Decision details

(i)  To note the formal staff consultation on the Executive’s draft budget proposals commenced on 9 November 2015 and public consultation will commence on 18 November 2015 and note the consultation proposals and methodology set out in paragraphs 4 to 10 of this report.

(ii)  To note the high level forecast for the HRA for 2016/17 and the underlying assumptions contained in the report.

(iii)  To note the Executive’s initial savings proposals put forward for consultation in Appendix 1 which amount to £4.311M in 2016/17 and £4.439M in subsequent years.

(iv)  To note that the Executive’s initial savings set out in Appendix 1 propose the deletion of 94.8 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts, of which 57.2 FTE are vacant, leaving 37.6 FTE at risk of redundancy or TUPE transfer.

(v)  To note that the Executive’s budget proposals for consultation are based on the assumption that they will recommend a rent decrease of 1% to Full Council in line with Government policy.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Head of Housing Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainability, to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals contained in this report.

The production of a financial forecast and an outline timetable are a requirement of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules. 

In addition, it is good practice for the Council to consult with a range of stakeholders on its proposals for developing the budget.  The recommendations in this report have therefore been put forward to allow this process to formally begin.

The proposals presented in this report represent the Executive’s draft budget for 2016/17 that is being published for consultation.  Clearly there are a huge number of variables and alternative options that could be implemented as part of the budget.  The budget will be set by Full Council in February 2016.