Issue - meetings

In the interests of wider transparency and consultation relating to budget decision making sessions, the budget reports for all Executive Member Budget Sessions will be published at the same time on the Councils website around 12noon on Monday 6 December 2021.

Resolved:  (i) That the feedback from consultation to date, as set out in Annex 3 to the report, be noted.

(ii)      That Option 1 be approved and the following be retained for inclusion in the overall budget:

·        The 2022/23 revenue savings proposals set out in Annex 1;

·        The 2022/23 revenue growth proposals set out in Annex 2; and

·        The new schemes for inclusion in 2022/23 to 2026/27 Capital Programme, as set out in Annex 4.

Reason:     To confirm that stakeholders have had the opportunity to feed into the budget process at this stage in advance of the finalisation of the Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2026/27

The Executive Leader and Executive Member for Finance and Performance 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 7 February 2022 and Full Council on 17 February 2022.

The Chief Finance Officer explained the background information to the overall financial strategy noting that the proposals had been prepared in the context of Covid-19. She noted the in year pressures adding that information from the government on provisional grants had not yet been issued. She highlighted the  proposed basic council tax increase of 1.99 % and social care precept increase of 1%, adding that the budget gap of £7million had been found from efficiency savings. She noted that increasing pressure in children and adult social care was a national issue. The Director of Customer and Communities explained how revenue savings had been made.

The Executive Leader and Executive Member for Finance and Performance noted the early publication of the papers and thanked officers for their work. It was noted that the budget continued to protect front line services and invest in funding for vulnerable children and adults. They then;

Resolved:  (i) That the feedback from consultation to date, as set out in Annex 3 to the report, be noted.

(ii)      That Option 1 be approved and the following be retained for inclusion in the overall budget:

·        The 2022/23 revenue savings proposals set out in Annex 1;

·        The 2022/23 revenue growth proposals set out in Annex 2; and

·        The new schemes for inclusion in 2022/23 to 2026/27 Capital Programme, as set out in Annex 4.

Reason:     To confirm that stakeholders have had the opportunity to feed into the budget process at this stage in advance of the finalisation of the Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2026/27