Agenda item
Budget and Council Tax 2017/18 to 2019/20
This report sets out the recommendations regarding the Budget and Council Tax for 2017/18 to 2019/20 for Cabinet and Full Council to approve.
To follow:
· Appendix K – consultation results
· Equality Impact Assessment
Decision:
RESOLVED:
5.1 Cabinet agreed to recommend to full council an overall 3.99% increase in the Council’s element of council tax for 2017/18 with 2% as a precept for Adult Social Care and a 1.99% general increase.
5.2 Cabinet noted that if the 2% adult social care precept in the Council’s element of council tax is rejected, Adult Social Care expenditure will be cut by £2.1m in 2017/18 from the levels proposed in the paper.
5.3 Cabinet agreed to recommend to full council the General Fund revenue budget for 2017/18, as summarised in Appendix A.
5.4 Cabinet noted the cost pressures, technical adjustments and savings detailed in Appendix B.
5.5 Cabinet noted the dedicated schools’ grants as set out in section 7.
5.6 Cabinet agreed the pension fund contribution rates of 32.5%, 33.8% and 35.0% for 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively.
5.7 Cabinet noted the report from the Budget Scrutiny Panel in Appendix C.
5.8 Agree to recommend to full council the capital programme as set out in Appendix D.
5.9 Agree to recommend to full council the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2017/18 set out in Appendix E.
5.10 Cabinet noted the Prudential Indicators measuring affordability, capital spending, external debt and treasury management set out in Appendix F.
5.11 Cabinet noted the advice of the Chief Legal Officer as set out in Appendix G.
5.12 Cabinet noted the categorisation of Earmarked Reserves and Provisions set out in Appendix H.
5.13 Cabinet agreed, and where relevant agree to recommend to full council, the schedules of fees and charges set out at Appendix I, and the proposed new fees and charges policy in Appendix J, including the officer delegated powers to which it refers.
5.14 Cabinet noted the results of consultation as set out in section 9 and detailed in Appendix K.
Minutes:
Councillor McLennan, Deputy Leader of the Council, introduced the report stating that, over the past two years, central government’s approach to local authority funding has changed.
She stated that, prior to this, the strong policy emphasis had been to encourage councils to freeze council tax and make savings from expenditure budgets as funding from central government was cut. As part of the local government finance settlement for 2016/17, central government removed the financial incentive for councils to freeze council tax.
She stated that, as serious pressures on local government finance caused by demand for adult social care had been identified, central government agreed to a proposal from local government leaders to allow an additional 2% increase in council tax to fund adult social care, making the overall increase allowable without a referendum 3.99%.
Councillor Tom Miller, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, welcomed the budget proposed by the Council’s Administration. He stated that the administration had rightly prioritised services for the most vulnerable residents.
Councillor Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, welcomed the budget. He informed Cabinet colleagues that in comparison with 2009/10, the Council was now spending approximately £10m more on Adult Social Care services. He welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to protect Adult Social Care spending. He stated that colleagues had worked hard, especially across back office functions, to achieve savings innovatively.
Councillor Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Environment, thanked officers within the Environment and Regeneration Directorate for their support during the budget setting process.
Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, thanked Councillor McLennan for steering the budget setting process. He welcomed the wide and inclusive consultation on the budget.
Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills, echoed the words of her fellow Cabinet Members.
In conclusion, Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, thanked his Cabinet colleagues for their significant work in shaping and finalising the budget for consideration. He stated that the financial hardship placed on local authorities by Central Government placed significant pressures on local services. He stated that Brent had prioritised services for vulnerable residents in setting this budget. Going forward, Councillor Butt stated that collaboration with other partners across the borough would be crucial to the effective delivery of services.
RESOLVED:
5.1 Cabinet agreed to recommend to full council an overall 3.99% increase in the Council’s element of council tax for 2017/18 with 2% as a precept for Adult Social Care and a 1.99% general increase.
5.2 Cabinet noted that if the 2% adult social care precept in the Council’s element of council tax is rejected, Adult Social Care expenditure will be cut by £2.1m in 2017/18 from the levels proposed in the paper.
5.3 Cabinet agreed to recommend to full council the General Fund revenue budget for 2017/18, as summarised in Appendix A.
5.4 Cabinet noted the cost pressures, technical adjustments and savings detailed in Appendix B.
5.5 Cabinet noted the dedicated schools’ grants as set out in section 7.
5.6 Cabinet agreed the pension fund contribution rates of 32.5%, 33.8% and 35.0% for 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively.
5.7 Cabinet noted the report from the Budget Scrutiny Panel in Appendix C.
5.8 Agree to recommend to full council the capital programme as set out in Appendix D.
5.9 Agree to recommend to full council the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2017/18 set out in Appendix E.
5.10 Cabinet noted the Prudential Indicators measuring affordability, capital spending, external debt and treasury management set out in Appendix F.
5.11 Cabinet noted the advice of the Chief Legal Officer as set out in Appendix G.
5.12 Cabinet noted the categorisation of Earmarked Reserves and Provisions set out in Appendix H.
5.13 Cabinet agreed, and where relevant agree to recommend to full council, the schedules of fees and charges set out at Appendix I, and the proposed new fees and charges policy in Appendix J, including the officer delegated powers to which it refers.
5.14 Cabinet noted the results of consultation as set out in section 9 and detailed in Appendix K.
Supporting documents:
- budget_report, item 5. PDF 285 KB
- Appendix A - Revenue Budget 201718, item 5. PDF 12 KB
- Appendix B (i) - Savings Previously Agreed, item 5. PDF 148 KB
- Appendix B (ii) - Detailed new policy options 03022017, item 5. PDF 158 KB
- Appendix B (iii) - New Policy Options, item 5. PDF 112 KB
- Appendix B (iv) - Technical Adjustments, item 5. PDF 105 KB
- Appendix B (v) - Service Cost Pressures, item 5. PDF 127 KB
- Appendix C - Budget Scrutiny Panel Report, item 5. PDF 226 KB
- Appendix D - Capital Programme, item 5. PDF 61 KB
- Appendix E - Treasury Management Strategy, item 5. PDF 293 KB
- Appendix F - Prudential Indicators, item 5. PDF 97 KB
- Appendix G - Legal Advice, item 5. PDF 117 KB
- Appendix H - Earmarked Reserves and Provisions, item 5. PDF 44 KB
- Appendix I - Fees & Charges Schedule 201718, item 5. PDF 170 KB
- Appendix J (i) - Fees & Charges 201718, item 5. PDF 97 KB
- Appendix J (ii) - Brent Council Fees and Charges Policy, item 5. PDF 123 KB
- Appendix J (iii) - Fees and Charges Policy - Guidance for Managers, item 5. PDF 237 KB
- [], item 5. PDF 1 KB
- Appendix A (i) - Revenue Budget 201718 Objective Analysis, item 5. PDF 103 KB
- Appendix A (ii) - Revenue Budget 201718 Subjective Analysis, item 5. PDF 109 KB
- Appendix K - Budget Consultation, item 5. PDF 52 KB
- Supplementary Paper - Budget Equality Analyses, item 5. PDF 294 KB