Agenda item


Business Plan 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 - 2023/24

** Please note that Appendix 10 to this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

 

Report of Executive Director Finance and Governance (Interim) & Section 151 Officer

 

Purpose of report

 

The Business Plan and Summary Medium Term Financial Strategy are presented as an integrated report. This demonstrates the Councils strategic approach to aligning its resource to the delivery of Council’s priorities.

 

This report details the Business Plan 2019/20 and the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2019/20 to 2023/24 prior to final approval by full Council in February 2019.    

 

Recommendations

 

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1.         To consider and approve the Business Plan set out in Appendix 1.

 

1.2.         To note the Risk Register contained at Appendix 2.

 

1.3.         To consider and approve an increase in the level of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council of £5 for 2019/20.

 

1.4.         To consider and approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), Revenue Budget 2019/20 and Capital Programme including recommending the growth and savings proposals included at Appendix 9.

 

1.5.         To consider and approve a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £2m.

 

1.6.         To consider and approve that authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance & Governance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Lead Member to:

·           Transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·           Update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators Report and Treasury Management Strategy Report to Council, for any budget changes that impact on these.

 

1.7.         To consider that the Fees & Charges set out in Appendix 7 be approved.

 

1.8.         To consider that the Treasury Management Strategy be approved, including the Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy and Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2019/20.

 

1.9.         To consider and approve that authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer to make any technical changes necessary to the papers for the Council meeting of 25 February 2019, including changes related to the finalisation of the national Finance Settlement and any associated changes to Parish Precepts and Council resulting from those changes.

 

1.10.     To note the contents of the Section 25 report from the Chief Finance Officer in relation to the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves.

 

1.11.     To consider and approve the appended statement of pay policy for 2019/20 as required by the Localism Act and detailed in Appendix 10.

 

1.12.     To note the equality impact assessment for 2019/20 detailed in Appendix 11.

 

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the Business Plan (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(2)          That the Risk Register (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

(3)          That, having given due consideration, an increase in the level of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council of £5 for 2019/20 be approved.

 

(4)          That, having given due consideration, the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), Revenue Budget 2019/20 and Capital Programme including recommending the growth and savings proposals (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(5)          That, having given due consideration, a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £2m.

 

(6)          That, having given due consideration, authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management & Governance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Lead Member to:

·              Transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·              Update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators Report and Treasury Management Strategy Report to Council, for any budget changes that impact on these.

 

(7)          That, having given due consideration, the Fees & Charges (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(8)          That, having given due consideration, the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy and Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2019/20 (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(9)          That, having given due consideration, authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer to make any technical changes necessary to the papers for the Council meeting of 25 February 2019, including changes related to the finalisation of the national Finance Settlement and any associated changes to Parish Precepts and Council resulting from those changes.

 

(10)       That the contents of the Section 25 report from the Chief Finance Officer in relation to the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves be noted.

 

(11)       That, having given due consideration, the statement of pay policy for 2019/20 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(12)       That the equality impact assessment for 2019/20 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

 

Minutes:

Prior to consideration of the item, the Chairman sought the agreement of Members to suspend standing orders with regard to the duration of the speech by the proposer of the budget, or the speeches of the group spokesperson and group Leaders. Members indicated agreement.

 

The Director: Law and Governance reminded Council that it was required in legislation that any motion or amendment to the budget or council tax setting reports be taken by recorded vote and this would be done at the appropriate time.

 

The Executive Director Finance and Governance (Interim) & Section 151 Officer submitted a report to consider the Business Plan 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 - 2023/24. The Business Plan and Summary Medium Term Financial Strategy were presented as an integrated report, which demonstrated the Councils strategic approach to aligning its resource to the delivery of Council’s priorities.

 

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Financial Management and Governance explained that the Council was required to produce a balanced budget for 2019/20 as the basis for calculating its level of Council Tax. It had 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 Business Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy were presented as an integrated report, incorporating updated Performance and Risk management frameworks, to ensure effective delivery. This clearly demonstrated that the Council adopted a strategic approach in aligning its allocation of all of its resources, to the delivery of the Council’s priorities.

 

Councillor Ilott thanked the Chief Finance Officer and the finance team who had worked hard on the budget process and submitted a balanced budget to Council. Councillor Ilott also thanked the Budget Planning Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee for their hard work supporting the budget setting and business plan process.

 

Having presented the report, Councillor Ilott proposed the Business Plan 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 - 2023/24. Councillor Wood seconded the proposal.

 

Councillor Woodcock, on behalf of the Labour Group, addressed Council in response to the budget and confirmed that he would be proposing no amendments.

 

Councillor Sibley, on behalf of the Independent Group, addressed Council in response to the budget and confirmed that he would be proposing no amendments.

 

A recorded vote was taken and members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Banfield

Against

Councillor Beere

Against

Councillor Bell

Against

Councillor Billington

For

Councillor Broad

Abstain

Councillor Chapman

For

Councillor Cherry

Against

Councillor Clarke

For

Councillor Dhesi

Against

Councillor Donaldson

For

Councillor Gaul

For

Councillor Griffiths

For

Councillor Hallchurch MBE

For

Councillor Heath

For

Councillor Hussain

Against

Councillor Ilott

For

Councillor Kerford-Byrnes

For

Councillor Mackenzie-Wintle

For

Councillor Macnamara

For

Councillor Mawer

For

Councillor McHugh

For

Councillor Perry

Against

Councillor Pickford

For

Councillor Pratt

For

Councillor Prestidge

For

Councillor Reynolds

For

Councillor Richards

Against

Councillor Sames

For

Councillor Sibley

For

Councillor Slaymaker

For

Councillor Wallis

For

Councillor Webb

For

Councillor Williams

For

Councillor Wood

For

Councillor Woodcock

Against

 

Resolved

 

(1)            That, having given due consideration, the Business Plan (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(2)            That the Risk Register (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

(3)            That, having given due consideration, an increase in the level of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council of £5 for 2019/20 be approved.

 

(4)            That, having given due consideration, the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), Revenue Budget 2019/20 and Capital Programme including recommending the growth and savings proposals (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(5)            That, having given due consideration, a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £2m.

 

(6)            That, having given due consideration, authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management & Governance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Lead Member to:

·           Transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·           Update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators Report and Treasury Management Strategy Report to Council, for any budget changes that impact on these.

 

(7)            That, having given due consideration, the Fees & Charges (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(8)            That, having given due consideration, the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy and Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2019/20 (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(9)            That, having given due consideration, authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer to make any technical changes necessary to the papers for the Council meeting of 25 February 2019, including changes related to the finalisation of the national Finance Settlement and any associated changes to Parish Precepts and Council resulting from those changes.

 

(10)        That the contents of the Section 25 report from the Chief Finance Officer in relation to the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves be noted.

 

(11)        That, having given due consideration, the statement of pay policy for 2019/20 as required by the Localism Act (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

 

(12)        That the equality impact assessment for 2019/20 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

 

Supporting documents: