proposed 5 year business strategy, 2015-16 business plan and public pledges (detailed in Appendices 3, 4 and 5) and to delegate authority to the Head of Transformation in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Banbury Developments, Communications and Performance to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2015.

1.5         To note the contents of the section 25 statement from the Director of Resources contained in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.7 in relation to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves.

1.6         To approve the Treasury Management Strategy as detailed in Appendix 6.

1.7         To approve the appended statement of pay policy for 2015-16 as required by the Localism Act and detailed in Appendix 7.

1.8         To approve the proposed Transitional Relief and Retail Relief Policies outlined in paragraphs 3.24 and contained in Appendices 8 and 9.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of this report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2015-16 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

(2)          That the 2015-16 General Fund Budget and 2015-16 Capital Programme (contained in the annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) proposed by the Executive on 2 February 2015 be approved.

(3)          That the Collection Fund Estimates (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(4)          That the proposed 5 year business strategy, 2015-16 business plan and public pledges (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved and authority delegated to the Head of Transformation in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Banbury Developments, Communications and Performance to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2015.

(5)          That the contents of the section 25 statement from the Director of Resources in relation to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves be noted

(6)          That the Treasury Management Strategy (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(7)          That the statement of pay policy for 2015-16 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(8)          That the proposed Transitional Relief and Retail Relief Policies (annexes to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

The Head of Finance and Procurement and Head of Transformation submitted a report to set the Council’s General Fund Budget and to seek formal adoption of all parts of the Council’s financial plans for the 2015-16 budget year.

The report also detailed the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2015-16 which have now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council. The proposed business plan sits alongside the proposed budget for 2015-16 so as to demonstrate that the Council adopts a strategic and integrated approach to managing all of its resources by aligning the development and delivery of the Council’s strategic business priorities and key outcomes to the proposed budget.

Councillor Atack introduced and proposed the Corporate Plan, Revenue and Capital Budgets and Treasury Strategy 2015/16.

Councillor Wood seconded the adoption of the budget. Councillor Woodcock, on behalf of the Labour Group, addressed Council in response to the budget.

Councillor Wood paid tribute to the Lead Member for Finance, the Director of Resources, Head of Finance and Procurement and the finance team who had worked hard on the budget process and submitted a balanced budget to Council.

A recorded vote was taken and members voted as follows:

Councillor Ken Atack – For

Councillor Andrew Beere – Against

Councillor Claire Bell - Against

Councillor Maurice Billington – For

Councillor Fred Blackwell – For

Councillor Norman Bolster – For

Councillor Mark Cherry – Against

Councillor Colin Clarke - For

Councillor Surinder Dhesi – Against

Councillor John Donaldson – For

Councillor Diana Edwards - For

Councillor Andrew Fulljames – For

Councillor Michael Gibbard – For

Councillor Carmen Griffiths - For

Councillor Tim Hallchurch MBE – For

Councillor Chris Heath - For

Councillor Simon Holland – For

Councillor David Hughes – For

Councillor Russell Hurle – For

Councillor Tony Ilott – For

Councillor Ray Jelf – For

Councillor Matt Johnstone - Against

Councillor James Macnamara – For

Councillor Melanie Magee – For

Councillor Kieron Mallon – For

Councillor Nicholas Mawer – For

Councillor Nigel Morris – For

Councillor D M Pickford – For

Councillor Lynn Pratt – For

Councillor Neil Prestidge - For

Councillor Nigel Randall – For

Councillor G A Reynolds – For

Councillor Barry Richards - Against

Councillor Daniel Sames – For

Councillor Les Sibley – For

Councillor Trevor Stevens - For

Councillor Lawrie Stratford – For

Councillor Rose Stratford – For

Councillor Lynda Thirzie Smart – For

Councillor Nicholas Turner – For

Councillor Douglas Webb – For

Councillor Bryn Williams - For

Councillor Barry Wood – For

Councillor Sean Woodcock – Against

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of this report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2015-16 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

(2)          That the 2015-16 General Fund Budget and 2015-16 Capital Programme (contained in the annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) proposed by the Executive on 2 February 2015 be approved.

(3)          That the Collection Fund Estimates (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(4)          That the proposed 5 year business strategy, 2015-16 business plan and public pledges (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved and authority delegated to the Head of Transformation in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Banbury Developments, Communications and Performance to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2015.

(5)          That the contents of the section 25 statement from the Director of Resources in relation to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves be noted

(6)          That the Treasury Management Strategy (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(7)          That the statement of pay policy for 2015-16 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(8)          That the proposed Transitional Relief and Retail Relief Policies (annexes to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.