Issue - meetings

Report of the Finance Director.

Purpose of Report

To provide the Budget Planning Committee with a review of the 2021/22 Budget Process.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1     To note the review of the 2021/22 Budget and Business Planning Process.

1.2     To recommend to the Executive that the proposed improvements at section 3.9 be incorporated into the 2022/23 Budget and Business Planning Process.

Resolved

(1)      That the review of the 2021-2022 Budget and Business Planning Process be noted.

(2)      That Executive be recommended to incorporate the following proposed improvements into the 2022-2023 Budget and Business Planning Process;

·       Review how the Council allocates its resources to ensure they are aligned with the Council’s priorities;

·       Carry out additional engagement with residents on the Council’s priorities and services it provides to inform savings proposals;

·       Look to ensure that the Capital Budget proposals are developed to the same timeline as the revenue budget proposals and that these are considered earlier in the financial year;

(3)      That it be recommended to Executive that a process be introduced for urgent Capital Bids to be considered outside of the normal budget planning process.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided the Budget Planning Committee with a review of the 2021/22 Budget Process.

In considering the report, some Members commented on the timing of the Committee’s review of Capital Bids.  Members requested that they should be considered earlier in the process alongside Revenue Proposals.  Members also suggested that consideration should be given to a mechanism to enable urgent items to be considered outside the normal budget planning process.

In response to questions from the Committee the Assistant Director of Finance explained that the residents survey on the Council’s priorities and services was in the planning stage and was expected to be carried out during the summer.

Resolved

(1)      That the review of the 2021-2022 Budget and Business Planning Process be noted.

(2)      That Executive be recommended to incorporate the following proposed improvements into the 2022-2023 Budget and Business Planning Process;

·       Review how the Council allocates its resources to ensure they are aligned with the Council’s priorities;

·       Carry out additional engagement with residents on the Council’s priorities and services it provides to inform savings proposals;

·       Look to ensure that the Capital Budget proposals are developed to the same timeline as the revenue budget proposals and that these are considered earlier in the financial year;

(3)      That it be recommended to Executive that a process be introduced for urgent Capital Bids to be considered outside of the normal budget planning process.