Issue - meetings

Report details the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2020/21 to 2022/23, and provides the detailed budget position for 2020/21 and information for later years for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The detailed Capital Programme for 2020/21 to 2024/25 is provided (including the HRA) and the Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Resources detailing the revenue budget for 2020/21 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2020/21 to 2022/23.  Providing detail to inform Council in Setting Council Tax and rents for 2020/21. 

The report of the Cabinet Member for Resources was submitted seeking approval to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2022/23, the Capital Programme for 2020/21 to 2022/23 and outlining the main issues that needed to be addressed in considering the Cabinet’s budget and Council Tax proposals. The recommendations therein as amended by Executive Budget Resolution 2020/21 to comprise the Executive’s budget proposals were moved by Councillor Barnes-Andrews and seconded by Councillor Hammond (a copy of the amended Executive Budget resolution as circulated at the meeting attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).

The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2:-

(i)  to enable the above items to be considered together;

(ii)  to enable any amendments to be proposed, seconded and considered at the same time;

(iii)  to enable any amendment to be re-introduced later into the meeting; and

(iv)to revise the time allowed for speakers as follows:-

Movers of motions - 20 minutes

Seconders - 10 minutes

Other Speakers - 4 minutes

Right of Reply (Executive only) – 10 minutes

With the consent of the Mayor, Honorary Alderman Vinson addressed the meeting.

Amendment moved by Councillor Hannides and seconded by Councillor Fitzhenry, attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes. 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED LOST

NOTE – FOR THE AMENDMENT: Councillors J Baillie, P Baillie, Bell, G Galton, S Galton, Fitzhenry, Guthrie, Hannides, B. Harris, L. Harris, Harwood, Houghton, Laurent, Prior, Streets and White.

NOTE – AGAINST THE AMENDMENT: Councillors Barnes-Andrews, Mrs Blatchford, Bogle, Bunday, Coombs, Cooper, Fielker, Hammond, Kataria, Kaur, Keogh, Leggett, Margetts, McEwing, Mitchell, Noon, Paffey, Payne, Renyard, Rayment, Savage, Shields, Taggart, Thomas and Windle.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the Medium Term Financial Strategy, Budget and Capital Programme 2020/21 to 2022/23, as amended by the Executive Budget Resolution 2020/21 (Appendix 1 to these minutes) be adopted. 

NOTE: All Members of the Council declared a pecuniary interest in the above matter, as payers and setters of Council Tax, and remained in the meeting during the consideration of the matter.

Councillor Windle declared a personal interest and remained at the meeting to vote.    

NOTE – FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillors Barnes-Andrews, Mrs Blatchford, Bogle, Bunday, Coombs, Cooper, Fielker, Hammond, Kataria, Kaur, Keogh, Leggett, Margetts, McEwing, Mitchell, Noon, Paffey, Payne, Renyard, Rayment, Savage, Shields, Taggart, Thomas and Windle.

NOTE – ABSTAINED THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillors J Baillie, P Baillie, Bell, G Galton, S Galton, Fitzhenry, Guthrie, Hannides, B. Harris, L. Harris, Harwood, Houghton, Laurent, Prior, Streets and White.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, detailing both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2020/21 to 2022/23, the 2020/21 budget and the Capital Programme for the period 2019/20 to 2022/23.

DECISION MADE:  (CAB 19/20 26135)

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

General Fund

i)  Note the position on the forecast outturn position for 2019/20 as set out in paragraphs 30 to 33 of Appendix 1.

ii)  Note the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2022/23 as detailed in paragraphs 72 to 77 of Appendix 1 and Annex 1.1 to Appendix 1.

iii)  Note the aims and objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy which will be presented to council for approval on 26th February 2020 as set out in paragraphs 24 to 26 of Appendix 1.

iv)  Note that formal budget consultation began on 16th October 2019 and ended on 7th January 2020. The outcome of the consultation in outlined in paragraphs 37 to 42, with no changes to amounts put forward as savings proposals in October.

v)  Note that the Executive’s budget proposals are expected to lead to an overall investment in staffing within the council. Where staffing levels are impacted consultation will be undertaken in line with legislation and the Council’s agreed processes before proposals are implemented.

vi)  Note that the Executive’s budget proposals are based on the assumptions detailed within the MTFS and that this includes an increase in the Adult Social Care precept of just under 2.00% and no increase in the general council tax, allowable under general powers to increase council tax without a referendum.

vii)  Accept the award of £0.765M Access Fund Extension grant for 2020/21 as set out in paragraph 43 of Appendix 1.

viii)  To note that the report identifies additional general fund pressures totalling £7.22M in 2020/21, rising to £9.82M in 2022/23, as detailed in paragraphs 47 to 51 of Appendix 1.

ix)  To note that savings proposals totalling £7.61M are included in the 2020/21 General Fund Revenue Budget, rising to £11.42M in 2022/23, as detailed in paragraphs 52 to 55 of Appendix 1.

x)  To note that investment proposals totalling £4.25M are included in the 2020/21 General Fund Revenue Budget, rising to £6.10M in 2022/23, as detailed in paragraphs 56 to 58 of Appendix 1.

xi)  To note that further proposals will need to be considered to address the 2021/22 and future years budget gap.

xii)  Notes and recommends to Council where appropriate, the MTFS and General Fund Revenue Budget changes as set out in Council recommendations i) to xv).

General Fund Capital Programme

xiii)  Notes the revised General Fund Capital Programme, which totals £728.77M (as detailed in paragraphs 5 & 39 of Appendix 2) and the associated use of resources.

xiv)  Notes that a further £320.46M has been added to the General Fund programme, requiring approval to spend, by Cabinet/Council subject to the relevant financial limits. These additions are detailed in paragraphs 9 of Appendix 2 and Annex 2.1.

xv)  Notes the addition of £29.48M to the General Fund capital programme and the request for approval to spend £29.48M as detailed in paragraph 10 of Appendix 2 and Annex  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59