Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/17/067

Portfolio Holder: Ian HoulderLead Officer: Rachael Mann

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the budget assumptions (outlined in Appendix A to Report No: PAS/SE/17/034) and timetable (at paragraph 6.1), along with the progress made to date on delivering a balanced budget for 2018-2019 and sustainable budget in the medium term, be noted; and

(2)     the proposals, as detailed in Section 5 and Table 2 at paragraph 5.1 of Report No: PAS/SE/17/034, be included in securing a balanced budget for 2018-2019.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/17/067, which sought approval for proposals for securing a balanced budget for 2018/2019 and a sustainable budget in the medium term.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that St Edmundsbury Borough Council continued to face considerable financial challenges as a result of increased cost and demand, plus pressures and constraints on public sector spending.

The budget gap for years 2018/2019 to 2020/2021 were projected in Table 1 of Report No: PAS/SE/17/034, with the current budget assumptions for 2018/2019 to 2020/2021 and for the period of the medium term financial strategy, detailed in Appendix A attached to that report. In order to address this and progress securing a balanced budget for 2018/2019 and a sustainable budget in the medium term, a number of budget proposals had been scrutinised by the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee, as contained in Table 2 of paragraph 5.1 of Report No: PAS/SE/17/034, which were now presented to Cabinet for inclusion in the budget setting process. 

In addition, the impact of the potential implementation of 100% business rates retention was acknowledged, which presently created significant uncertainty to the Council’s medium term financial planning assumptions; however it was noted that the situation highlighted in the report would be monitored and reviewed as information became available, including ensuring the Council continued to lobby and respond to consultations of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in order to make its position clear.

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the budget assumptions (outlined in Appendix A to Report No: PAS/SE/17/034) and timetable (at paragraph 6.1), along with the progress made to date on delivering a balanced budget for 2018-2019 and sustainable budget in the medium term, be noted; and

(2)     the proposals, as detailed in Section 5 and Table 2 at paragraph 5.1 of Report No: PAS/SE/17/034, be included in securing a balanced budget for 2018-2019.