Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider the proposals for the 2021 to 2022 budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022 to 2026 for West Suffolk Council, prior to its approval by Council.  This report includes the Minimum Revenues Provision (MRP) Policy and Prudential Indicators, and also the outcomes of the Council’s review of its fees and charges.

The fees and charges have been reviewed in accordance with the Council’s Fees and Charges Policy, which has resulted in proposed increases to some. Where the proposed increase is greater than five percent, this constitutes a Key Decision. The Cabinet will consider the proposals as part of its consideration of this report.

(Note: This item constitutes a Key Decision in part where proposed increases in fees and charges contained in the report are greater than five percent (Attachment D, Appendix 6a refers). Other decisions emanating from the report will require final approval by Council on 22 February 2022. This is reflected in this decisions notice accordingly.) 

Recommended to Council (as part of the budget setting process):

(22 February 2022)

That:

1.       the revenue and capital budget for 2022 to 2026, plus 2021 to 2022 capital projects that subsequently require to be carried forward at the year end, attached at Attachment A to Report number: CAB/WS/22/008, and as detailed in Attachment D (Appendices 1-5), Attachment E (Appendices 1-4), Attachment F and Attachment H, be approved.

2.       Having taken into account the conclusions of the Director’s (Resources and Property) report on the adequacy of reserves and the robustness of budget estimates (Attachment C) and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Attachment D), particularly the Scenario Planning and Sensitivity Analysis (Attachment D, Appendix 5) and all other information contained in Report number: CAB/WS/22/008, the Cabinet recommends the level of Band D council tax for 2022 to 2023 be set at £187.11, an increase of £5 on the average West Suffolk council tax for 2021 to 2022. This recommendation is based on the option to harmonise the council tax levels of the two predecessor areas (Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury) by 2022 to 2023. The level of council tax beyond 2022 to 2023 will be set in accordance with the annual budget process for the relevant financial year.

3.       The Director (Resources and Property), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property, be authorised to vire funds between existing Earmarked Reserves (as set out at Attachment D, Appendix 3) as deemed appropriate throughout the medium term financial planning period.

4.       Approval be given to the extension of the business rate reliefs set out in paragraphs 3.12 to 3.15 of Report number: CAB/WS/22/008, in support of West Suffolk’s business community.

Resolved:

That:

5.       Approval be given for the fees and charges price increases (as set out in Attachment D appendix 6a).

Recommended to Council (as part of the budget setting process):

(22 February 2022)

That:

6.       Approval be given to the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (as set out in Attachment G).