To consider the draft Budget, updated Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme pertaining to the Regeneration and Community Services Directorate only.  Information that is relevant to the other directorates will be considered in the other relevant OSC meetings.   Members are requested to submit their comments, observations and recommendations in respect of the Executive’s proposals with particular reference to the Regeneration and Community Services Directorate proposals, to the meeting of the Executive on 09 February 2016.

Members are requested to bring their copies of the Executive report with them to the meeting (hard copies will not be provided).  The report is available at the following website:-

http://centralbeds.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=4921&Ver=4

The Senior Finance Manager delivered a report highlighting financial pressures, proposed efficiency savings, consultation timelines and a proposed increase to Council Tax of 3.75%, 2% of which would be ring fenced for Social Care funding. In light of the report Members discussed the difficulties the Council faced in light of the government settlement and acknowledged that any increase in Council Tax would not provide additional funds, but help mitigate the unexpected shortfall.

Members acknowledged that programmes within the Draft Capital Programme would directly impact revenue payments and queried whether a more robust effort with regards to the sale of capital assets should be made. In response the Director for Community Services confirmed that a comprehensive review of methods to improve targets would be carried out and subsequently considered by the Corporate Resources OSC.

NOTED the report and endorsed the proposed efficiencies as detailed within the Draft Budget, recognising possible changes to figures in light of the government settlement.

RECOMMENDED that a further report detailing final figures be brought to the Committee in March 2016.