Agenda item

Councillor Richard Cornelius introduced the report and moved reception and adoption. Debate ensued.

Votes were taken on the recommendations set out in the report. At least ten members called for a formal division on the voting. Upon the vote being taken the results of the Division were declared as follows:

For: 32

Against: 31

Absent: 0

TOTAL: 63

RESOLVED that:

1.         Council agree the high-level strategic priorities, as set out in section 1.2, which will frame a new Corporate Plan for 2015-2020, subject to consultation commencing on 17 December 2014 – after Full Council – and concluding on 11 February 2015.

2.         Council agree the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) up to 2020 as set out in Appendix B and the assumptions underpinning this in section 2.

3.         Council approve: the budget savings proposals for 2015/16 as “budget headlines” for consultation from 17 December 2014 until 11 February 2015;  the overall MTFS savings and pressures from 2016/17 to 2019/20 as set out in Appendix C; individual savings proposals for future years included in the MTFS will be consulted on where necessary – with full Equalities Impact Assessments conducted - in the relevant budget year before final decisions are taken by Committees and Full Council and savings are cast into future annual budgets.  (In the case of the Environment Committee to instruct the Chief Finance Officer to  include the views of Full Council on 16 December in the consultation document.)

4.         Council agree the five year Commissioning Plans in Appendix A which set out indicative plans to address both the high level strategic priorities outlined in section 1.2 and the forecast budget deficit of £73.5m by 2020 and agree the commencement an 8 week public consultation on the Commissioning Plans which will conclude on the 11th of February 2015. (In the case of the Environment Committee to instruct the Chief Finance Officer to include the views of Full Council on 16th December in the consultation document).

5.         Council approve the recommendation of the additional capital schemes proposals as set out in Appendix D, to be added to the capital programme. 

6.         Council approve the transformation programme as set out in Appendix E, the allocation of £16.1m from the transformation reserve to fund this programme from 2015 through to 2020 and the drawdown requested under section 2.6.10.  This programme and funding is required to deliver annual revenue savings of £44.4m by 2020 (cumulatively £124m).

7.         Council to approve the write offs in Appendix F as requested by the Policy & Contract Management Committee.

8.         Council to note the review of reserves as set out in section 2.5 and Appendix G.

9.         Council to agree the draw-downs from reserves as set out in paragraph 2.2.1 and saving amendments in paragraph 2.2.4.

10.      Council agree that the Children, Education, Libraries & Safeguarding Committee should complete the detailed consideration of alternative delivery options, including agreeing to the commencement of procurement where relevant. As set out in paragraph 2.2.11 of this report.

11.      Council to note the impact on performance, staff and equalities as set out in section 6,7, 9 and 10 of the report.