Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided an update on progress towards setting the Council’s draft capital and revenue budgets for 2019/2020. It was noted that the draft budget was based on the principles contained in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2018/2023, which had been approved by Cabinet on 25 September 2018 and reflected the latest formula grant assumptions. Draft budget requirements for the directorates in 2019/2020 were set out in Appendices 1-4 to the report.

It was reported that there was a £3.189m revenue budget deficit for 2019/2020, increasing to £16.331m by 2022/2023 which would need to be addressed through the budget setting process. Whilst officers had been working with Portfolio Holders to formulate savings proposals to address the projected revenue budget deficit, none of this work had progressed sufficiently to be reflected in the draft budget proposals.

In relation to the capital programme, it was reported that the existing programme, totalling £227.771m for the next three years, reflected planned capital expenditure over the medium term. This did not incorporate recommended additions to the Capital Programme which were detailed at item 14 (Capital Budget Monitoring 2018/19 – Quarter 2) and were due to be reported to Council on 24 January 2019 for approval.

In accordance with the Constitution, this report was the first stage of the budget consultation process leading to further consideration by Cabinet on 5 February 2019 and formal budget and council tax setting by Council on 21 February 2019. Budget proposals would now be submitted to the Council’s overview and scrutiny committees.

Reasons:

It is the responsibility of Cabinet to develop draft budget proposals for consideration by overview and scrutiny committees. These draft proposals are the first stage of the budget consultation process leading to further consideration by Cabinet on 5 February 2019 and formal council tax setting by Council on 21 February 2019.

The timetable for consideration by overview and scrutiny is as follows:

Business Support                                          29 November 2018

Children and Young People                        4 December 2018

Regeneration, Culture and Environment   6 December 2018

Health and Adult Social Care                       13 December 2018

Business Support                                          31 January 2019

Cabinet                                                            5 February 2019

Council                                                            21 February 2019