Agenda item

The Committee considered a report which set out the proposed budget for 2023/24 and the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which include the assumptions for 2023-27 with regards to Council Tax, other funding, expenditure forecasts and the savings and income generation plans necessary to set a balanced budget.  This would help to ensure resources are aligned to the strategic outcomes set out in draft Corporate Plan which was also being presented to this Committee elsewhere on the agenda.

 

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

 

The vote was recorded as follows:

 

For: 8

Against: 4

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

 

RESOLVED that the Committee:

 

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2023/24 and the MTFS 2023-27 taking into account the equality impact assessment and consultation findings:

 

1.    Recommends to Council for approval the MTFS, attached as Appendix A, and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix C, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2023/24;

 

2.    Recommends to Council for approval that the budget 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of a 1.8% increase (which takes account of the proposed 1% refund) for the general element of Council Tax in 2023/24 as discussed in paragraph 1.3.11 to 1.3.18;

 

3.    Recommends to Council for approval that the budget for 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care as detailed in paragraph 1.3.11 to 1.3.18;

 

4.    Recommends to Council for the approval the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B;

 

5.    Recommends to Council for approval, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2023/24 as set out in Council Tax resolution Appendix B, 2(iv) is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, set out in the Referendums relating to Council Tax increases (Principles)(England) Report 2023/24;

 

6.    Recommends to Council that in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 5 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision; and

 

7.    Have considered the issues that have emerged from the consultation discussed in Appendix G when making their decisions and have made the decisions outlined in this report being mindful of the consultation responses and equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments at Appendix H.

 

In respect of Capital Strategy and the proposed capital programme:

 

8.    Recommend to Council the approval of the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix I1; and

 

9.    Recommend to Council for approval the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix I2 and set out in paragraph 1.10;

 

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS):

 

10. Recommend to Council the approval of the TMSS for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix J.

 

In respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

 

11. Recommend to Council the approval of the Gross Schools Budget of £426.879m for 2023/24 as set out in Section 1.5; and

 

12. Recommend to Council that any changes to the Schools Budget reasonably required as a result of the final 2023/24 DSG and Post-16 settlement are delegated for decisions to the Executive Director – Children’s & Family Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources.

 

In respect of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Temporary Accommodation (TA):

 

13. Recommend to Council the approval of Council dwelling rents increases as set out in paragraphs 1.6.3-1.6.8;

 

14. Recommend to Council to approve Temporary accommodation rents increases in line with Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate as set out in paragraphs 1.6.9-1.6.13;

 

15. Recommend to Council the approval of services charge and garages increases as set out in paragraph 1.6.14-1.6.26; and

 

16. Recommend to Council the approval of the HRA Business Plan (at Appendix K) and the removal of the policy to increase the minimum reserve position by CPI each year.

 

In respect of the BOOST 3 year Plan:

 

17. Approve the underwriting of S106 monies to enable payments to be made to BOOST to deliver their 3 year plan as set out in section 1.8;

 

In respect of routine financial matters for 2022/23:

 

18. Notes the contingency budget and allocations from it in 1.9.1-1.9.3;

 

19. Approves the virement set out in 1.9.4-1.9.6;

 

20. Approves the writes-offs for Business Rates debt, Housing Benefit Overpayments debt, Sundry Debt, Housing Revenue Account tenant arrears and General Fund tenant arrears as detailed in 1.9.7-1.9.31 and Appendix N;

 

21. Approves the revised Capital Programme and financing of it as detailed in Section 1.10 (also Appendix I2) including reprofiling of budgets to and from future years, accelerations, additions, and deletions;

 

22. Recommend to Council to approve delegation to Chief Finance Officer to adjust capital programme and financing in 2023/24 in line with the 2022/23 outturn position; and

 

23. Notes the Strategic Risk Register in Section 1.11 and Appendix O.

 

In respect of Business Rate Reliefs and a new Council Tax Support Fund:

 

24. As set out in section 1.12, Committee to approve the following schemes and delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to make minor amendments to the schemes to take account of updated Government advice and software functionality:

• Council Tax Support Fund Scheme;

• Business Rates Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme; and

• Business Rates New 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme.

 

In respect of Barnet’s 2023/24 Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief and Hardship Policy:

 

25. Committee to approve Barnet’s 2023/24 Discretionary Rate Relief and Hardship policy, as set out in 1.12, and delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to make minor amendments to the scheme to take account of updated Government advice or other relevant considerations. This ensures Barnet are operating the scheme in accordance with a live policy from 1 April 2023 following the expiry of the previous policy;

 

In respect of the Council Tax Support Scheme:

 

26.Instructs officers to review the Council Tax Support Scheme to consider restoring the 100% Council Tax rebate for households in the lowest income band alongside work to ensure our cost-of-living support is helping those that need it, and to bring back any recommendations to the relevant meeting in September.