Decision details

1. This report is submitted for consideration as part of good practice in

establishing draft budget proposals in advance of the financial year.

2. The production of a financial forecast and an outline timetable are a

requirement of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

3. In addition, it is standard practice for Overview and Scrutiny Management

Committee to consider the proposals and provide feedback to the Cabinet.

Recommendations in this report have therefore been put forward to allow this

process to formally begin

General Fund

i)  Notes the update within this report and the assumptions it has been

necessary to make at this stage.

ii) Notes the new commitments which have been included in the

forecast as noted in paragraphs 9 and 10 and appendix 1.

iii) Notes the key headlines from the Autumn Budget and Spending

Review 2021 announcement set out in appendix 2.

iv) Notes the budget pressures which have been included in the forecast

which are set out in paragraphs 55 and 56 and appendix 3.

v) Notes the initial savings proposals set out in paragraphs 58 to 60 and

appendix 4.

vi) Notes that even with the proposals contained in this report, a budget

shortfall of £9.01M is still currently forecast for 2022/23 and notes the

options available to produce a balanced budget.

vii) Is asked to determine whether, in line with the current policy of no

increase in council tax, that this will apply to the Adult Social Care

precept.

Housing Revenue Account

viii) Notes the update and assumptions within this report set out in

paragraphs 69 to 95.

ix) Notes the proposal to freeze rents at the current level as set out in

paragraph 76.

x) Notes the proposals to freeze service charges set out in paragraph

79.

xi) Notes the proposal to increase heating charges by 16.52 per cent as

set out in paragraph 83.

This report is submitted for consideration as part of good practice in

establishing draft budget proposals in advance of the financial year.

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 standard practice for Overview and Scrutiny Management

Committee to consider the proposals and provide feedback to the Cabinet.

Recommendations in this report have therefore been put forward to allow this

process to formally begin

The proposals presented in this report represent the Cabinet’s initial proposals for the 2022/23 budget and medium term, which are being published for consultation. There are a 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 2022.