Issue - meetings

** Please note that Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 6 will follow as they are currently being finalised **

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

Summary

The Council is required to produce a balanced budget for 2013/14 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 first draft was reported to the January 7 2013 Executive meeting. The information has now been updated to reflect changes since then and, subject to any further changes Members may wish to include tonight, this final draft will be used to prepare a final budget proposal to be presented to full Council on 25 February 2013. 

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To approve the changes to the draft budget since 7 January 2013 and consider the draft revenue budget (detailed in Appendix 1) in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities.

(2)               To approve the balanced budget.

(3)               To recommend to full council a Council tax freeze or amend the proposals contained within this report to recommend a different level of Council Tax.

(4)               To agree the proposed 2013/14 capital programme (detailed in Appendix 2).

(5)               To note the review of earmarked revenue reserves undertaken by the Lead Member Financial Management and the Head of Finance and Procurement and approve re-allocation between various earmarked reserves.

(6)               To endorse the draft corporate plan and public pledges and to delegate authority to the Director of Resources in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Performance and Customers to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required. (detailed in Appendix 4 & 5).

(7)               To note the 2013/14 Business Plan and Budget Equality Impact Assessment (detailed in Appendix 6).

(8)               To note the latest MTFS financial forecast is currently being refreshed and will be part of the budget book.

(9)               To request officers to produce the formal 2013/14 budget book on the basis of Appendices 1-6.

(10)          To recommend ,subject to any further changes Members may wish to include tonight, the updated draft for adoption by the Council on 25 February 2013 (as a key decision).

(1)               To delegate authority to the Head of Finance and Procurement, in consultation with Director of Resources and the Lead Member Financial Management to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax increase to remain at the level recommended by Executive to full council following the announcement of the final settlement figures and as a result of any financial implications arising from recommendation 10.

Resolved

(1)               That the changes to the draft budget since 7 January 2013 be approved and the draft revenue budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities be noted.

(2)               That the balanced budget be approved.

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

(4)               That the proposed 2013/14 capital programme be agreed.

(5)               That the review of earmarked revenue reserves undertaken by the Lead Member Financial Management and the Head of Finance and Procurement and approve re-allocation between various earmarked reserves be noted.

(6)               That the draft corporate plan and public pledges be endorsed and authority be delegated to the Director of Resources in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Performance and Customers to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required.

(7)               That the 2013/14 Business Plan and Budget Equality Impact Assessment be noted.

(8)               That it be noted the latest MTFS financial forecast was currently being refreshed and would be part of the budget book.

(9)               That officers be requested to produce the formal 2013/14 budget book on the basis of Appendices 1-6 (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute book).

(10)          That the updated Draft Budget 2012/13 be recommended for adoption by the Council on 27 February 2012.

(11)          That authority be delegated to the Head of Finance and Procurement, in consultation with Director of Resources and the Lead Member Financial Management to amend the contributions to or from general fund balances to allow the Council Tax increase to remain at the level recommended by Executive to Full Council following the announcement of the final settlement figures and as a result of any financial implications arising from resolution 10.

The Head of Finance and Procurement submitted a report which provided the second and final opportunity for the Executive to shape and refine the interaction between corporate service plans and financial matters before the final budget would be presented to full Council on 25 February 2013.

In presenting the draft budget, the Lead Member for Financial Management reported that a balanced budget for 2013/14 had been prepared without the need to raise council tax. The proposed zero % increase in council tax was in line with the Council’s previously stated commitment and would be the fourth year that Council Tax had been frozen.

The Lead Member for Financial Management reported that the council had successfully managed the budget challenges, previously forecast for 2013/14. The public promise of saving £800k had been over achieved together with total cost reductions in the 2012/13 budget of over £2m.

The Lead Member for Performance and Customers provided an overview of the Council Business Plan, which set out the key priorities for the Council in 2013/14, and Performance Pledges 2013/14, which reflected the key priorities of the Council in the coming year and would be circulated to every household with the council tax leaflet.

Executive was advised that there would be minor updates to the Performance Pledges relating to the respective Banbury and Bicester Masterplans, collective switching, rolling out of the Banbury Brighter Futures programme across the district and continuing to support the Horton General Hospital. These would be reflected in the final version of the Pledges that would be presented to full Council on 25 February 2012.

Councillor Woodcock, Leader of Labour Group, reported that the Labour Group accepted the budget and commended the innovation shown in addressing cuts and meeting the shortfall.

In response to Councillor Woodcock’s comments in relation to ensuring all CDC staff were paid a living wage, the Lead Member for Financial Management acknowledged that a small number of staff were affected and this would be reviewed in due course.

Resolved

(1)               That the changes to the draft budget since 7 January 2013 be approved and the draft revenue budget in the context of the Council’s service objectives and strategic priorities be noted.

(2)               That the balanced budget be approved.

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

(4)               That the proposed 2013/14 capital programme be agreed.

(5)               That the review of earmarked revenue reserves undertaken by the Lead Member Financial Management and the Head of Finance and Procurement and approve re-allocation between various earmarked reserves be noted.

(6)               That the draft corporate plan and public pledges be endorsed and authority be delegated to the Director of Resources in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Performance and Customers to make any minor amendments to the plan or pledges as required.

(7)               That the 2013/14 Business Plan and Budget Equality Impact Assessment be noted.

(8)               That it be noted the latest MTFS financial forecast was currently being refreshed and would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91