Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

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

There were no declarations of party whipping.

To receive any questions from members of the public provided that a question does not relate to:

·       Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·       Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers.

If you would like to ask a question at this meeting, it must be submitted to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Tuesday 30^th November 2021. Please telephone 01452 396203 if you require any support.

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

There were no petitions and deputations.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which sets out the Draft Money Plan for the period 2022 to 2027 and Budget Proposals for 2022 to 2023.

The format for the session will be as follows:

1.    The Leader of the Council will introduce the report.

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

Each Cabinet Member will then present their respective portfolios in the following order:

1.    Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources

2.    Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure

3.    Cabinet Member for Environment

4.    Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods

5.    Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy.

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.

77.1    The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report and provided an overview of the draft Money Plan 2022/23 and budget book. He explained that Overview and Scrutiny Committee was being asked to consider the report and that Cabinet was being asked to resolve that the assumptions contained in the draft Money Plan and any revisions to the draft revenue budget be noted. He also confirmed that the draft Money Plan and appendices would be updated when the Council received further information regarding Local Government financing.

77.2    The Leader of the Council explained that the draft Money Plan outlined the Council’s strategic approach to the management of its finances and covered the General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Earmarked Reserves. He noted that it also set out the significant financial risks the Council faced over the next few years and proposed action to help reduce those risks.

77.3    The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources confirmed that the major theme identified through the quarterly financial monitoring reports was the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the Council’s finances. She also explained that the upcoming Local Government settlement announcement could have an impact on the draft Money Plan. The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources paid tribute to the Head of Policy and Resources and the Finance team for their hard work in preparing the draft Money Plan. She further noted that the budget consultation would be live online the following day, 7^th December 2021, and encouraged Members to promote and take part in the consultation so that as much feedback could be collected from residents as possible.

77.4    Councillor Wilson asked for the Cabinet Members’ views as to whether the assumptions contained in the Money Plan were over optimistic on inflation, referring to his understanding that the VAT shelter reserve increase was a one-off. The Head of Policy and Resources confirmed that the VAT shelter was a 15-year agreement following the stock transfer. He noted that the benefits were shared proportionately and were agreed at the point of the stock transfer.

77.5    Councillor Hilton referred to the narrative on the October Spending Review at 4.5 which suggested that through the Settlement Funding Assessment, there would be increases in funding for district Councils. He asked for an indication on what this funding would need to be spent on and whether it would be ringfenced for a particular purpose. The Head of Policy and Resources noted that the increased funding was part of the Spending Review announcement and that he hoped that further details would be provided in the Local Government Finance Settlement which was expected later in December.

77.6    The Chair referred to the Budget Pressures and Efficiencies outlined in Appendix 2 and requested clarification on the £70k savings in Democratic Services. The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources clarified that financial years with no elections resulted in savings and where an election took place, it would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Monday 10^th January 2022 at 6.30pm in Civic Suite, North Warehouse.

Monday 10^th January 2022.