Issue - meetings

This report sets out Cabinet’s proposals for the Capital and Revenue Budget for 2023/24. In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the Capital and Revenue Budget, rent increases and Council Tax for 2023/24.

Background:

This report provided details of the revenue and capital budget proposals for 2023/24.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 15 November 2022. On 19 December 2022 the Government had published the provisional local government settlement, with details of the funding announcements and their impact on Medway Council’s budget being set out in a report considered by the Cabinet on 10 January 2023.

In accordance with the budget and policy framework rules within the Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committees had then considered the Cabinet’s proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft budget on 7 February 2023.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix 11 to the report, summarised the results of Diversity Impact Assessments. These had been completed for each of the services affected by the proposed budget changes.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the following recommendations, as amended from those set out in section 24 of the report:

24.             “Revised recommendations

24.1.        The Council is asked to approve the following recommendations with the revisions highlighted in bold text as set out below:

24.2.        Agree the recommendations of the Employment Matters Committee on 24 January 2023 as set out in Section 9:

·       a general cost of living increase of £1,000 (pro-rata) for all staff,

·       creation of a gap in pay ranges 1-4 through the introduction of a £500 gap, as detailed in paragraphs 7.6-7.8 of that report, and

·       Full Council delegate to the Chief Executive the authority to agree the competency-based awards for staff assessed under MedPay at Levels 1A and 1B.

24.3          Approve the general fund gross, income and net revenue estimates as summarised in Appendix 1 to the report in the sum of £388.269million incorporating the following savings and additions:

Additions:

24.4          Approve the additions to the capital programme set out in Table 7 of the report.

24.5          Note the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept requirement, as set out in paragraph 15.2 of the report;

24.6          Note the proposed Kent Fire and Rescue Service precept requirement, as set out in paragraph 15.3 of the report;

24.7          Note the parish council precept requirements of £614,994 as detailed in paragraph 15.4 of the report and at Appendix 6 to the report;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 633

Background:

The Cabinet accepted the report as urgent to enable consideration of the matter at the earliest opportunity given that the final budget was due to be submitted to the next scheduled Council meeting on 23 February 2023.

This report presented proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2023/2024. It was noted that the Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 15 November 2022, which had identified a potential revenue shortfall of £28.683million in 2023/2024.

The report stated that at the time of writing, there was still a deficit of £2.026millionto resolve. Options were being considered to address this prior to the Council’s budget setting meeting on 23 February 2023 and if measures to address the deficit were not identified, then it would need to be met from the Council’s reserves.

The current capital programme for 2022/2023 was £427.356 million, with a further £2.070million estimated for proposed additions to the programme for the next financial year, as detailed at section 14 of the report. It was noted that budget proposals had been referred to all the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for consideration. The Overview and Scrutiny Committees’ views together with the recommendations of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee (25 January 2023) were set out for Cabinet at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report set out the requirements under equality legislation and it was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment would be included in the budget report to Full Council on 23 February 2023.