Agenda and minutes

1.1         There were no declarations of interest.

To declare if any issues to be covered in the Agenda are under party whip.

2.1                   There were no declarations of an existence of a party whip.

3.1                   There were no public questions.

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

4.1                   There were no petitions or deputations.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which sets out the draft Money Plan for the period 2018 to 2023 and Budget Proposals for 2018 to 2019.

The format for the session will be as follows:-

1. Leader of the Council will introduce the report.

2. The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources will add his comments on the report.

Each Cabinet Member will then present their respective portfolios in the following order (as set out in Appendix 5):-

1. Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy.

2. Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources.

3. Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure.

4. Cabinet Member for Environment.

5. Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods.

6. Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

During their presentations the Cabinet Members will address the following points:-

1. Current staffing levels.

2. Financial pressures for next year, including any potential reduction in income streams.

3. The proposed budget savings in their area for next year and how these will impact on the services they provide.

4. Any new income streams identified during the process.

5. The main priorities for their portfolio and whether any have changed as a result of the Draft Money Plan

5.1       The Chair invited the Leader of The Council, Councillor James and the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, Councillor D. Norman to address the Committee.

5.2       Councillor James provided an overview of the draft Money Plan and Budget Proposal stating that the Council had made savings of £1.6 million in the year 2017/18 which had built on savings of £10 million in previous years. He confirmed that, as it stood, the Money Plan and Budget Proposal were drafts and subject to being updated once details of the Local Government settlement were released.

5.3       He advised the Committee that, due to an overachievement with regard to savings targets in the previous year, the proposed savings for the year 2018/19 were £200k. Next year’s savings would relate to changes in the way of working with MGL and the Voluntary Sector as well as the first expected income from the Council’s Property Investment Strategy.

5.4       Councillor James confirmed that the budget included both revenue and the capital programme, in which the completion of the new Bus Station in 2018 had been budgeted for. He further advised that The Kings Walk property deal had had a significant impact on long term revenue planning.  As such, the Council was able to introduce a revenue saving of £0.505 million - the net benefit of rental arrangements.  This deal had also strengthened the Council’s cash position and the savings requirement had been reduced by £450k.

5.5       Councillor Norman continued to present an overview of the Money Plan and proposed Budget stating that Local Government across the country faced a difficult financial outlook and pressures were set to continue.

5.6       He advised that the New Homes Bonus was a risk of which to be aware and that the Cabinet was concerned that Central Government would make further changes to the level of deadweight.

5.7       Councillor Norman expressed the view that the future of Local Government finance must be built on partnership working and shared services with both first-tier and second-tier authorities where appropriate. He stated that delivering services to residents was a challenge under current financial pressures but a challenge the Council approached positively to deliver the best possible.

5.8       In response to an intervention from Councillor Wilson regarding discrepancies in the General Fund reserve, Jon Topping (Head of Policy and Resource) explained that the introduction by Central Government of deadweight had affected this and that more would be gained from the New Homes Bonus when, for example, new student accommodation was completed. He also stated that the Council was financially stronger as the earmarked reserves had been built to a greater level and, with the King’s Walk deal, greater reserves would be in place.

5.9       Councillor Pullen asked where plans stood in relation to the reduction or changing of service delivery. He further enquired, in relation to the Leader of the Council stating that it was an aim for communities to be more self-empowered, what exactly were communities expected to do themselves.

5.10    Councillor James responded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Monday 8th January 2018 at 6.30pm

6.1       8^th January 2018 at 6.30pm.