Issue - meetings

**Please note that Appendices A and B will follow as they are still being finalised**

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement and Head of Transformation

Purpose of report

The Council has to adopt a budget as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax. It has to base this budget on its plans for service delivery during the year, recognising any changes in service demand that may arise in future years. 

This is the first of two opportunities that the Executive has to shape and refine the appending plans before the final budget is presented to Full Council on 23 February 2015. 

The report also details the draft strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives, and deliverables for 2015-16 which sit alongside the draft budget and are to be the subject of wider consultation if approved in principle at this meeting.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

 1.1        consider the draft revenue budget detailed in Appendix A (to follow) and agree that it be subject to a period of consultation with the public and other key stakeholders;

1.2      consider the recommendations arising from the Budget Planning Committee review of the capital programme that was considered at its informal meeting on 25 November 2014 and detailed in Appendix B (to follow);

1.3      note that the final implications of the local government finance settlement will need to be fully considered once the announcement has been made;

1.4      advise of any other matters to be taken into consideration in producing a balanced budget for its meeting on 2 February 2015;

1.5          endorse the passporting of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) grant to local preceptors.

1.6         Agree that the proposed medium term strategic priorities, key objectives and key deliverables for 2015-16, as set out in Appendix C, be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consultation prior to the 2^nd February 2015 meeting of the Executive.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft revenue budget (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted and it be agreed that it be subject to a period of consultation with the public and other key stakeholders.

(2)          That it be noted the final implications of the local government finance settlement would need to be fully considered once the announcement has been made.

(3)          That Executive is not aware of any other matters that need to be taken into consideration in producing a balanced budget for its meeting on 2 February 2015 at this stage.

(4)          That the passporting of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) grant to local preceptors be endorsed.

(5)          That agreement be given for the proposed medium term strategic priorities, key objectives and key deliverables for 2015-16 to be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consultation prior to the 2 February 2015 meeting of the Executive.

The Head of Finance and Procurement and Head of Transformation submitted a report which presented the first of two opportunities that the Executive had to shape and refine the draft budget before the final budget is presented to Full Council on 23 February 2015. The report also detailed the draft strategic priorities, the underpinning key objectives, and deliverables for 2015-16 which sit alongside the draft budget and are to be the subject of wider consultation if approved in principle at this meeting.

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Financial Management reminded Executive that the Council had to adopt a budget as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax. It had to base this budget on its plans for service delivery during the year, recognising any changes in service demand that may arise in future years.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft revenue budget (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted and it be agreed that it be subject to a period of consultation with the public and other key stakeholders.

(2)          That it be noted the final implications of the local government finance settlement would need to be fully considered once the announcement has been made.

(3)          That Executive is not aware of any other matters that need to be taken into consideration in producing a balanced budget for its meeting on 2 February 2015 at this stage.

(4)          That the passporting of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) grant to local preceptors be endorsed.

(5)          That agreement be given for the proposed medium term strategic priorities, key objectives and key deliverables for 2015-16 to be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consultation prior to the 2 February 2015 meeting of the Executive.

Reasons

The Council has to adopt a budget and business plan for 2015/16 as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax and 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.

Alternative Options

This is the draft budget and options for the overall budget for the Council will be considered at its meeting in February.