Issue - meetings

The budget report sets out the key decisions Members are asked to make on: the 2013/14 General Fund revenue budget; the 2013/14 Schools Budget; the 2013/14 Housing Revenue Account; the Council’s capital programme for 2013/14 to 2016/17; the Council’s treasury management strategy; and  prudential indicators aimed at ensuring the affordability of capital spending and a secure approach to borrowing and investment.

(i)         that it be noted that these recommendations only include a provisional Council Tax level for the GLA as its final budget was not agreed when this report was dispatched.  This means that the statutory calculation of the total amount of Council Tax under Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 may be amended by:

(a)          the final Greater London Authority precept; and

(b)          the final local government finance settlement and any other significant changes to the budget figures.

(ii)        that the report as amended for the above be forwarded to Full Council on 25 February 2013 who are asked to:

In respect of Section 3

1          Note the latest forecast for the General Fund outturn (Appendix A(i)) for 2012/13.

2          Agree the 2012/13 budget virements (Appendix A(ii)).

In respect of Section 4

3          Note the process, including consultation that has led to these budget proposals.

4          Agree the General Fund revenue budget for 2013/14, as summarised in Appendix B, or consider any amendments to that budget.

5          Agree the Service Area budgets including the cost pressures, savings, fees and charges and other adjustments detailed in Appendices C and D.

6          Note Appendix F and agree the budgets for central items and other budgets, or consider any amendments to those budgets.

7          Note and, where appropriate, make provision for the contingent liabilities and risks set out in this section of the report.

8          Agree the approach to balances set out in the report.

9          Receive the report from the Chief Finance Officer in paragraph 4.29 in respect of his statutory duty under Section 25 of 2003 Local Government Act.

            In respect of Section 5

10        Note that the GLA precept will be approved at the meeting of the Greater London Assembly on 25 February 2013.

11        Note the information regarding the limitation of council tax increases.

12        Agree there is no surplus or deficit at 31 March 2013 for that part of the Collection Fund relating to community charge.

13        Note and consider the advice of the Director of Legal and Procurement as set out in Appendix M.

14        Agree the instalment dates for council tax and NNDR for 2013/14, and the recovery policy for council tax as set out in Appendix G(ii).

15        Agree that applications for reducing Council Tax payable by persons of pensionable age in receipt of a war widows, war widowers or war disablement pension in accordance with section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out in Appendix G(iv).

16        That decisions on other individual applications for reducing Council Tax payable in accordance with section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 be delegated to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services as set out within this report.

            In respect of Section 6

17        Agree the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the provisional service area cash limits for 2014/15 to 2016/17 set out in Appendix H.

            In respect of Section 7

18        Agree the  ...  view the full decision text for item 23

Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Resources) introduced the report from the Deputy Director of Finance which set out the recommendations members were asked to make on the 2013/14 Budget and Council Tax levels. She referred to public concern over the financial situation, recently expressed in consultation meetings. Councillor R Moher drew attention to the probable outturn 2012/13 and the 2013/14 revenue budget requirement. The minimum level of balances recommended of £12m was set aside to allow for identified risks and medium term financial planning. Councillor R Moher advised that stakeholders had been involved since the First Reading Debate at Full Council in November and she drew members’ attention to progress made since that time. She cautioned that the financial position was likely to worsen next year with the introduction of welfare reform and the transfer of responsibility for youth remand costs. Councillor R Moher acknowledged the success of the One Council Programme which had significantly reduced in the budget gap and referred the Executive to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that it be noted that these recommendations only include a provisional Council Tax level for the GLA as its final budget was not agreed when this report was dispatched.  This means that the statutory calculation of the total amount of Council Tax under Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 may be amended by:

(a)          the final Greater London Authority precept; and

(b)          the final local government finance settlement and any other significant changes to the budget figures.

(ii)        that the report as amended for the above be forwarded to Full Council on 25 February 2013 who are asked to:

In respect of Section 3

1          Note the latest forecast for the General Fund outturn (Appendix A(i)) for 2012/13.

2          Agree the 2012/13 budget virements (Appendix A (ii)).

In respect of Section 4

3          Note the process, including consultation that has led to these budget proposals.

4          Agree the General Fund revenue budget for 2013/14, as summarised in Appendix B, or consider any amendments to that budget.

5          Agree the Service Area budgets including the cost pressures, savings, fees and charges and other adjustments detailed in Appendices C and D.

6          Note Appendix F and agree the budgets for central items and other budgets, or consider any amendments to those budgets.

7          Note and, where appropriate, make provision for the contingent liabilities and risks set out in this section of the report.

8          Agree the approach to balances set out in the report.

9          Receive the report from the Chief Finance Officer in paragraph 4.29 in respect of his statutory duty under Section 25 of 2003 Local Government Act.

In respect of Section 5

10        Note that the GLA precept will be approved at the meeting of the Greater London Assembly on 25 February 2013.

11        Note the information regarding the limitation of council tax increases.

12        Agree there is no surplus or deficit at 31 March 2013 for that part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23