Agenda item

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Community Safety on the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2021/22-2024/25.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Community Safety (Councillor Clive Moesby) presented the Medium Term Financial Plan 2021/22 to 2024/25 report to Members. The report provided Members with an overview of the Council’s financial position, and sought to approve the proposed budget for 2021/22 for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan covering the years 2021/22 to 2024/25. 

Councillor Ross Walker referred to the part of the General Fund Detail (Appendix 2) table titled ‘G170 S106 Outdoor Sports’ and asked why this had increased so much between the original budget (£0) and the revised budget (£292,695). The Section 151 Officer explained that the revised budget amount was the amount of Section 106 money that had been received and was going to be spent.

The recommendations in the report (6.1 to 6.12) were moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Natalie Hoy.

The Chair reminded Members that a recorded vote would be taken on this budget setting motion as per the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

For the motion – 32

(Councillors Adams, Bailey, Bowler, Bryson, Bullock, Cannon, A Clarke, N Clarke, Clifton, Clough, Cooper, D Dixon, M Dixon, Dooley, Downes, Fritchley, Heffer, Hoy, Joesbury, Kane, Kirkham, McGregor, Moesby, Munro, E Parkin, G Parkin, Roberts, Smyth, Turner, Walker, Watson and Wilson.)

Against the motion – 0

Abstentions – 0

It was RESOLVED:

(i) That in the view of the Chief Financial Officer, that the estimates included in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2021/22 to 2024/25 are robust and that the level of financial reserves whilst at minimum levels are adequate, be accepted.

(ii) That officers report back to Executive and to the Budget Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.  These reports to include updates on achieving savings and efficiencies for 2021/22 and future years.  

GENERAL FUND

(iii) A Council Tax increase of £4.99 is levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.75%).

(iv) The Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved as the Revised Budget 2020/21, as the Original Budget in respect of 2021/22, and the financial projection in respect of 2022/23 to 2024/25. 

(v) That any further under spend in respect of 2020/21 is transferred to the Council’s General Fund Reserves.

(vi) On the basis that income from Planning Fees may exceed £0.500m in 2020/21, the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Leader be granted delegated powers to authorise such additional resources as are necessary to effectively manage the resultant increase in workload.

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

(vii) That Council sets its rent levels in line with government policy, increasing rent levels by  CPI (.5%) plus 1% to apply from 1 April 2021. 

(viii) That the increases in respect of other charges as outlined in Appendix 3 Table 1 be implemented with effect from 1 April 2021. 

(ix) The Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 3 of this report be approved as the Revised Budget in respect of 2020/21, as the Original Budget in respect of 2021/22, and the financial projection in respect of 2022/23 to 2024/25.

(x) That under spends in respect of 2020/21 to 2024/25 are transferred to the HRA Revenue Reserve.  

CAPITAL PROGRAMME

(xi) That the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 be approved as the Revised Budget in respect of 2020/21, and as the Approved Programme for 2021/22 to 2024/25.

(xii) That the Head of Property Services and Housing Repairs be granted delegated powers in consultation with the Portfolio Member and the Asset Management group to approve the utilisation of the £260,000 of AMP Refurbishment Work allocation, with such approvals to be reported back to Executive through the Quarterly Budget Monitoring Report.

(Head of Paid Service/Section 151 Officer/Head of Property Services and Housing Repairs)