Agenda item

** Please note that appendix 8 to this report will follow as is it currently being reviewed and finalised **

Report of Director of Resources

Purpose of 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 2016/17 budget year.

The report also details the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2016/17 which have now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council.  The proposed business plan sits alongside the proposed budget for 2016/17 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 2016/17 and to formally record that consideration.

1.2      To approve the 2016/17 General Fund Budget (in table 1) and 2016/17 Capital Programme (in Appendices 2 and 3).

1.3       To approve the Collection Fund Estimates contained in Appendix 4

1.4         To approve 2016/17 business plan and public pledges (detailed in Appendices 5 and 6) and to delegate authority to the Head of Transformation in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2016.

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 7 including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2016/17 – 2018/19

1.7         To approve the appended statement of pay policy for 2016/17 as required by the Localism Act and detailed in Appendix 8 (to follow).

1.8         To confirm and approve the Transitional Relief Policy contained in Appendix 9.

1.9         To note the level of Empty Homes Premium at 50% as recommended by Executive Committee on 7 September 2015, see table 3 below which will form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

1.10      To note the council tax discounts for 2016/17 set out in table 3 below and recommended by Executive Committee on 1 February 2016 which will form part of the Council Tax setting report..

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2016/17 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

(2)          That the 2016/17 General Fund Budget and 2016/17 Capital Programme (contained in the annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) proposed by Executive on 1 February 2016 be approved.

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

(4)          That the 2016/17 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 to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2016.

(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) including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2016/17 – 2018/19 be approved.

(7)          That the statement of pay policy for 2016/17 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(8)          That the Transitional Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be confirmed and approved.

(9)          That it be noted that the level of Empty Homes Premium at 50% as recommended by Executive on 7 September 2015 would form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

(10)       That it be noted that the council tax discounts for 2016/17 as recommended by Executive on 1 February 2016 which will form part of the Council Tax setting report.

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 2016/17 budget year.

The report also detailed the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2016/17 which had now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council. The proposed business plan sits alongside the proposed budget for 2016/17 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 2016/17.

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 Maurice Billington – For

Councillor Norman Bolster – For

Councillor Mark Cherry – Against

Councillor Colin Clarke - For

Councillor Ian Corkin – For

Councillor Surinder Dhesi – Against

Councillor John Donaldson – 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 Shaida Hussain – Against

Councillor Tony Ilott – For

Councillor Ray Jelf – For

Councillor Matt Johnstone - Against

Councillor Mike Kerford-Byrnes – For

Councillor James Macnamara – For

Councillor Melanie Magee – For

Councillor Kieron Mallon – For

Councillor Nicholas Mawer – For

Councillor Alistair Milne Home – For

Councillor Nigel Morris – For

Councillor Richard Mould – For

Councillor D M Pickford – For

Councillor James Porter – 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 Lawrie Stratford – For

Councillor Rose Stratford – For

Councillor Lynda Thirzie Smart – For

Councillor Douglas Webb – For

Councillor Barry Wood – For

Councillor Sean Woodcock – Against

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2016/17 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

(2)          That the 2016/17 General Fund Budget and 2016/17 Capital Programme (contained in the annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) proposed by Executive on 1 February 2016 be approved.

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

(4)          That the 2016/17 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 to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required before final publication in March 2016.

(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) including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2016/17 – 2018/19 be approved.

(7)          That the statement of pay policy for 2016/17 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(8)          That the Transitional Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be confirmed and approved.

(9)          That it be noted that the level of Empty Homes Premium at 50% as recommended by Executive on 7 September 2015 would form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

(10)       That it be noted that the council tax discounts for 2016/17 as recommended by Executive on 1 February 2016 which will form part of the Council Tax setting report.