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Agenda item

Service & Resource Planning 2014/15 - 2017/18

Report by the Chief Finance Officer (CC8) including the Leader of the Council’s overview (Section 1), Budget Strategy and Capital Programme (Section 2) and the Directorate Business Strategies (Section 3).The recommendations set out below (and in the report) are made subject to the Chief Finance Officer’s statutory report on the robustness of the budget estimates and adequacy of financial reserves (Section 4).

 

The Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Groups propose to submit amendments to the budget proposals (CC8 Labour), (CC8 Liberal Democrat), and (CC8 Green) respectively and these will be circulated separately.

 

The Council is RECOMMENDED to:

 

(a)            approve the updated Financial Strategy as set out in section 2.1;

 

(b)            (in respect of revenue) approve:

 

(1)            a medium term plan for 2014/15 to 2017/18 as set out in section 2.2 (which incorporates changes to the existing medium term financial plan as set out in section 2.3);

(2)            a budget for 2014/15 as set out in section 2.4;

(3)            the planned level of balances and reserves as set out in section 2.7.2;

(4)            the council tax and precept calculations for 2014/15 set out in section 2.5 and in particular:

 

(i)              a precept of £277,733,607;

(ii)            a council tax for band D equivalent properties of £1,208.41;

 

(5)            the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional allocation) for 2014/15 as set out in section 2.8;

(6)            virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget for 2014/15 as set out in section 2.9;

 

(c)            (in respect of treasury management) approve:

 

(1)            the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2014/15 as set out in section 2.6;

(2)            that any further changes required to the 2014/15 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance;

(3)            the continued delegation of authority to withdraw or advance additional funds to/from external fund managers to the Treasury Management Strategy Team;

(4)            the Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out at Appendix E of section 2.6;

 

(d)            approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of section 2.6;

 

(e)            approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of section 2.6;

 

(f)             (in respect of capital) approve:

 

(1)            the updated Asset Management Plan in section 2.10.1;

(2)            the Transport Asset Management Plan in section 2.10.2;

(3)            a Capital Programme for 2013/14 to 2017/18 as set out in section 2.11;

 

(g)            approve the directorate business strategies as set out in section 3.1 to 3.6.

Minutes:

The Council had before them the Report by the Chief Finance Officer (CC8) including the Leader of the Council’s overview (Section 1), Budget Strategy and Capital Programme (Section 2) and the Directorate Business Strategies (Section 3). The recommendations set out in the report were made subject to the Chief Finance Officer’s statutory report on the robustness of the budget estimates and adequacy of financial reserves as set out in Section 4.

 

The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of: Amendments by the Labour Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget, Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget and Amendmets by the Green Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget (CC8 Labour), (CC8 Liberal Democrat), and (CC8 Green) respectively (additional Papers 1).

 

Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Fatemian seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service & Resource Planning 2014/15 – 2017/18 (CC8).  In moving the motion, Councillor Hudspeth paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and her staff for all their wok in preparing the budget.

 

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Hards seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers 1 (CC8 Labour).  Councillor Brighouse paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and her team.

 

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 30 votes to 15, with 12 Abstentions. 

 

Councillor Patrick moved and Councillor Roz Smith seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in Additional Papers 1 (CC8 Liberal Democrat). In moving her amendment,  Councillor Patrick paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and the finance team.

 

During debate, Councillor Hoare moved and Councillor Stratford seconded that ‘the Question be now put’.  Accordingly , this was put to the vote and was carried by 33 votes to 5.

 

The amendment was then put to the vote and lost by 43 votes to 11, with 3 Abstentions.

 

Councillor Williams moved and Councillor Coates seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers 1 (CC Green).  Councillor Williams paid tribute to Lorna Baxter and her team for their help and support.

 

During debate, Councillor Cherry moved and Councillor Hoare seconded that ‘the Question be now put’.  Accordingly , this was put to the vote and was carried by 34 votes to 7.

 

The amendment was then put to the vote and was lost by 53 votes to 2, with 2 Abstentions.

 

During debate, the Chairman moved and Councillor Purse seconded that ‘the Question be now put’.  Accordingly , this was put to the vote and was carried by 26 votes to 12.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was carried by 30 votes to 27.

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