Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, seeking to set out the latest estimated overall financial position on the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2014/15 to 2016/17 and to outline the main issues that need to be addressed in considering the Cabinet’s budget and council tax proposals to Council on 12 February 2014, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12036)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Cabinet agreed the following:

a)  To note the position on the estimated outturn and revised budget for 2013/14 as set out in paragraphs 28 to 43.

b)  To note the position on the forecast roll forward budget for 2014/15 as set out in paragraphs 44 to 72.

c)  To note and approve the arrangements made by the Leader, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, for the Cabinet Member for Resources to have responsibility for financial management and budgetary policies and strategies, and that the Cabinet Member for Resources will, in accordance with the Budget & Policy Framework Rules as set out in the Council’s Constitution, be authorised to finalise the Executive’s proposals in respect of the Budget for 2014/15, in consultation with the Leader, for submission to Full Council on 12 February 2014.

d)  Recommends that Full Council:

i)  Notes the budget consultation process that was followed as outlined in Appendix 1 and notes that this year’s process took into consideration feedback from last year on how to improve the process.

ii)  Notes that the consultation feedback has been taken into consideration by the Cabinet and has informed their final budget proposals.

iii)  Notes the Equality and Safety Impact Assessment process that was followed as set out in paragraphs 25 to 27 and the details contained in Appendix 2 which reflect the feedback received through the consultation process.

iv)  Approves the revised estimate for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix 3.

v)  Accepts grants which total £3.6M (£3.35M from the Cabinet Office and £250,000 from the Department for Work & Pensions) to support unemployed adults and young people into employment as part of the City Deal and approves in accordance with financial procedure rules revenue expenditure for the delivery of the programme over a period of three years.

vi)  Approves the Council to act as Lead Accountable Body for the administration of the grant funding which totals £3.6M across the Solent LEP area.

vii)  Delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to undertake such actions necessary to enable the successful delivery of the programme.

viii)  Notes the position on the forecast roll forward budget for 2014/15 as set out in paragraphs 44 to 72.

ix)  Approves the revenue pressures and bids as set out in set out in Appendix 4 and 5 respectively.

x)  Approves the efficiencies, income and service reductions as set out in Appendix 6.

xi)  Approves the General Fund Revenue Budget as set out in Appendix 7, which assumes a council tax increase of 2.0%.

xii)  Delegates authority to the Chief Financial Officer to action all budget changes arising from the approved pressures, bids, efficiencies, income and service reductions and incorporate any other approved amendments into the General Fund estimates.

xiii)  Approves the allocation of up to £500,000 from the Organisational Development Fund which is part of the Strategic Reserve to fund the resourcing requirements to complete  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87