Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Finance & Property

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/142

Contact: Lorna Baxter, Assistant Head of Finance (Corporate Finance) Tel: (01865) 323971

Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

This is one in a series of reports on the Service and Resource Planning process for 2012/13 to 2016/17, providing councillors with information on budget issues for 2012/13 and the medium term. The report includes updated Directorate Business Strategies, along with a summary of the changes to the pressures and savings contained therein.  It also provides an update on Government consultations and announcements; sets out the review of charges and provides a draft Capital Strategy, Corporate Asset Management Plan and Transport Asset Management Plan.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)               note the report and that an addenda will be produced following the publication of the Draft Local Government Finance Settlement;

(b)              consider the revised Business Strategies (Annex 3) and the changes to the pressures and savings (Annex 2) in forming their budget proposals in January 2012;

(c)               consider, in forming their budget proposals, the implications in 2013/14 of accepting the Council Tax Freeze Grant in 2012/13;

(d)              agree that funding from the New Homes Bonus will be made available for capital as part of the Rolling Fund, noting that the allocation for 2012/13 is £1.068m;

(e)               in relation to the review of charges:

(1)               Note those charges prescribed by legislation;

(2)               Approve those charges where there is local discretion as set out in Annex 6 noting that some of those charges will commence before April 2012; and

(f)                 agree the capital prioritisation assessment set out in Annex 8b.

The Cabinet considered a further report (CA7) on the service and resource planning process for 2012/13 to 2016/17 which provided information on budget issues for 2012/13 and the medium term, included an update on directorate business strategies with a summary of changes to the pressures and savings therein, provided an update on government consultations and announcements, set out the review of charges and provided a draft capital strategy, corporate asset management plan and transport asset management plan.  Also tabled was a supplementary report to CA7 setting out the implications of the draft local government finance settlement and associated announcements.

During discussion Cabinet members addressed specific issues within their respective portfolios.

RESOLVED:

(a)               to note the report CA7 and the implications set out in the addendas when forming budget proposals in January 2012;

(b)               to consider the revised Business Strategies (Annex 3 to CA7) and the changes to the pressures and savings (Annex 2 to CA7) in forming their budget proposals in January 2012;

(c)               to consider, in forming their budget proposals, the implications in 2013/14 of accepting the Council Tax Freeze Grant in 2012/13;

(d)               to agree that funding from the New Homes Bonus would be made available for capital as part of the Rolling Fund, noting that the allocation for 2012/13 was £1.068m;

(e)               that in relation to the review of charges to:

(1)         note those charges prescribed by legislation;

(2)         approve those charges where there was local discretion as set out in Annex 6 to CA7 noting that some of those charges would commence before April 2012;

(f)                 to agree the capital prioritisation assessment set out in Annex 8b to CA7.