Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest of a pecuniary or non-pecuniary nature from Members in respect of the items on this agenda.

To consider suspending Standing Order No 13 (5) in respect of the consideration of items 3 and 4 insofar as it relates to restrictions on Members speaking more than once.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

a)    To note the cost pressures on the HRA and efficiencies being proposed to mitigate these to support the longer-term investment needs of the housing stock;

b)    To approve the HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as set out in paragraphs 2.20;

c)    To approve the Housing Revenue Account Draft Budget for 2023/24, as outlined in paragraph 2.22 and detailed in Appendix 1, including the proposed revenue investments totalling £1.1M, [Appendix 2, paragraph 2B refers], with any final amendments being delegated to the Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration & Culture and the Executive Director for Growth & Sustainability in consultation with the Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services and the Service Director - Finance (S151);

d)    To note the acceleration of EPC and stock condition survey works to complete fully during 2023/24;

e)    To approve a rent increase of 6.5%, which is under the Government’s Rent Cap of 7%;

f)     To approve a non-dwelling rent increase in line with CPI;

g)    To note that both service charges and district heating charges will be subject to a separate review during 2023/24;

h)    To approve the 2023/24 Berneslai Homes Management Fee totalling £15.453M [Appendix 2, paragraph 2C refers], with any final amendments delegated to the Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration & Culture and the Service Director, Regeneration & Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services and the Service Director - Finance (S151);

i)     To approve the 2023/24 Berneslai Homes Management Fee for both Gypsy Sites, and the European Social Fund (ESF) Grant totalling £0.216M, both of which are charged to the Authority’s General Fund [Appendix 2, paragraph 2D refers];

j)     To approve the Core Housing Capital Investment programme for 2023/24 totalling £20.394M [£14.849M to maintain decency and £5.545M supplementary works] and note the indicative programme for 2024/25 through 2027/28, outlined in paragraphs 2.24 – 2.25;

k)    To approve in principle, the proposed capital schemes totalling £42.330M, subject to individual reports as appropriate, in line with the Council’s governance arrangements [paragraphs 2.26 – 2.29 refer].

1.    2023/24 Budget Proposals

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

a)     that the report of the Service Director Finance (S151 Officer), under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 at Section 1 be noted, that the 2023/24 budget proposals be agreed and that the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team (SMT), in consultation with Cabinet Spokespersons, submit, for early consideration, detailed plans that ensure the Council’s ongoing financial sustainability in 23/24 and beyond.

b)     that the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Budget Forecast for 23/24 to 25/26 contained in the budget pack attached at Section 2 (supported by the suite of background papers in Sections 2a – 2d) be noted and that these are monitored as part of the arrangements for the delivery of the MTFS. 

c)      that provision of £35.4M to cover anticipated demographic and other cost pressures in 23/24: 

·      Pay (£9.0M), 

·      Energy (£5.3M), 

·      Children’s Social Care including the development plan costs (£7.0M), 

·      Adult Social Care including hospital discharges (£6.5M), 

·      Homes to School Transport (£1.2M),  

·      Waste Services (£0.9M),  

·      Inflation on major contracts e.g., PFI (£3.1M),  

·      Funding borrowing costs (£0.6M), 

·      Investment in legal resource (£0.5M),   

·      Investment in car parking (£0.5M), 

·      Youth zone running costs (£0.8M). 

 be approved for inclusion in the budget as identified at Section 2.   

d)     that the budgetary provisions previously set aside in the 22/23 budget for demography, demand and energy costs totalling £9.2M be approved to be released to mitigate the above pressures.    

e)     that the specific Adult Social Care grant of £2.1M received in the 2022 Local Government Finance Settlement be used to contribute to the funding of inflationary pressures in the care sector. 

f)       that the increase in the Better Care Fund of £1.9M received in the 2022 Local Government Finance Settlement be used to fund the cost of hospital discharges.  

g)     that £7.5M of additional general social care funding received in the 2022 Local Government Finance Settlement be set aside pending further assessment of the emerging financial risks relating to Childrens and Adults Social Care.  

h)     that reserves totalling £5.5M be used to further mitigate the pressures above, strictly on the basis of this being a temporary bridging strategy to permanently aligning ongoing spend and income over the MTFS planning period.

i)       that the proposed efficiency savings in 23/24 highlighted in Section 2 and detailed at Section 4a – 4e be approved for implementation and that Members also note the development of a transformation programe to help deliver balanced budget positions over the medium term (24/25 – 25/26). 

j)       that the Council’s reserves strategy and updated reserves position at Section 2b be noted. 

k)      that the proposed changes to the 23/24 fees and charges policy and accompanying schedule of charges set out at Section 2d be approved. 

l)       to submit to Council for approval the cash limited budgets for each Service with overall net expenditure for 23/24 of £230.4M as highlighted in Section 5a. 

m)    to consider the budgets for all services and approve, for submission into Council,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 169.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

1.    The introduction of an elected Member Distinguished Service Award;

2.    The proposed criteria for receipt, namely:-

a)    a currently serving Councillor with 35 years or more continuous service as an elected Member of Barnsley Metropolitan Council; and

b)    who has made a notable contribution to the Borough over a sustained period of time; and

3.    The proposed recognition of a presentation gift at a meeting of Full Council and invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting as an honorary attendee upon standing down as an elected Member.