Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Leader is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests;

·        any prejudicial interests;

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on 14 January 2020.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Leader’s remit.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast ,or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at:

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been two registrations to speak under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn thanked the Executive for agreeing to hold these Joint Budget Decision Sessions, but questioned whether sufficient detail around savings had been included within the meeting papers. They also raised several quires regarding the Capital Budget and asked if smaller capital projects could go to Executive Member Decision Sessions for approval.

Janice Gray raised questions about why York Theatre Royal was being assigned funds in the council budget?

The Executive Members noted that York Theatre Royal was a National Portfolio Organisation and that it would therefore receive funding from the Art Council as long as City of York Council was also making a financial contribution.

This report provides background information for the overall Financial Strategy and presents the savings proposals and growth assumptions for Executive Leader Policy, Strategy and Partnerships and Finance and Performance portfolios, for consideration by the Executive Members before finalisation of the overall Financial Strategy, which will be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020.

Resolved:

     i.        That the feedback from consultation for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance 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 to be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020:

a)   The 2020/21 revenue savings proposals for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report;

b)   The 2020/21 revenue growth proposals for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report;

c)   The new schemes for inclusion in the Capital Strategy as set out in annex 4 to the report: subject to annex 4 paragraph 107. being amended to reflect that:

The increase in the capital programme from years 21/22 onwards by £350k (not £250k as reflected in annex 4 paragraph 107) reflects this increased demand.

Reason:     To ensure that stakeholders have the opportunity to feed into the budget process in advance of the finalisations of the Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Officers introduced a report on the Financial Strategy for 2020/21 to 2024/25. Key areas in the report were discussed including the capital budget. It was noted that there was an amendment to make to annex 4, paragraph 107 of the agenda that the ICT Capital Program was receiving an increase of £350k (not £250k) from years 21/22 onwards to reflect the increased demand. Officers outlined what had been done to consult both residents and business in the city as part of the budget process. Executive Members requested that further detail on business’ responses to the consultation be included when the Financial Strategy is brought to the meeting of the Executive.

The Executive Members confirmed when the budget is presented at Budget Council meeting on 27 February 2020 it would include a detailed equality impact assessment.

Resolved:

                   i.        That the feedback from consultation for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance 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 to be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020:

a)   The 2020/21 revenue savings proposals for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

b)   The 2020/21 revenue growth proposals for Leader (incorporating Policy, Strategy and Partnerships) and Finance and Performance portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report.

c)   The new schemes for inclusion in the Capital Strategy 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 finalisations of the Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2024/25.