Agenda item

This report provides background information for the overall Financial Strategy and presents the savings proposals and growth assumptions for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment & Climate Change and Transport 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 Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and 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 to be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020:

a)      The 2020/21 revenue savings proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and Climate Change and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

b)      The 2020/21 revenue growth proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and Climate Change and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report, subject to the first point within the one off growth section being re-worded to read as follows:

To deliver a Transport Plan Refresh, including funding towards innovative trials such as the use of taxis and car share to enhance the York bus system.

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.

The Executive Members considered a report that provided background information for the overall Financial Strategy and presented the savings proposals and growth assumptions for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment & Climate Change and Transport portfolios, for consideration by the Executive Members before finalisation of overall Financial Strategy, which would be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020.

The Finance Manager was in attendance to give an update. He highlighted the key assumptions for the overall Finance Strategy which were:

·        A proposed basic council tax increase of 1.99 % in 2020/21. Any increase above this amount would require a referendum.

·        In addition an increase of 2% in line with the government’s social care precept, equating to additional income of £1.8m, which provides support for social care.

·        Revenue savings of £4m in 2020/21.

He made reference to the specific examples of revenue investment and capital investment that supported the objectives outlined in the new Council Plan and the Executive Members noted that the revenue investment highlighted within paragraph 6 of the report, bullet point 7, should state £25k not £265k.

The Head of Finance confirmed that the price contingences within the portfolio areas for Transport and Environment and Climate Change were particularly related to the increases the Council were required to make to concessionary fares, street lighting, drainage levies and waste, including payments made to Yorwaste and in respect to Allerton Waste Recovery Park.

Each Executive Member considered the annexes to the report that highlighted the proposed growth and savings within their portfolio area and in answer to their questions it was confirmed that:

·        The revenue and capital investment proposed to improve electric car charging within the city would support the maintenance of all charging points as usable and allow any faulty equipment to be replaced. It was confirmed that currently all charging points within the city were functioning.

·        The Transport one off growth proposal, within Annex 2 of the report, should include a reference to other innovative trials, not just taxis or small vehicles.

·        The additional staff resourced to clear a backlog of waiting lists for residents parking would be accommodated until March 2021 and the workload would be reviewed regularly.

The Executive Members thanked all Officers involved in producing the report and were delighted to see how committed City of York Council were to delivering the 2030 carbon neutral target. They agreed the budget proposals also showed commitment towards the Council Plan and to delivering what the residents were requesting.

Resolved: 

(i)      That the feedback from consultation for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and 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 to be presented to Executive on 13 February 2020:

a)  The 2020/21 revenue savings proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and Climate Change and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

b)  The 2020/21 revenue growth proposals for Economy & Strategic Planning, Environment and Climate Change and Transport portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report, subject to the first point within the one off growth section being re-worded to read as follows:

To deliver a Transport Plan Refresh, including funding towards innovative trials such as the use of taxis and car share to enhance the York bus system.

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.