Issue - decisions

(i)         This budget continues the Administration’s sound financial policies.  It delivers efficiencies to fund frontline service improvements and a 0% increase in Council Tax.  Brent currently has the fourth lowest council tax out of the 20 outer London boroughs.  This budget has been produced despite the backdrop of the worst economic conditions for more than a generation, combined with Central Government breaking funding pledges on concessionary fares, which has required the Council to find £1.5m to protect the full scheme for all residents;

(ii)        We have also developed a planned and innovative response to address the Government’s cuts in resources. The Improvement and Efficiency Strategy is aimed at fundamental service transformation to raise the quality of frontline services, while at the same time taking costs out of the organisation to meet the challenges in the medium term;

(iii)       We have provided over £9m of growth to fund our priorities.  This includes:

£2.3m for Child Protection Services;

£1m on Adult Social Care;

£60k on recycling;

£250k on supporting the redevelopment of Brent’s secondary schools;

£800k on sport and youth activities;

£245k on combating climate change and carbon reduction;

£500k on Temporary Accommodation;

£100k on extra library books;

£68k for additional CCTV.

(vi)       We note that the Council has won £85m of additional funding for secondary schools through Building Schools for the Future, and £23m for Primary Schools to help modernise our schools and allow us to use them as wider community facilities;

(v)        The Executive notes the comments and recommendations of the Budget Panel and thanks them for their informed input into the overall process;

(vi)       The Executive notes the report and agrees to forward it as amended by:

Decisions of the Schools Forum on 8^th February 2010 and any consequent changes due to these; and

any other changes to the budget figures from updated information;

to Full Council on 1^st March 2010 who are asked to agree recommendations 2.1 to 2.38;

(vi)       That it be noted that this report will be amended by the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources prior to the council budget setting meeting to reflect changes per paragraph 6.