Skip to main content

Agenda item

Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25

Report to follow

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 1 February.

 

Invited

Councillor Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer

 

 

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader (as the Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the item and outlined the Council’s financial position. Following debate at the Full Council meeting in November the Council resolved to request a budget with a surplus, which the Deputy Leader stated was reflected within the budget.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) added that they were still awaiting the final Local Government settlement, which was due in February.

 

Members discussed the report, and asked questions of the Cabinet Member and Deputy Leader, during which the following points were raised;

  • The risks outlined in the report, and how this related to the Publica review. The Deputy Leader stated that the assumption was that there was no update in the cost of services for the 2024/25 financial year, but that the Committee would be updated if this were to change.
  • Members highlighted the value of member training on financial matters, and the Deputy Chief Executive took the opportunity to remind Members of the upcoming briefing on the Budget the following week.
  • Members also discussed that other authorities had been able to charge more council tax following a referendum, but the Deputy Leader stated this would be too risky due to a cost of £200,000 to hold a referendum with no guarantee on income. It was also stated that the Council had lobbied the Government through the LGA for a raising of the council tax limit without a referendum requirement from £5 to £10 (for a band D property), but this had been declined.
  • Some minor typographical and syntax errors were noted. It was confirmed that they would be addressed.
  • Members discussed that the only tools available to the Council to achieve a balanced budget were to increase charges and cut spending on services, the Deputy Leader stated that it was important to look at ways to reduce cost through efficient delivery, and take difficult decisions as early as possible to maximise income.  However, there was still an expected funding gap between spending and Government funding in future years, which is why the Council required a surplus in the coming financial year.
  • Efficiencies through better use of technology were also discussed, which various service areas such as planning were exploring.
  • Members asked for further detail on the environmental spending, which the Deputy Chief Executive stated could be found in Annex D of the report.
  • Members also asked about further investment of £1.2million into leisure centres which was being made, noting that the service had been contracted to a new provider. It was stated that this was for refurbishment and improvement to these, such as structural improvements and roof works.

 

The Chair recognised the work of Officers and Members and thanked them.

 

RESOLVED: To note the report.

Supporting documents:

 

Related Pages