Agenda item

Report to follow

The Assistant Chief Officer and Treasurer introduced his report on the proposed budget for 2023/24.

As part of his introduction, the Assistant Chief Officer and Treasurer reminded Members that they had previously discussed the proposed budget and accompanying documents at two specific Member Budget Workshops.

Members were being asked to agree a revenue budget requirement of £34.78 million with a Council Tax precept of £25.043 million, which equated to a £5 increase for a Band D property up to £109.45, or £2.10 per week. Two Medium Term Revenue Plans were being presented for consideration, with different assumptions on the pay increase to be awarded. An updated Capital programme, Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Treasurer’s report on the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves were also presented for consideration.

No new borrowing was being proposed as part of the budget, and any business cases for new investment would be presented to Members in future as they arose.

It was noted that Members had agreed earlier in the meeting to allocate any underspend from 2022/23 to the pay and pensions reserves to top up these reserves as they were being used to balance the budget over the medium term. Previous discussions had identified the need for a contaminants reserve and £200,000 had been allocated accordingly.

In relation to the Capital Programme, the cost of five new rescue pumps was being divided into stage payments, with the first stage payment in 2023/24 and the second and third stage payments in 2024/25. ICT and property projects were currently being funded from reserves.

The golden thread linking projects in the Capital Programme to the Community Risk Management Plan priorities was highlighted. 

In discussing the two proposals for the budgeting for the pay increase, and public sector pay more generally, Members supported budgeting for the increase as set out in Appendix 1, as this appeared to be the more prudent option. The impact of a larger pay increase could be dealt with during the year if required.

The high level of uncertainty around the settlement was recognised, as was the impact of possible future changes to business rates, and concern was expressed about the budget gap over the medium term. This would have to be addressed in future budgets.

The recommendations relating to the revenue budget requirement of £34.784 million, with a corresponding precept of £25.043 million and a Council Tax increase of up to £5 were put to the meeting, as well as the associated recommendations, and the votes recorded thereon were as follows:

For the Recommendations (9)           Councillors R Berry, J Burnett, J Chatterley, K Choudhry, P Duckett, M Headley, I Shingler, D McVicar and Y Waheed

Therefore, these recommendations were carried unanimously.

Councillor Atkins commented that if she had been present at the meeting, she would have voted in favour of the budget proposals.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report be considered and it be determined that for 2023/24:

a. A Revenue Budget requirement is set at £34.748m, met as indicated in paragraph 3.7 of the report.

b. In meeting this budget requirement, the Authority’s Precept be set at £25.043m and that consequently, a Council Tax increase of £5 up to £109.45 per Band D equivalent property, calculated as shown in Paragraph 3.7 of the report be approved.

c. In order to meet the Precept requirement, the Treasurer be authorised to issue Precepts in the necessary form to each of the Unitary Councils and for the amounts indicated in Paragraph 3.10 of the report.

2. That the Medium-Term Revenue Plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved, and that the allocation of the £1 million Pay Reserve to be used within 2023/24, as well as the 2023/24 savings and efficiencies detailed at Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

3. That the Medium-Term Capital Programme attached at Appendix 3 to the report be approved, and the use of the £555,000 capital reserve over the years 2023/24 and 2024/25 be supported.

4. That the Medium-Term Financial Strategy attached at Appendix 4 and the Reserves Strategy at Appendix 5 to the report be approved.

5. That in considering the above recommendations, the Treasurer’s statement on the robustness of estimates included in the budget and the adequacy of the reserves for which the budget provides, attached at Appendix 6 to the report, be noted.

6. That any budget amendments, following receipt of the final settlement figures, be delegated to the Treasurer and Chief Fire Officer.