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Agenda item

Service & Resource Planning 2013/14 - 2016/17

Report of the Cabinet by the Leader of the Council (CC9(a)) and Report by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CC9(b)). The recommendations set out below (and in the report) are made subject to the Commentary on the Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, as the Council’s Section 151 Officer, to be circulated separately.

The Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green Groups propose to submit amendments to the budget proposals (CC9 Liberal Democrat), (CC9 Labour) and (CC9 Green) respectively and these will be circulated separately.

 

a)       (in respect of revenue) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         a medium term plan for 2013/14 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 1  (which incorporates changes the existing medium term financial plan as set out in Annex 3);

(2)         a budget for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 2

(3)         the Council Tax and Precept calculations for 2013/14 set out in Annex 4 and in particular:

(i)                 a precept of £268,449,208;

(ii)               a Council Tax for band D equivalent properties of £1,184.83;

(4)               the updated financial strategy at Annex 5.

(5)         the planned level of balances and reserves for 2013/14 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 6;

(6)         virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 8;

(7)         the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional allocation) for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 9;

 

b)        (in respect of treasury management) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 7; and

(2)         that any further changes required to the 2013/14 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(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 Draft Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out at Appendix E of Annex 7;

 

c)        RECOMMEND Council to approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of Annex 7.

 

d)        RECOMMEND Council to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of Annex 7.

 

e)        (in respect of capital) RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(1)         the Corporate Asset Management Plan at Annex 10, the Transport Asset Management Plan at Annex 11 and the updated Capital Strategy at Annex 12;

(2)         a Capital Programme for 2012/13 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 13;

f)          to delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, following consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to make appropriate changes to the proposed budget.

Minutes:

The Council had before them the Report of the Cabinet (CC9(a)), the Report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CC9(b)), a supplementary Report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer, together with the Commentary on the Cabinet’s Budget Proposals by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Additional Papers 1).  The Council also had before it budget proposals in the form of:  Amendments by the Liberal Democrat Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget, Amendments by the Labour Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget and Amendments by the Green Group to the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget together with Commentary by the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Additional Papers 2).

 

Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Rose seconded the Cabinet’s recommendations on Service and Resource Planning 2013/14 to 2016/17 (CC8(a)).  In moving and seconding the motion, Councillor Hudspeth and Councillor Rose paid tribute to Sue Scane and her staff for all their work in preparing the Budget.

 

In moving the recommendations, Councillor Hudspeth announced his intention to make changes to to the budget as follows:

 

One off funding of £50,000 to come from the Efficiency reserve in 2013/14 to develop improved and joined up technical solutions to paying for journeys across Oxfordshire and beyond;

 

The extention of the Councillor Community Budget scheme into 2013/14 with £10,000 per councillor to be funded from the Efficiency Reserve in 2013/14, to allow local councillors to make local decisions for their divisions.

 

Councillor Patrick moved and Councillor Armitage seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers 2 (CC9 Liberal Democrat Amendments).  Councillor Patrick paid tribute to the finance staff responsible for preparing the budget.

 

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 51 votes to 6.

 

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Tanner seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers 2 (CC9 Labour Group Amendments).  Councillor Brighouse paid tribute to members of the finance team.

 

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 50 votes to 10 with 1 Abstention.

 

Councillor L Sanders moved and Councillor Sherwood seconded an amendment to the Cabinet’s budget as set out in the Additional Papers 2 (CC9 Green Group Amendments). Councillor Sanders paid tribute to Sue Scane and her team.

 

Following debate, the amendment was lost by 54 votes to 2.

 

Members of the Cabinet then gave an overview of the areas of the Budget falling under their responsibility.

 

Following debate, the Chairman moved and Councillor Hallchurch seconded that the ‘Question be now put’.  Accordingly this was put to the vote and it was carried by 28 votes to 17 that the ‘Question be now put.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried by 38 votes to 19.

 

RESOLVED: (by 38 votes to 19):

 

(a)          (in respect of revenue) to approve:

(1)      a medium term plan for 2013/14 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 1  (which incorporates changes the existing medium term financial plan as set out in Annex 3);

(2)      a budget for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 2

(3)      the Council Tax and Precept calculations for 2013/14 set out in Annex 4 and in particular:

(i)            a precept of £268,449,208;

(ii)          a Council Tax for band D equivalent properties of £1,184.83;

(4)      the updated financial strategy at Annex 5.

(5)      the planned level of balances and reserves for 2013/14 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 6;

(6)      virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 8;

(7)      the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional allocation) for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 9;

 

(b)    (in respect of treasury management) to approve:

(1)      the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2013/14 as set out in Annex 7; and

(2)      that any further changes required to the 2013/14 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(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 Draft Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out at Appendix E of Annex 7;

 

(c)    to approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of Annex 7.

 

(d)   to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of Annex 7.

 

(e)    (in respect of capital) to approve:

(1)      the Corporate Asset Management Plan at Annex 10, the Transport Asset Management Plan at Annex 11 and the updated Capital Strategy at Annex 12;

(2)      a Capital Programme for 2012/13 to 2016/17 as set out in Annex 13;

(f)     to delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, following consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to make appropriate changes to the proposed budget.

Supporting documents: