Issue - meetings

(A)          Budget Proposals

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

(i)        that the Future Council 2020 Strategy at Section 1 of the report now submitted be noted and implemented accordingly;

(ii)       that the report of the Service Director Finance under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 at Section 2 be noted, that the 2019/20 budget proposals be agreed on the basis 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 for 2020/21 and beyond;

(iii)      that the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy and Forecast for 2019/20 to 2021/22 contained at Section 3 and Section 3a (supported by the Capital Investment Strategy at Section 3b and the Financial Resilience position at Section 3d) be noted and monitored as part of the arrangements for the delivery of the Future Council 2020 Strategy;

(iv)      that the Treasury Management Strategy and Policy Statement at Section 3c be noted and the proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 be approved including:-

·         the Borrowing Strategy and Prudential and Treasury Indicators;

·         the revised Minimum Revenue Provision Statement; and

·         the Annual Investment Strategy.

(v)       that the Council’s current reserves position at Section 4 be noted and monitored as part of the arrangements for the delivery of the Future Council 2020 Strategy;

(vi)      that the budgets for all services and the 2019/20 budget proposals presented at Sections 6A – 6C and Sections 10A – 10E of the report be approved subject to Cabinet receiving detailed implementation reports where appropriate;

(vii)     that the changes to the schools funding formula, including the transfer of funding from the schools block to the high needs block, be approved together with the proposed 2019/20 schools block budget as set out at Section 6D;

(viii)    that the new General Fund capital investment of £23.9m (as outlined at Section 7 Appendix A) and £8.4m (Section 7 Table 5) of specifically funded schemes be included within the capital programme and released subject to further detailed reports on the proposals for their use;

(vix)    that the availability of £1.9m of Housing related reserves to be considered against future housing priorities in 2019/20 as set out at Section 7 Table 3 be noted;

(x)       that approval be given to earmark the remaining unallocated resources of £16.1m at Section 7 Table 3 in view of the ongoing Brexit uncertainty particularly recognising the major economic regeneration initiatives the Council is taking forward;

(xi)      that the detailed proposals for increases to existing fees and charges and new fees and charges be approved and implemented as set out at Section 9;

(xii)     that the efficiency proposals for 2019/20 in Sections 10A to 10E be agreed, subject to consideration of any further Equality Impact Assessments;

(xiii)    that approval be given to the creation of a spot salary for the role of Service Director with effect from 1 June 2019 (see Section 11);

(xiv)    that the existing Elected Members Scheme of Allowances (Section 12) continue and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 202

RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL ON 28^TH FEBRUARY, 2019