Agenda, decisions and minutes

RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL ON 24 FEBRUARY 2022

2022/23 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

1.      2022/23 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax

RESOLVED THAT CABINET RECOMMENDS TO FULL COUNCIL ON 24 FEBRUARY 2022:

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 2022/23 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 22/23 to 24/25 contained at Section 3 (supported by the suite of background papers in Sections 3a – 3d) be noted and that these are monitored as part of the arrangements for the delivery of the MTFS.

c)         that £3.8M of additional one-off funding received in the 2021 Local Government Finance Settlement be set aside pending further assessment of the emerging financial risks identified in the MTFS at Section 3.

d)        That provision of £10.7m to cover anticipated demographic and other cost pressures in Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care, Homes to School Transport and Waste Services be approved for inclusion in the budget as identified at Section 3.

e)        That additional service investment of £7.4m including Neighbourhood Services (grass cutting and clean up teams), Car Parking and the Glassworks be approved for inclusion in the budget as identified at Section 3.

f)         that the proposed efficiency savings in 22/23 highlighted in Section 3 and detailed at Section 5a be approved for implementation and that the 23/24 efficiency savings also contained in Section 5a be noted with final approval to take place as part of the 23/24 budget setting process.

g)        that the Council’s reserves strategy and updated reserves position at Section 3b be noted.

h)        that the proposed changes to the 22/23 fees and charges policy and accompanying schedule of charges set out at Section 3d be approved.

i)             to submit to Council for approval the cash limited budgets for each Service with overall net expenditure for 22/23 of £211.4M as highlighted in Section 6a.

j)          to consider the budgets for all services and approve, for submission into Council, the 22/23 – 24/25 budget proposals presented at Sections 6a – 6c, subject to Cabinet receiving detailed implementation reports where appropriate.

k)         to consider and approve the changes to the schools funding formula including the transfer of funding from the schools block to the high needs block and approve the proposed 22/23 schools block budget as set out at Section 6d.

l)          that the capital investment schemes totalling £56.2M (Section 7 Appendix 1), be included within the capital programme and released subject to receiving further detailed business cases where appropriate.

m)       to note the capital investment proposals of £310.8M (Section 7 Appendix 2) which are currently the subject of live external funding bids / specific Government announcements and thereafter to receive regular updates on their progress.

n)  ...  view the full decision text for item 207.

RESOLVED:-

1.    The response to the 2019 Corporate Peer Challenge and the positive programme of peer reviews that have taken place across the Council since, was noted;

2.    The proposed timeline for the next Corporate Peer Challenge and the suggested future programme of peer reviews was agreed;

3.    The adoption of a centralised system for monitoring peer review activity and final reports was endorsed; and

4.    It was agreed that the report would go to the Audit and Governance Committee for information and comments.

RESOLVED that the draft proposed term times and holiday dates for 2023-2024 be approved as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves:-

1.    The release of £1.160M to front fund the construction of a new pavilion in compensation for loss of facilities at Rockingham Sports ground due to the development of land identified in the local plan and the construction of the new Hermes facility;

2.    Approves the design and construction of the Parkside scheme to commence in 2022/23 financial year; and

3.    Approves the submission of a joint bid with the Forge Partnership to the Football Foundation for the provision of an artificial grass pitch and the acceptance of the grant if successful. This is expected to be in the region of £0.700M.

Resolved that:-

1.    The objections received are rejected for the reasons set out in this report and the objectors are informed accordingly;

2.    The proposal to enact a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to introduce ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ restrictions on parts of Dearne Hall Road, Dearne Hall Lane and its side road junctions as shown on Appendix 1 of the report submitted is approved; and

3.    The Head of Highways and Engineering and the Legal Service Director and Solicitor to the Council be authorised to make and implement the Traffic Regulation Order.

The Appendix B to agenda item 12 is exempt.  Therefore, if necessary when considering that item, the Chair will move the following resolution:-

That under Section 100(A) 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of such Act indicated, as now amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

RESOLVED that:-

1.    The progress on the overall Glass Works scheme be noted;

2.    The progress made in relation to the Glassworks leasing strategy be noted;

3.    The revised budget envelope for the Glass Works scheme and the wider town centre redevelopment at a total capital cost of £210.6M, an increase of £0.6M, [noting that this increase will be contained within the total budget allocated to the scheme including resources set aside to operate the development on a day to day basis] be approved; and

4.    The Council’s capital programme be updated accordingly in line with Financial Regulations.