72 Budget 2021-22 - Key Decision PDF 167 KB
Minutes:
The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance,
which outlined a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital
Programme and Council Tax for 2021/22.
The Medium Term Financial Strategy
(MTFS) was approved at the Executive Board meeting on
19 November 2020. It was
noted that there were funding gaps of around £15.2m in 2021/22, £3.9m in
2022/23 and £3m in 2023/24. The Strategy
had the following objectives:
·
Deliver
a balanced and sustainable budget;
·
Prioritise
spending towards the Council’s priority areas;
·
Avoid
excessive Council Tax rises;
·
Achieve
significant cashable efficiency gains;
·
Protect
essential front line services and vulnerable members of the community; and
·
Deliver
improved procurement.
In terms of consultation, it was noted that the
Council used various methods to listen to the views of the public, and Members’
own experiences through their Ward work was an important part of that
process. Individual consultations had
taken place in respect of specific budget proposals and equality impact
assessments would be completed where necessary.
The proposed revenue budget for 2021/22 totalled £111.446m. Appendix B outlined proposed budget savings
for 2021/22, totalling £1.369m. The
departmental analysis was shown in Appendix C and the
major reasons for change from the current budget were shown in Appendix D.
The Board was advised the final Local
Government Finance Settlement figures were awaited, along with confirmation of
some 2020/21 grant allocations including the Public Health grant. It was confirmed
that the Council would continue to participate in the pilot of the 100%
Business Rates Retention Scheme, as part of the Liverpool City Region (LCR).
Further information was provided on the budget
outlook, Halton’s Council Tax, Precepts for Parishes, Police, Fire and
Liverpool City Region Mayor, the Capital Programme, Prudential Code and School
Budgets.
RESOLVED: That
1)
Council
be recommended to adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A, which includes
setting the budget at £111.446m, the Council Tax requirement of £54.509m
(before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts) and the Band
D council Tax for Halton of £1,549.34; and
2)
Council
be recommended to approve the revenue budget proposals
for 2021/22 set out in Appendix B and capital programme set out in Appendix F.