Issue - meetings

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the initial budget proposals for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1.

Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on initial revenue budget proposals for 2017/18.

The Council wished to place on record their thanks to all Officers, Executive Board Members, Members of the Budget Working Group and the respective Trade Unions for their contribution to the budget process so far.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 (3), a recorded vote was taken.

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors J.Abbott, S. Baker, M.Bradshaw, D. Cargill, Cole, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M.Lloyd Jones, P.Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Osborne, Philbin, C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts, June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J.Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

RESOLVED: That the initial budget proposals for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved.

          The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which presented revenue budget proposals for 2017/18.

The Board was advised that the Medium Term Financial Strategy forecast revenue budget funding gaps of nearly £33m over the next three years, assuming no increase in Council Tax. It was noted that budget savings proposals were being developed by the Budget Working Group.

Appendix 1 presented the first set of proposals totalling £7.9m proposals and it was proposed to implement these immediately in order to achieve a part-year saving in 2016/17. This would assist in keeping the Council’s overall spending in line with budget. In addition, a number of the proposals would take time to implement and therefore commencing this process as soon as possible would assist with ensuring they were fully implemented from 1 April 2017.

It was reported that a second set of budget saving proposals currently under consideration by the Budget Working Group, would be recommended to Council on 8 March 2017, in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2017/18.

          RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to approve the budget proposals for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report.