Issue - meetings

Cabinet, at its meeting on 12 February 2018, will consider the report of the head of finance on the draft revenue budget 2018/19, and the capital programme to 2022/23.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet will consider on 12 February 2018, has been circulated to all councillors. Please bring this to the Council meeting. 

The Scrutiny Committee considered this report at its meeting on 6 February 2018. Any views or recommendations will be reported to Council.

Cabinet’s recommendations will be circulated to all councillors prior to the Council meeting. 

The Chairman referred to regulations that require councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the budget, including amendments, and the council tax. In accordance with the regulations she would call for a named vote on each of these matters at this meeting.

The Chairman reminded councillors that they were not entitled to vote on any issue affecting the level or administration of the council tax or other decisions which might affect the making of any such calculation such as the budget, if they were over two months in arrears with their council tax payments. Where such circumstances applied, councillors were under a statutory obligation to disclose the restriction placed on them and refrain from voting at the relevant meeting. No councillor made any such declaration.

Council noted the report of the chief finance officeron the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

Councillor Murphy, Cabinet member for finance, presented the Cabinet’s proposals for the revenue budget 2018/19 and capital programme to 2022/23. On behalf of the council she thanked officers for their part in continuing to control costs and in preparing the draft budget. She also thanked the Budget Working Group for its support. Councillor Turner, Leader of the Opposition Forum, also thanked officers and Councillor Murphy for the involving the Opposition Forum in the budget preparations. 

Councillor Murphy moved and Councillor Cotton seconded a motion to approve Cabinet’s recommendations as follows:

1.    set the revenue budget for 2018/19 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 12 February 2018; 

2.    approve the capital programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of the report; 

3.   set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report, 

4.   approve the medium term financial plan to 2022/23 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report; 

5.   allocate £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital and Revenue Grant Scheme. 

A number of councillors expressed support for the budget and specifically the inclusion of £100,000 to investigate and implement improvements to air quality and identify green travel initiatives in the district, funds to meet the shortfall in CCTV running costs as a result of Thames Valley Police reducing its ongoing contribution and measures taken to address the long term sustainability of the council by matching revenue against expenditure and reducing the reliance on reserves. 

In accordance with regulations requiring councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the council tax the Chairman called for a recorded vote which was carried with the voting being as follows:

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

SEE SEPARATE PACK

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report.  This brought together all relevant information to allow Cabinet to recommend to Council a revenue budget for 2018/19 and a capital programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23.  The Medium Term Financial Plan was included, which provided details of the forward budget model for the next five years.  The report also recommended the prudential indicators to be set by the Council in accordance with ‘the Prudential Code’, introduced as part of the Local Government Act 2003. 

The Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the budget report and had supported it.  Cabinet considered that the budget showed prudence and careful financial planning, while keeping council tax low. 

RECOMMENDED: to Council to

(a)      set the revenue budget for 2018/19 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance’s report to Cabinet on 12 February 2018;

(b)      approve the capital programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance’s report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of the report;

(c)       set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance’s report,

(d)      approve the medium term financial plan to 2022/23 as set out in appendix F.1 to the head of finance’s report;

(e)      allocate £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital and Revenue Grant Scheme;

RESOLVED: to

(f)        maintain car park fees and charges at current levels; and

(g)      agree that the Cabinet member for finance may make minor adjustments to this report and the prudential indicators, in conjunction with the head of finance, should they prove necessary following the publication of the final local government settlement and prior to its submission to Council on 15 February 2018.