Issue - items at meetings - General Fund Revenue Budget & Council Tax 2009/10

Report of the Interim Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached)

(1)   To recommend to Council, subject to (3) below, the 2009/10 General Fund Revenue Budget proposals including;

·          The 2009/10 budget allocations to services as set out in paragraphs 3.22 to 3.25 and appendix 1.

·          The council’s budget for 2009/10 of £219.0m.

·          The Directorate budget strategies as set out in appendix 7

·          The corporate budgets of £9.2m

·          The contingency budget of £3.6m as set out in table 7.

·          The reserves allocations as set out in appendix 4 including earmarking sufficient reserves to cover projected investment income losses over the next 3 years.

·          The borrowing limit of £317m for the year commencing 1 April 2009.

·          The annual Minimum Revenue Provision statement as set out in paragraphs 3.43 and 3.44.

·          The prudential indicators as set out in appendix 6 to this report.

·          That any LABGI grant is earmarked for the purposes set out in paragraph 3.17.

·          To increase the value of taxi vouchers to £65 as set out in paragraph 3.37.

·          The licensing fees and charges set out in appendix 8 and the amendments to Culture Recreation & Tourism fees and charges set out in paragraph 3.34.

·          The confirmation of allocations of LPSA2 reward grant following consideration by the Public Services Board as set out in paragraph 3.14 and appendix 9

(2)   To note the budget and resource projections for 2010/11 and 2011/12 as set out in appendix 5 based on council tax increases of 2.5% for each year.

(3)   To note that supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax will be provided for the budget setting Council as listed in paragraph 4.8.

(4)   That the proposals made by the Chairman in response to the recommendations made from the Overview & Scrutiny Organisation Commission be agreed:

(i)    That consideration would be given to including the fees and charges reports with the main budget reports, as part of the timetable for the next financial year;

(ii)               That opposition leaders would be consulted about timings via the Leaders Group; and

(iii)             That a report be drafted for the Overview & Scrutiny Commission detailing how other authorities prepare their budgets and that it should be mindful of any resources implications.

169.1  The Cabinet considered a report of the Interim Director of Finance & Resources that forecast the outturn position on the revenue and capital budgets as at the end of December 2008 (month 9) (for copy see minute book).

169.2  The Cabinet also considered a tabled extract from the proceedings of the Overview & Scrutiny Commission meeting held on the 3 February 2009. The extract detailed three additional recommendations proposed by the Commission for consideration by the Cabinet as detailed below (for copy see minute book):

(a)     In regard to recommendation (1) of the report, ‘that the ‘fees and charges’ reports previously taken to Cabinet Members’ Meetings as per paragraph 3.32 of the report be attached to the Budget Report when it is presented to Cabinet and Council.

(b)           In regard to recommendation (2) of the report, ‘that the Committee meeting and budget setting timetables for 2010/11 allow for the full and timely involvement of the Overview & Scrutiny Commission  in the budget setting process.’

(c)          In response to recommendation (3) of the report, ‘that a report be brought to a future Overview & Scrutiny Commission meeting on the budget setting processes in other local authorities, including the role of overview & scrutiny, and stakeholder and public engagement.’

169.3  In response to the additional recommendations proposed by the Overview & Scrutiny Commission the Chairman proposed:-

(a)     That the Executive would give consideration to including the fees and charges reports with the main budget reports, as part of the timetable for the next financial year;

(b)     That the timing of reports was a matter of internal process, but the Executive would agree to consult opposition leaders about timings via the Leaders Group; and

(c)      That a report be drafted for the Overview & Scrutiny Commission detailing how other authorities prepare their budgets and that it should be mindful of any resources implications.

169.4  Councillor Kemble reported that the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service had set their budget increase at 3.5%.

169.5  RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)   To recommend to Council, subject to (3) below, the 2009/10 General Fund Revenue Budget proposals including;

·          The 2009/10 budget allocations to services as set out in paragraphs 3.22 to 3.25 and appendix 1.

·          The council’s budget for 2009/10 of £219.0m.

·          The Directorate budget strategies as set out in appendix 7

·          The corporate budgets of £9.2m

·          The contingency budget of £3.6m as set out in table 7.

·          The reserves allocations as set out in appendix 4 including earmarking sufficient reserves to cover projected investment income losses over the next 3 years.

·          The borrowing limit of £317m for the year commencing 1 April 2009.

·          The annual Minimum Revenue Provision statement as set out in paragraphs 3.43 and 3.44.

·          The prudential indicators as set out in appendix 6 to this report.

·          That any LABGI grant is earmarked for the purposes set out in paragraph 3.17.

·          To increase the value of taxi vouchers to £65 as set out in paragraph 3.37.

·          The licensing fees and charges set out in appendix 8 and the amendments to Culture Recreation & Tourism fees and charges set out in paragraph 3.34.

·          The confirmation of allocations of LPSA2 reward grant following consideration by the Public Services Board as set out in paragraph 3.14 and appendix 9

(2)   To note the budget and resource projections for 2010/11 and 2011/12 as set out in appendix 5 based on council tax increases of 2.5% for each year.

(3)   To note that supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax will be provided for the budget setting Council as listed in paragraph 4.8.

(4)   That the proposals made by the Chairman in response to the recommendations made from the Overview & Scrutiny Organisation Commission be agreed:

(i)    That consideration would be given to including the fees and charges reports with the main budget reports, as part of the timetable for the next financial year;

a.      That opposition leaders would be consulted about timings via the Leaders Group; and

b.      That a report be drafted for the Overview & Scrutiny Commission detailing how other authorities prepare their budgets and that it should be mindful of any resources implications.