Agenda item


Budget, Corporate Business Plan and Cycle of Growth 2017/18

Report of Chief Finance Officer

 

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 2017/18 budget year.

 

The report also details the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2017/18 which have now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council, and the proposed new cycle of growth strategies.

 

The proposed business plan and cycle of growth strategies sit alongside the proposed budget for 2017/18 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 2017/18 and to formally record that consideration.

 

1.2      To approve the 2017/18 General Fund Budget (table 1) and 2017/18 Capital Programme (in Appendices 2 and 3).

 

1.3       To approve the Collection Fund Estimates contained in Appendix 4

 

1.4         To approve 2017/18 business plan, public pledges and joint cycle of growth strategies (detailed in Appendices 7 and 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 before final publication in March 2017.

 

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

 

1.6         To note the impact of the proposed budget on reserves, including the use of reserves to fund a one-off pension fund contribution, and approve the list of reserves, Appendix 5

 

1.7         To approve the Treasury Management Strategy as detailed in Appendix 6 including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2017/18 – 2019/20

 

1.8         To approve the appended statement of pay policy for 2017/18 as required by the Localism Act and detailed in Appendix 9.

 

1.9         To note that there is no change to the level of Empty Homes Premium for 2017/18 as set out in table 4, which will form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

 

1.10      To note that there is no change to the council tax discounts for 2017/18 set out in table 4 below, which will form part of the Council Tax setting report.

 

1.11      To Opt-in to the LGA national Sector Led Body in order to negotiate a new External Audit Contract as detailed in Appendix 10

 

1.12      To approve the Business Rates 100% Rural Rate Relief Policy as set out at  Appendix 11 and the formal resolutions that underpin the policy:

 

·         The Council award 100% rural rate relief to eligible ratepayers from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

1.13      To approve the Local Newspapers Policy as set out in Appendix 12 and the formal resolutions that underpin the policy:

 

·         The Council award a £1,500 business rates discount for office space occupied by local newspapers, up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per hereditament, up to state aid limits for 2 years from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

1.14    To approve the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy, effective from 1 April 2017, as set out in Appendix 13.

 

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2017/18 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

 

(2)          That the 2017/18 General Fund Budget and 2017/18 Capital Programme (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

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

 

(4)          That the 2017/18 business plan, public pledges and joint cycle of growth strategies (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved and 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 before final publication in March 2017.

 

(5)          That the contents of the section 25 statement from the Chief Finance Officer (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) in relation to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves.

 

(6)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves, including the use of reserves to fund a one-off pension fund contribution be noted and the list of reserves (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(7)          That the Treasury Management Strategy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2017/18 – 2019/20 be approved.

 

(8)          That the statement of pay policy for 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as required by the Localism Act be approved.

 

(9)          That it be noted that there is no change to the level of Empty Homes Premium for 2017/18, which will form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

 

(10)       That it be noted that there is no change to the council tax discounts for 2017/18, which will form part of the Council Tax setting report.

 

(11)       That agreement be given to opt-in to the LGA national Sector Led Body in order to negotiate a new External Audit Contract.

 

(12)       That the Business Rates 100% Rural Rate Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and the following formal resolutions that underpin the policy be approved:

·         The Council award 100% rural rate relief to eligible ratepayers from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

(13)       That the Local Newspapers Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and the following formal resolutions that underpin the policy be approved:

·         The Council award a £1,500 business rates discount for office space occupied by local newspapers, up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per hereditament, up to state aid limits for 2 years from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

(14)       That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book), effective from 1 April 2017, be approved.

 

Minutes:

Prior to consideration of the item, the Chairman sought the agreement of Members to suspend standing orders with regard to the duration of the speech by the proposer of the budget, or the speeches of the group spokesperson and group Leaders. Members indicated agreement.

 

The Chairman reminded Council that it was required in legislation that any motion or amendment to the budget or council tax setting reports be taken by recorded vote and this would be done at the appropriate time.

 

The Chief Finance Officer 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 2017/18 budget year.

 

The report also detailed the proposed strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives and outcomes for 2017/18 which had now been converted into a proposed business plan for the Council, and the proposed new cycle of growth strategies.

 

The proposed business plan and cycle of growth strategies would sit alongside the proposed budget for 2017/18 to demonstrate that the Council adopted 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 Budget, Corporate Business Plan and Cycle of Growth 2017/18. 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 Financial Management, the Budget Planning Committee, the Chief Finance Officer 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 Atack

For

Councillor Banfield

Against

Councillor Beere

Against

Councillor Bell

Against

Councillor Brown

For

Councillor Cherry

Against

Councillor Clarke

For

Councillor Corkin

For

Councillor Cotter

For

Councillor Donaldson

For

Councillor Gaul

For

Councillor Hallchurch MBE

For

Councillor Heath

For

Councillor Hughes

For

Councillor Hussain

Against

Councillor Ilott

For

Councillor Kerford-Byrnes

For

Councillor Mackenzie-Wintle

For

Councillor Mawer

For

Councillor McHugh

For

Councillor Milne Home

For

Councillor Morris

For

Councillor Mould

For

Councillor Pickford

For

Councillor Pratt

For

Councillor Prestidge

For

Councillor Richards

Against

Councillor Sames

For

Councillor Sibley

For

Councillor Simpson

For

Councillor Slaymaker

For

Councillor Wallis

For

Councillor Webb

For

Councillor Williams

For

Councillor Wood

For

Councillor Woodcock

Against

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the report in approving the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2017/18 be noted and that consideration be formally recorded.

 

(2)          That the 2017/18 General Fund Budget and 2017/18 Capital Programme (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

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

 

(4)          That the 2017/18 business plan, public pledges and joint cycle of growth strategies (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved and 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 before final publication in March 2017.

 

(5)          That the contents of the section 25 statement from the Chief Finance Officer (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) in relation to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves.

 

(6)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves, including the use of reserves to fund a one-off pension fund contribution be noted and the list of reserves (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(7)          That the Treasury Management Strategy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) including the Capital Prudential Indicators 2017/18 – 2019/20 be approved.

 

(8)          That the statement of pay policy for 2017/18 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as required by the Localism Act be approved.

 

(9)          That it be noted that there is no change to the level of Empty Homes Premium for 2017/18, which will form a recommendation in the Council Tax Setting report.

 

(10)       That it be noted that there is no change to the council tax discounts for 2017/18, which will form part of the Council Tax setting report.

 

(11)       That agreement be given to opt-in to the LGA national Sector Led Body in order to negotiate a new External Audit Contract.

 

(12)       That the Business Rates 100% Rural Rate Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and the following formal resolutions that underpin the policy be approved:

·         The Council award 100% rural rate relief to eligible ratepayers from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

(13)       That the Local Newspapers Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and the following formal resolutions that underpin the policy be approved:

·         The Council award a £1,500 business rates discount for office space occupied by local newspapers, up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per hereditament, up to state aid limits for 2 years from 1 April 2017.

·         The Council through the National Non-Domestic Rate return process seeks full reimbursement of the actual cost under the rates retention scheme of granting this relief.

 

(14)       That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book), effective from 1 April 2017, be approved.

 

Supporting documents: