Agenda item

The Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy - 2019/20 Budget Recommendations (Cab.6.2.2019/6)

RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL ON 28TH FEBRUARY, 2019

Minutes:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL ON 28TH FEBRUARY, 2019:-

 

(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 that following consideration of a report from the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel that the indexation formula for the increase in allowances (linked to related increases for officer remuneration) be retained;

 

(xv)     that the Aggregated Equality Impact Assessment (Section 14) of the proposals be noted and the proposed mitigation actions in the report be approved;

 

(xvi)    that the cash limited budgets for each service with overall net expenditure for 2019/20 of £169.064m be approved;

 

(xvii)   that the Chief Executive and SMT, in consultation with the Cabinet Spokespersons, be required to submit reports into Cabinet, as a matter of urgency, in relation to the detailed General Fund Revenue Budget for 2019/20 on any further action required to achieve an appropriately balanced budget in addition to those proposals set out above;

 

(xviii)  that the Chief Executive and SMT be responsible for managing their respective budgets including ensuring the implementation of savings proposals;

 

(xix)    that the Authority’s SMT be charged with ensuring that the budget remains in balance and report regularly into Cabinet on budget/savings monitoring including any action required;

 

(xx)     that Cabinet and the Section 151 Officer be authorised to make any necessary technical adjustments to form the 2019/20 budget;

 

(xxi)    that appropriate consultation on the agreed budget proposals takes place with the Trade Unions and representatives of Non-Domestic Ratepayers and that the views of consultees be considered by Cabinet and the Council; and

 

(xxii)   that the budget papers be submitted for the consideration of the Full Council.

 

(B)       Council Tax 2019/20

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL ON 28TH FEBRUARY, 2019:-

 

(i)        that the contents of Section 8 of the report (2019/20 Council Tax options) now submitted, be noted;

 

(ii)       that the estimated Council Tax Collection Fund net surplus as at 31st  March 2019 relating to BMBC of £2.615m be used to reduce the 2019/20 Council Tax requirement, in line with statute;

 

(iii)      that the 2019/20 Band D Council Tax increase for Barnsley MBC's services be set at 4.49% (2.99% for Barnsley MBC services and an additional 1.5% for the Chancellor's Adult Social Care levy);

 

(iv)      that the Band D Council Tax for Barnsley MBC's areas be determined following confirmation of the South Yorkshire Police Authority and South Yorkshire Fire Authority precepts for 2019/20; and

 

(v)       that the Band D Council Tax for areas of the Borough with Parish/Town Councils be determined following confirmation of individualparish precepts for 2019/20.

Supporting documents:

 

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