Decision details

(i)  Note the formal staff consultation on the Executive’s draft budget proposals commenced on 11 November and public consultation will commence on 19November and note the consultation proposals and methodology set out in paragraphs 4to 10 and Appendix 1 of this report.

(ii)  Note the high level forecast for the General Fund for 2015/16 and the underlying assumptions contained in Appendix 2.

(iii)  Note the pressures which have been included in the forecast and which are set out in Appendix 3.

(iv)  Note the Executive’s initial savings proposals put forward for consultation in Appendix 4 which amount to £9.7M net of implementation costs.

(v)  Note that the Executive’s initial savings set out in Appendix 4 propose the deletion of 137.18 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts, of which 8.96 FTE are vacant, leaving 128.22 FTE at risk of redundancy or TUPE transfer.

(vi)  Note that the Executive’s budget proposals for consultation are based on the assumption that they will recommend a Council Tax increase of 1.99% to Full Council.

(vii)  Note the medium term financial forecast for 2015/16 to 2017/18 contained in Appendix 5.

(viii)  Approve the updated budget setting timetable contained in Appendix 6.

(ix)  Note the progress on the implementation of the new pay and allowances framework.

(x)  Note that alongside the budget process, there are a number of service reviews underway which are subject to separate Statutory Consultation processes and which, dependent upon the final options taken forward, may impact on the Council’s future budget position.

(xi)  Note that work is in train to develop the Council’s Target Operating Model and to also deliver significant service transformation across the Council, which will aid the formulation of proposals for future service provision to support the Council’s medium term budget position

(xii)  Delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals contained in this report.

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

2.  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 2015/16 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 2015.