Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/084

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Senior Financial Adviser (Capital & MTFP) Tel: (01865) 323975

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

This report is the final report to Cabinet in the series on the Service & Resource Planning process for 2016/17 to 2019/20, providing councillors with information on budget issues for 2016/17 and the medium term. It sets out the proposed 2016/17 Corporate Plan, budget, the draft 2016/17 – 2019/20 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and 2015/16 – 2019/20 Capital Programme.  Information outstanding at the time of the Cabinet meeting will be reported to Council when it considers the budget on 16 February 2016.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve:

(1)        the Review of Charges as set out in Annex 1.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to RECOMMEND Council to approve:

(a)        the Corporate Plan;

(b)        in respect of revenue:

(1)       a budget for 2016/17 and a medium term plan to 2019/20, based on the proposals set out in Section 4.2;

(2)          a council tax requirement (precept) for 2016/17;

(3)          a council tax for band D equivalent properties;

(4)          virement arrangements to operate within the approved budget;

(c)      in respect of treasury management:

(1)       the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;

(2)          to continue to delegate the authority to withdraw or advance additional funds to/from external fund managers to the Treasury Management Strategy Team;

(3)          that any further changes required to the 2016/17 strategy be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance;

(4)          the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of Section 4.5;

(5)          Minimum Revenue Provision Methodology Statement as set out in Appendix B of Section 4.5;

(6)          the Specified Investment and Non Specified Investment instruments as set out in Appendix C and D of Section 4.5;

(7)          the Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out in Appendix E of Section 4.5;

(d)          approve a Capital Programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20  as set out in Section 4.9 including:

                  (1)          the new capital proposals as set out in Section 4.9.1 (Appendix 3);

                  (2)          the Highways Structural Maintenance Programme 2016/17 and 2017/18 as set out in Section 4.9.2;

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

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet had before them the final report in the series on the Service & Resource Planning process for 2016/17 to 2019/20, providing councillors with information on budget issues for 2016/17 and the medium term. It set out the proposed 2016/17 Corporate Plan, budget, the draft 2016/17 – 2019/20 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and 2015/16 – 2019/20 Capital Programme.  Information outstanding at the time of the Cabinet meeting will be reported to Council when it considers the budget on 16 February 2016.

Clare Ellis, spoke in support of homeless support services and illustrated their value by detailing her own experience as a service user.

Audrey Irons spoke in support of the homeless support services praising them for their person centred, individual support. She asked the Cabinet not to take a decision which would fail the rough sleepers in Oxfordshire.

Charlie Payne spoke against the budget proposals, particularly those relating to children’s centres. She called on the Cabinet to resign rather than to accept that there was no choice but to make the proposed savings.

Mary Stiles, spoke against the proposals affecting children’s centres and bus subsidies. She stated that the proposals were short sighted, would have a catastrophic effect and in the long run cost more.

Josephine French spoke in support of children’s centres referring to evidence that stress I children had an effect on their long term development. She supported a universal service that protected against those long term social implications and protected against the generational cycle within families.

Mark Bhagwandin, commended the focus of the new Corporate Plan but was concerned that the vulnerable required funds set aside, in particular for the protection of children’s centres. He commended the work of children’s centres in improving people’s confidence and social skills. He commented that closure would be a false economy as the services they provided would still be required.

Jill Huish spoke against the proposals for children’s centres referring to her personal experience of the difference they made to people’s lives. She supported the principle of universal services without which those in danger of domestic abuse would be invisible.

Jo Lovell spoke in support of children’s centres highlighting their positive role in her life and drawing attention to the distress of stakeholders/users when they realised the extent of the cuts.

Reverend Andrew Bevan drew attention to the long term consequences of the proposed savings on the most vulnerable; particularly children aged 0-5 years affected by the children’s centres proposals.

Dr Ramzy stressed three priorities for society: education, security and health. He spoke against the proposed savings that took from the less fortunate. He asked that the Council look at making greater use of reserves and also commented that he would be happy to pay additional council tax to preserve services.

Councillor Charles Mathew, local councillor highlighted the importance of income generation and urged Cabinet to look to increase commercial income from fees for services to those able to afford it. He also asked that further consideration be given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5