Agenda item

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Purpose of report

The Council is required to produce a balanced budget for 2017/18 as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax.  It has to base that budget on its plans for service delivery during the year, recognising any changes in service demand that may arise in future years. 

The proposed budget and business plan for 2017/18, including the new cycle of growth strategies, are presented as an integrated report to demonstrate that the Council adopts a strategic approach to managing all of its resources, ensuring that the delivery of the Council’s priorities for the district directs the allocation of financial resources.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To consider and approve the draft budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities.

1.2       To approve and recommend the balanced budget to Full Council.

1.3       To recommend to Full Council a Council tax freeze.

1.4       To recommend to full council the proposed 2017/18 capital programme set out in Appendix 5.

1.5       To note the impact of the proposed budget on reserves and recommend the reserves 2017/18 to full council, see Appendix 6.

1.6       To approve the use of £3.053m of reserves to fund the initial one-off payment to the pension fund, in order to achieve the saving of £382,000.

1.7       To note the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2016/17 to 2021/22, at Appendix 3; this will be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year. 

1.8       To recommend, subject to any further changes Members may wish to include tonight, the updated draft revenue budget for adoption by Full Council on 20 February 2017.

1.9       To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax to remain at the level recommended to Full Council following the announcement of the final settlement figures, any changes to relating to Business Rates or as a result of any financial implications arising from recommendation 1.8, above.

1.10    To recommend the 2017/18 business plan and performance pledges to Full Council (detailed in Appendix 7) and to delegate authority to the Director – Strategy and Commissioning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.

1.11    To recommend to Full Council the joint cycle of growth strategies of Operational Excellence, Commercial Development and Innovation, and Commissioning, detailed in Appendix 8, and to delegate authority to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the strategies and corporate values as required.

1.12    To note the 2017/18 Business Plan, Budget and Cycle of Growth Equality Impact Assessments at Appendix 9.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the draft budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities be approved.

(2)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the balanced budget.

(3)          That Full Council be recommended to agree a Council tax freeze.

(4)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2017/18 capital programme (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(5)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves be noted and Full Council be recommended to approve the reserves 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(6)          That the use of £3.053m of reserves to fund the initial one-off payment to the pension fund, in order to achieve the saving of £382,000 be approved.

(7)          That the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2016/17 to 2021/22 be noted and it be further noted that this will be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year. 

(8)          That no further changes be made and Full Council be recommended to approve the updated draft revenue budget (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) at the meeting on 20 February 2017

(9)          That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax to remain at the level recommended to Full Council following the announcement of the final settlement figures and any changes to relating to Business Rates.

(10)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the 2017/18 business plan and performance pledges (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and authority be delegated to the Director – Strategy and Commissioning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.

(11)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the joint cycle of growth strategies of Operational Excellence, Commercial Development and Innovation, and Commissioning (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and that authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any minor amendments to the strategies and corporate values as required.

(12)       That the 2017/18 Business Plan, Budget and Cycle of Growth Equality Impact Assessments be noted.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report which presented the draft budget, Corporate Business Plan and Cycle of Growth 2017/18.

The Council is required to produce a balanced budget for 2017/18 as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax. It has to base that budget on its plans for service delivery during the year, recognising any changes in service demand that may arise in future years.

The proposed budget and business plan for 2017/18, including the new cycle of growth strategies, are presented as an integrated report to demonstrate that the Council adopts a strategic approach to managing all of its resources, ensuring that the delivery of the Council’s priorities for the district directs the allocation of financial resources.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the draft budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities be approved.

(2)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the balanced budget.

(3)          That Full Council be recommended to agree a Council tax freeze.

(4)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2017/18 capital programme (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(5)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves be noted and Full Council be recommended to approve the reserves 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(6)          That the use of £3.053m of reserves to fund the initial one-off payment to the pension fund, in order to achieve the saving of £382,000 be approved.

(7)          That the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2016/17 to 2021/22 be noted and it be further noted that this will be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year. 

(8)          That no further changes be made and Full Council be recommended to approve the updated draft revenue budget (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) at the meeting on 20 February 2017

(9)          That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management, to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax to remain at the level recommended to Full Council following the announcement of the final settlement figures and any changes to relating to Business Rates.

(10)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the 2017/18 business plan and performance pledges (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and authority be delegated to the Director – Strategy and Commissioning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.

(11)       That Full Council be recommended to approve the joint cycle of growth strategies of Operational Excellence, Commercial Development and Innovation, and Commissioning (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and that authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any minor amendments to the strategies and corporate values as required.

(12)       That the 2017/18 Business Plan, Budget and Cycle of Growth Equality Impact Assessments be noted.

Reasons

This report presents a final analysis of the Council’s draft revenue and capital budget and business plan for 2017/18. They will be presented together to Full Council on the 20 February to support the setting of the Council Tax.

It is a legal requirement to set a balanced budget and the recommendations as set out and directed by the corporate business plan represent what is believed to be the best way of achieving this.

Alternative options

Members could decide not to agree the recommendations or to present alternative budget proposals but that would run counter to the detailed budget setting process that has taken place as part of the formulation of this budget.