Decision details

To note the council's deliberations for the 2016/17 general fund revenue budget and agree the next step in the budgeting process

This item had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the item as urgent as the council was committed to publishing budget proposal at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure the information was available to the public for comments and questions.

Additionally, the report was urgent because of the significant impact of the 2015 spending review announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 25 November 2015.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the spending review presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as part of his Autumn Statement on 25 November 2015 be noted.

2.  That it be noted that the provisional grant settlement is currently forecast to be available at some time later in December 2015 and will provide more detail with regard to the council’s funding position for 2016/17.

3.  That it be noted that, at this time, it is unclear what indicative provisional settlements will be made beyond 2016/17 although total resources available to local government during this period are referred to in the Autumn Statement.

4.  That it be noted that in year cuts to the public health grant have been confirmed at around £1.6m while the public health grant for 2016/17 is still to be announced.

5.  That it be noted that the government is proposing a 2% precept on council tax to support adult social care and that there is no clear indication at this time as to how this arrangement will operate, not least in the context of council tax freeze grant and council tax referendum limits.

6.  That it be noted that while the period to be covered by the provisional draft settlement is not known at this time, that the aspiration remains to set a three year budget for the council.

7.  That the challenge to find further savings of around £96m over the next three years set out for the council at cabinet in September and the continuing commitment of the council to minimise the impact of these real term resource pressures on service delivery be noted.

8.  The initial and provisional savings options of around £67m identified within the report be considered.

9.  That assuming the savings options included within the report are approved, it be noted that there will be an estimated budget gap that remains over the three year period of around £29m and that the strategic director of finance and governance be instructed to submit a further report to cabinet in January 2016 to include a balanced budget proposal for 2016/17 and indicative budgets for the following two years together with an update of the medium term resourcing strategy.

10.  That officers be instructed to complete equality assessments for all budget options to be proposed as part of the January report to cabinet.

11.  That officers be instructed to complete the two phases of consultation with the community on the overall approach and on the specific proposals in the 2016/17 to 2018/19 budget and that this be fed into the policy and resources strategy report to cabinet in January and the report to council assembly in February 2016.

12.  That the local discount for empty and unfurnished properties be set to zero be agreed with effect from 1 April 2016, and that this recommendation be referred to council assembly to be formally approved on 20 January 2016 as part of the 2016/17 council tax base report.