Issue - meetings

Executive Board considered the attached report.

          RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the budget proposals for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on a set of initial revenue budget proposals for 2018/19.

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, J. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, J. Gerrard, 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, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Nolan, Parker, 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.

(N.B. Councillor Cassidy was not present in the Chamber when this recorded vote was taken)

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That the initial budget proposals for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which presented the revenue budget proposals for 2018/19.

The Board was advised that the Medium Term Financial Strategy forecast potential revenue budget funding gaps of £22m over the next three years. This figure assumed that the Council would apply a general council tax increase of 1.9% in each year with a levy of 3% social care precept in 2018/19. It was reported that the gap for 2018/19 was £5.6m.

Appendix 1 presented the first set of proposals totalling £2.2m and it was proposed to implement these immediately in order to achieve a part-year saving in 2017/18. This would assist in keeping the Council’s overall spending in line with budget. In addition, a number of 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 2018.

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 7 March 2018, in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2018/19.

Reason(s) for Decision

To seek approval for the initial set of revenue budget proposals for 2018/19.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

There is no alternative option, as failure to set a balanced budget would put the Council in breach of statutory requirements.

Implementation Date

The 2018/19 revenue budget will be implemented from 1st April 2018.

RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to approve the budget proposals for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report.