Issue - meetings

Report of Executive Director – Finance and Governance and Interim Director

Purpose of report

The Council is required to produce a balanced budget for 2018/19 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 2018/19, 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 recommend the 2018/19 Corporate Strategy to Full Council (detailed in Appendix 2) and to delegate authority to the Interim Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.    

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

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

1.4       To note the impact of the proposed budget on reserves and recommend the reserves 2018/19 to full council, see Appendix 5.       

1.5       To note the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2017/18 to 2022/23, at Appendix 6; this will be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year.

1.6       To recommend, subject to any further changes Members may wish to include tonight, the updated draft revenue budget for adoption by Full Council on 26 February 2018.   

1.7       To consider and recommend a Council Tax increase to Full Council.

1.8       To recommend to Full Council the proposed 2018/19 capital programme set out in Appendix 8.           

1.9       To delegate authority to the Executive Director – Finance and Governance, 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 relating to Business Rates or as a result of any financial implications arising from recommendation 1.7, above.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, Full Council be recommended to approve the 2018/19 Corporate Strategy to Full Council (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with authority delegated to the Interim Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.    

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

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

(4)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves be noted and Full Council be recommended to approve the reserves 2018/19 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).  

(5)          That the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2017/18 to 2022/23 be noted and it be further noted that this would be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year.

(6)          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 26 February 2018.

(7)          That Full Council be recommended to agree no increase to the Cherwell District Council element of Council Tax freeze.

(8)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2018/19 capital programme (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

(9)                      That authority be delegated to the Executive Director – Finance and Governance, 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 relating to Business Rates.

The Executive Director – Finance and Governance and Interim Director submitted a report which presented the draft Corporate Strategy and revenue and capital budgets 2018/19.

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Financial Management explained that the Council was required to produce a balanced budget for 2018/19 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 2018/19, including the new cycle of growth strategies, were 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.

Councillor Nicholas Mawer, Chairman of the Budget Planning Committee, addressed Executive and reported on the extensive review of the draft Corporate Strategy and Revenue and Capital Budgets 2018/19 that the Committee had undertaken. The Committee had unanimously supported the proposals and had made some additional comments on a number of Capital Bids, which had been tabled. In addition, the Committee had recommended there be no increase to the Cherwell District Council element of council tax.

The Lead Member for Financial Management thanked Councillor Mawer and the Budget Planning Committee for their work.

In proposing the recommendations, Councillor Illot proposed that that Full Council be recommended to agree no increase to the Cherwell District Council element of council. This was duly seconded by Councillor Wood.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, Full Council be recommended to approve the 2018/19 Corporate Strategy to Full Council (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with authority delegated to the Interim Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor amendments to the plan as required before consideration by Full Council.    

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

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

(4)          That the impact of the proposed budget on reserves be noted and Full Council be recommended to approve the reserves 2018/19 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).  

(5)          That the latest Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) for 2017/18 to 2022/23 be noted and it be further noted that this would be the basis of the work of the Budget Planning Committee for the following year.

(6)          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 26 February 2018.

(7)          That Full Council be recommended to agree no increase to the Cherwell District Council element of Council Tax freeze.

(8)          That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2018/19 capital programme (annex to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101