Agenda item

Report No: CAB/FH/15/006

Cabinet Member: Stephen Edwards           Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That:-

1.   The revenue and capital budget for 2015/2016 attached at Attachment A to Report No CAB/FH/15/006 and as detailed in Attachment D, Appendix 1-5 be approved.

2.   Having taken into account the conclusions of the Head of Resources and Performance’s 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 and Appendix 5) and all other information contained in this report, Cabinet recommends a 0% increase in Council Tax for 2015/2016.

3.   The Head of Resources and Performance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, be authorised to transfer any surplus from the 2014/2015 revenue budget to the Invest to Save Reserve as detailed in paragraph 1.8.5, and to vire funds between existing Earmarked Reserves (as set out at Attachment D, Appendix 3) as deemed appropriate throughout the year.

4.  The use of the Council’s discretionary power (S47 Local Government Finance Act ) to provide the transitional relief be approved and delegated authority be given to the Head of Resources and Performance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, to determine the final guidelines for the operation of the transitional relief for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 following the current scheme and guidance issued by Government, as set out in paragraphs 1.4.3 to 1.4.7 of Report No CAB/FH/15/006.

(Report No CAB/FH/15/006)

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Performance presented this report which set out the details of the Council’s proposed revenue and capital budget for 2015/2016.

The Council continued to face considerable financial challenges as a result of uncertainty in the wider economy and constraints in public sector spending.  The approach for delivering the 2015/2016 budget had been that the Council’s resources should be allocated according to its strategic priorities.  In practice, this meant prioritising the projects, actions and themes outlined in the West Suffolk Strategic Plan for 2014-2016, as well as the essential work that the Council needed to do (including its statutory functions).

The Government had, once again, offered to subsidise all councils which agreed to freeze council tax levels by providing a grant equivalent to 1% council tax increase for one year only.

The Cabinet Member had great pleasure in recommending to the Cabinet and the Council, a 0% increase on council tax for 2015/2016.  The Cabinet Member also expressed his thanks to the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for their involvement and input into the budget discussions for 2015/2016 and for all Members and Staff in the development of the 2015/2016 budget.

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That:-

1.           The revenue and capital budget for 2015/2016 attached at Attachment A to Report No CAB/FH/15/006 and as detailed in Attachment D, Appendix 1-5 be approved.

2.           Having taken into account the conclusions of the Head of Resources and Performance’s 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 and Appendix 5) and all other information contained in this report, Cabinet recommends a 0% increase in Council Tax for 2015/2016.

3.           The Head of Resources and Performance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, be authorised to transfer any surplus from the 2014/2015 revenue budget to the Invest to Save Reserve as detailed in paragraph 1.8.5, and to vire funds between existing Earmarked Reserves (as set out at Attachment D, Appendix 3) as deemed appropriate throughout the year.

4.       The use of the Council’s discretionary power (S47 Local Government Finance Act ) to provide the transitional relief be approved and delegated authority be given to the Head of Resources and Performance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, to determine the final guidelines for the operation of the transitional relief for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 following the current scheme and guidance issued by Government, as set out in paragraphs 1.4.3 to 1.4.7 of Report No CAB/FH/15/006.