Issue - meetings
Budget Process and Resource Alignments Arrangement for 2010/11
Meeting: 23/06/2009 - Executive - for meetings from 03/06/00 to 26/04/11 (Item 24)
24 Budget Process and Resource Alignment Arrangements for 2010/11 
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This report sets out the proposed arrangements to support the preparation of the 2010/11 budget and the alignment of resources based on the Council’s strategic and corporate priorities.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: (i) That the proposed budget planning process, as outlined in the body of the report, be approved.
REASON: To ensure that robust financial management arrangements are in place to support the preparation of the 2009/10 budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.
Minutes:
Members considered a report which outlined the proposed arrangements to support the preparation of the Council’s 2010/11 budget and the alignment of resources based upon strategic and corporate priorities.
On the basis of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) approved by Council on 26 February 2009, a target had been set to deliver £15m efficiency savings over a three year period. However, due to the economic downturn it was likely that this target would need to be increased. It was intended to produce an updated MTFS in July, to provide a firmer indication of the financial issues facing the Council over the next few years.
The arrangements set out in the report were intended to ensure a systematic and robust approach to the setting of the 2010/11 budget, so that budgetary decisions were taken in the context of updated priorities, identified financial pressures and value for money (VFM) considerations. Key elements of the proposed process included:
- Pre-agreed cash increases to base budgets for each service area
- A focused Base Budget Review within each department
- The establishment of de minimis levels for all growth bids
- Robust and effective validation of efficiency proposals
- A fundamental corporate overview of the Council’s reserves
- Improvements to the Council’s capital planning process
A timeline for preparation of the 2010/11 budget was attached as Annex A to the report. Members were invited to support the proposed arrangements, as recommended (Option 1) or to suggest alternative arrangements (Option 2).
Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was
RESOLVED: (i) That the proposed budget planning process, as outlined in the body of the report, be approved.1
REASON: To ensure that robust financial management arrangements are in place to support the preparation of the 2009/10 budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.