Issue - meetings

Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26

This report provides background information for the overall Financial Strategy and presents the savings proposals and growth assumptions for Transport, Economy & Strategic Planning, and Environment & Climate Change portfolios, for consideration by the Executive Members before finalisation of the overall Financial Strategy, which will be presented to Executive on 11 February 2021.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

(i) That the feedback from consultation for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment & Climate Change, and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 3 to the report, be noted.

(ii) That the following be agreed for inclusion within the overall Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 to be presented to Executive on 11 February 2021 and Full Council on 25 February 2021:

a) The 2021/22 revenue savings proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment & Climate Change, and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

b) The 2021/22 revenue growth proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment & Climate Change, Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report.

c) The new schemes for inclusion in the 2021/22 to 2025/26 Capital Programme as set out in Annex 4 to the report.

Reason: To ensure that stakeholders have the opportunity to feed into the budget process in advance of the finalisation of the Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26.

Minutes:

The Executive Members considered a report which set out the draft savings proposals, growth assumptions and capital schemes relating to their portfolios, providing an opportunity to receive feedback in advance of the presentation of the overall Financial Strategy to Executive on 11 February 2021.

The report outlined the national and local context of the overall strategy, highlighting the unprecedented financial challenges resulting from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which had generated an in-year financial pressure of £15m for the council. Revenue savings of £7.9m were required in 2021/22. Savings proposals for the three relevant portfolio areas were set out in Annex 1 to the report, with growth proposals in Annex 2 and capital schemes in Annex 4. Feedback received to date on the public consultation on those proposals was attached at Annex 3. It was noted that the budget consultation would continue until 31 January.

The Executive Members thanked officers for their work on the budget, noting that the budget would ensure major projects in York continue, that the Council would keep up with highways maintenance, and that budget ensured funding for the development for a new woodland outside York, providing new green spaces, new commercial activity, and contribute to a green corridor to improve air quality.