Decision details

The Shadow Executive will be asked to consider the proposals for the 2019/2020 budget (and beyond) and Medium Term Financial Strategy for the West Suffolk Council, prior to its approval by the Shadow Council. This report includes the Minimum Revenues Provision (MRP) Policy and Prudential Indicators.

RECOMMENDED TO SHADOW COUNCIL (19 FEBRUARY 2019):

(1)     The revenue and capital budget for 2019-2023 attached at Attachment A and as detailed in Attachment D, Appendices 1-5 Attachment E and F to Report No: EXC/SA/19/007, be approved;

(2)     having taken into account the conclusions of the Assistant Director’s (Resources and Performance) 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 No: EXC/SA/19/007, the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) recommends a 0% increase in Band D council tax for 2019/20 for the predecessor area of St Edmundsbury, and a £4.95 increase in Band D council tax for the predecessor area of Forest Heath. This assumption is in line with the approved business case for a single council for West Suffolk with council tax harmonisation planned over seven years. The level of Band D council tax for 2019/2020 therefore be recommended to be set at £182.16 for the predecessor area of St Edmundsbury and £152.28 for the predecessor area of Forest Heath(Note: the level of council tax beyond 2019/20 will be set in accordance with the annual budget process for the relevant financial year);

(3)     the Assistant Director (Resources and Performance), in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Performance, be authorised to transfer any surplus from the 2018/2019 revenue budget to the Invest to Save Reserve as detailed in paragraph 1.8.4, and to vire funds between existing Earmarked Reserves (as set out at Attachment D, Appendix 3) as deemed appropriate throughout the year;

(4)     approval be given to the Assistant Director (HR, Legal and Democratic Services), in consultation with the relevant service Assistant Director, to determine the establishment and the employment arrangements to deliver the Council’s priorities within agreed budgets and the principles of the MTFS;

(5)      approval be given to the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy as set out in Attachment G; and

(6)     council tax discount be granted to care leavers in accordance with the details set out in paragraph 1.12 and Attachment H.