Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as correct records the minutes of the meetings held on 5 March 2024 and 22 May 2024.

The minutes of the meetings held on 5 March 2024 and 22 May 2024 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To enable members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) for 2025/26.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1           To note the contents of the report, and any financial implications for the Council.

1.2           To recommend to Executive that the current scheme is retained for 2025/26.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for the council be noted.

(2)          That Executive be recommended to agree to retain the current scheme for 2025/26.

The Assistant Director of Finance submitted a report to enable Members to consider the proposed banded scheme for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) for 2025/26.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding promotion and awareness of the scheme, the Head of Revenues and Benefit Services and Benefit Services and Performance Manager explained that information was available online on the council website, leaflets were included in council tax bills and the Department for Work and Pensions, and the council’s Customer Services team signposted and promoted the scheme. Customer Services advisors also assisted residents to fill in the application.

In response to Members’ questions regarding how the scheme was funded, the Head of Revenues and Benefit Services advised that the scheme was not funded, rather there was less council tax income. The in-year Council Tax collection rate for the 2023/24 financial year was 98.02%, which was the highest rate within the Oxfordshire authorities.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for the council be noted.

(2)          That Executive be recommended to agree to retain the current scheme for 2025/26.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To report to the committee the council’s financial position at the end of the financial year 2023-2024.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1       To consider and note the contents of the council’s outturn for the financial year ended 31 March 2024.  

1.2       To note the use of reserve requests held within Appendix 5.

1.3       To note the reserves movements made under the S151’s delegated powers as part of the audit of prior years’ statement of accounts at Appendix 5.

1.4       To note the reprofiled capital budget described in Appendix 1, including corresponding financing from capital reserves, and adjust the 2024/25 capital programme accordingly.

1.5       To note outturn for 2023/2024 which is a balanced position after a contribution to reserves of £4.461m.

1.6       To note the use of £0.285m of the Commercial Risk element of Policy Contingency to mitigate the delay in forecast lettings for some properties within 2023/24.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the contents of the council’s outturn for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 report be noted.

(2)          That the use of reserve requests be noted.

(3)          That the reserves movements made under the Section 151 Officer’s delegated powers as part of the audit of prior years’ statement of accounts be noted.

(4)          That the reprofiled capital budget, including corresponding financing from capital reserves, and adjustments to the 2024/25 capital programme accordingly be noted.

(5)          That outturn for 2023/2024, which is a balanced position after a contribution to reserves of £4.461m, be noted.

(6)          That the use of £0.285m of the Commercial Risk element of Policy Contingency to mitigate the delay in forecast lettings for some properties within 2023/24 be noted.

The Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report on the council’s financial position at the end of the financial year 2023-2024.

In response to Members’ comments regarding reliance on agency staff resulting in overspends, the Strategic Business Partner – Business Partnering and Controls explained that there was an ongoing recruitment drive.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the contents of the council’s outturn for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 report be noted.

(2)          That the use of reserve requests be noted.

(3)          That the reserves movements made under the Section 151 Officer’s delegated powers as part of the audit of prior years’ statement of accounts be noted.

(4)          That the reprofiled capital budget, including corresponding financing from capital reserves, and adjustments to the 2024/25 capital programme accordingly be noted.

(5)          That outturn for 2023/2024, which is a balanced position after a contribution to reserves of £4.461m, be noted.

(6)          That the use of £0.285m of the Commercial Risk element of Policy Contingency to mitigate the delay in forecast lettings for some properties within 2023/24 be noted.

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

(1)          That the work plan update be noted.

The Head of Finance updated the Committee on the work plan.

Resolved

(1)          That the work plan update be noted.