Issue - meetings
Budget Strategy 2011/12 and Beyond
Meeting: 26/07/2010 - Executive (Item 14)
14 Budget Strategy 2011/12 to 2014/15 PDF 258 KB
This report sets out the financial prospects for the Council for the next four years within the context of unprecedented reductions in funding for local authorities. It seeks Executive approval for the overall budget strategy based on the One Council Programme. This aims to deliver cost reductions through a planned and strategic approach to service provision. This will be mindful of the priority objectives which will be set out in the new Corporate Strategy.
Decision:
(i) that the latest forecast for the council’s revenue budget for 2011/12 to 2014/15 at Appendix A to the report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources and the assumptions used to derive this be noted;
(ii) that the overall budget process set out in the report be endorsed;
(iii) that the proposed budget timetable be noted.
Minutes:
Councillor Butt (Lead Member, Resources) introduced the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources report which set out the financial prospects for the council for the next four years within the context of unprecedented reductions in funding for local authorities. It sought Executive approval for the overall budget strategy based on the One Council Programme which aimed to deliver cost reductions through a planned and strategic approach to service provision. Councillor Butt referred to the further announcement expected in October 2010 as part of the comprehensive spending review, a 25% reduction announced in the central government’s emergency budget. The One Council programme would be part of the initiatives to help bridge the funding gap. Councillor Butt argued that the spending cuts were being forced on the council by the coalition government and he regretted the adverse impact on residents and services.
The Director of Finance and Corporate Resources in response to questions on spending assumptions advised that projection figures would have to be revised and central government were being pushed to give consistent messages more certainty. This also applied to housing benefit proposals the position on which was also unclear. Attention was drawn to the increasing levels of inescapable growth and the Director advised that this was in main comprised of waste charges and the cost of freedom passes.
The Executive agreed the recommendations.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the latest forecast for the council’s revenue budget for 2011/12 to 2014/15 at Appendix A to the report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources and the assumptions used to derive this be noted;
(ii) that the overall budget process set out in the report be endorsed;
(iii) that the proposed budget timetable be noted.