Agenda item

Business planning (Budget 2022/23, Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-26), and Budget Management 2021/22

Minutes:

The Chairman then introduced the report which provided an update following the Autumn Budget and Spending Review (SR21) on 27 October 2021. The report sets out the latest estimates and assumptions on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2022-26, savings and income generation plans, fees and charges and the capital programme

 

The report sought Committee approval for budget management decisions for 2021/22, required as part of normal business in line with the Financial Regulations.

 

During discussion the Committee unanimously agreed to amend recommendation 2 as follows:

 

The Chairman moved a Approves delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources (S151 Officer) to amend the MTFS in line with the 2022/23 Local Government Finance Settlement and other rates, to enable the 2022/23 Budget Consultation process to commence as discussed in paragraph 5.9.

 

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report as amended.

 

The vote was recorded as follows:

 

For

7

Against

6

Abstentions

0

 

The Committee RESOLVED

 

Regarding the medium term financial strategy:

 

1.    To note the latest update on the MTFS further to budget submissions from council services and the information contained in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021. This includes the budget proposals (savings, income generation, and pressures) for 2022/23 and later years. This is detailed in this report and in appendix A;

 

2.    To delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources (S151 Officer) to amend the MTFS in line with the 2022/23 Local Government Finance Settlement and other rates, to enable the 2022/23 Budget Consultation process to commence as discussed in paragraph 5.9;

 

3.    To approve the proposed fees and charges for referral to council, including proposed rent increase in line with Government policy for existing council tenants for social dwellings and affordable rent dwellings, proposed rent increase for temporary accommodation and proposed service charges and garage rents to take effect from 1st April 2022, as set in appendix C;

 

4.    To note the current and forecast position on earmarked reserves in paragraph 1.4;

 

Regarding consultation on budget and council tax proposals:

 

5.    To consult on the use of the Council’s flexibility to raise the level of General Council Tax by up to 1.99% in 2022/23 in accordance with the scenarios in paragraph 1.3.7;

 

6.    To consult on the use of the Council’s flexibility to apply a Social Care Precept of 1%, to help fund pressures in social care;

 

7.    To approve the council’s budget consultation be launched in the week of 20 December 2021 after which the budget with a cumulative equality impact assessment will be considered by the Committee on 9 February 2022, before it is referred to council;

 

8.    To note the current position on the Eight Authority Business Rates Pool for 2022/23 discussed in paragraph 1.3.15-17, and delegates authority to the Executive Director of Resources (S151 Officer) to take all necessary actions to participate in and execute the agreement;

Supporting documents: