Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to set out the Council’s budget proposals for 2020/21 and beyond.  It includes key activities in relation to setting the 2020/21 budget, including the consultation process, dealing with any surplus on the Council’s collection fund and the updating of technical budget assumptions since they were last presented to Cabinet in July 2019.  It also provides a general update on the overall financial position, including an assessment of the Government’s one-year spending review and other reforms to Local Government finances.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the overall financial position.

(2)     Agrees to consult on the budget proposals as set out in Appendices A, B and C.

(3)     That Cabinet agrees to consult on council tax increases of 3.99% in 2020/21, subject to the legislative uncertainty set out in section four of this report.

(4)     Endorses the approach to the statutory process of consultation, scrutiny and equalities between November 2019 and January 2020, as set out in section seven of the report.

(5)     Endorses the changes to the technical budget assumptions underpinning the budget as set out in section four of this report.

(6)     Agrees the estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax and Business Rates for 2020/21 as nil (no surplus or deficit) as set out in section six of the report.

(7)     Notes the position with regard to the School funding reform proposals, as set out in section eight.

(8)     Agrees to consult on a rent increase of 2.7% for the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, as set out in section nine and Appendix D of the report.

(9)     Notes the key assumptions in the HRA business plan, as set out in Appendix D of the report.

(10)   Notes the position with regard to the Capital programme, as set out in section ten of the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the overall financial position.

(2)     Agrees to consult on the budget proposals as set out in Appendices A, B and C.

(3)     That Cabinet agrees to consult on council tax increases of 3.99% in 2020/21, subject to the legislative uncertainty set out in section four of this report.

(4)     Endorses the approach to the statutory process of consultation, scrutiny and equalities between November 2019 and January 2020, as set out in section seven of the report.

(5)     Endorses the changes to the technical budget assumptions underpinning the budget as set out in section four of this report.

(6)     Agrees the estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax and Business Rates for 2020/21 as nil (no surplus or deficit) as set out in section six of the report.

(7)     Notes the position with regard to the School funding reform proposals, as set out in section eight.

(8)     Agrees to consult on a rent increase of 2.7% for the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, as set out in section nine and Appendix D of the report.

(9)     Notes the key assumptions in the HRA business plan, as set out in Appendix D of the report.

(10)   Notes the position with regard to the Capital programme, as set out in section ten of the report.