The report proposes the Budget for 2016/17 and updates the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) approved by Council in February 2015.

RESOLVED

1.         That the response to consultation with Overview and Scrutiny, as set out in Appendix K to the Executive report, and the response to consultation with the public and stakeholders, as set out in Appendix A to the Executive report, be noted.

2.         That the Council Tax Base as set out in Appendix G to the Executive report, be noted.

3.         That certain efficiency proposals identified in Appendix I to the Executive report be noted, as they will be subject to formal consultation and Equality Impact Assessment in the coming months.  If, following a review of the outcome of the consultations and Equality Impact Assessments any of the specific proposals cannot be delivered, the Corporate Management Team be instructed to propose alternative compensatory savings.

4.         That the additional transitional funding be noted.

5.         That Officers be instructed to make any necessary detailed changes, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to the budget allocations, as set out in the detailed appendices to the report, as a consequence of the late amendment, for final presentation to Council.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.         That the Revenue Budget for 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2016/17 to 2019/20 be approved.

2.         That in line with Government guidance, the following increases in council tax (CBC element) for residents of Central Bedfordshire be approved:

(a)       a Band D increase of £25.51, representing a 1.95% increase on the charge for 2015/16; and

(b)       a Band D increase of £26.17, representing a 2.0% increase on the charge for 2015/16, reflecting a precept of this amount to help fund adult social care costs.

In total the Band D increase will be £51.68, representing a 3.95% increase in the charge for 2015/16.  The CBC element of Band D council tax for 2016/17 will therefore be £1,360.01.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the proposed budget for 2016/17 and updated Medium Term Financial Plan. The Executive Member drew attention to the comments and recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees on the proposals and summarised the outcome of public consultation.

The budget for 2016/17 set out the Council’s finances and identified the efficiencies required in the light of the reduction in  Government funding and other pressures.  £15.3m of efficiencies had been identified for 2016/17 and a further £30m of efficiencies were required over the subsequent three years to achieve the proposed MTFP.

Guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government made clear the Government’s expectation that upper tier councils would raise council tax by both a 2% precept earmarked for adult social care and an assumed 1.75% for inflation in each of the next four years.

The Executive was advised that late on the previous day, the Secretary of State had announced additional, transitional funding covering two years only, in recognition of the impact of the loss of Revenue Support Grant. A short report was therefore tabled, explaining the impact of this announcement  which was to provide the Council with  £2.2m in 2016/17 and a similar amount in the subsequent year. This would reduce the need for  the Council to draw on its reserves in 2016/17.

Further work would be undertaken to evaluate the final Financial Settlement and to ensure that this was reflected in the detailed appendices presented to Council on 25 February 2016 as part of the Executive’s budget and MTFP proposals.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to consider the proposed budget for 2016/17 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/17 – 2019/20.

RESOLVED

1.         to note  the response to consultation with the overview and scrutiny committees as set out in Appendices K and K(i) to the Executive report, and the response to consultation with the public and stakeholders as set out in Appendix A to the Executive report;

2.         to note  the Council Tax Base as set out in Appendix G to the Executive report;

3.         that certain efficiency proposals identified in Appendix I to the Executive report be noted, as they would be subject to formal consultation and Equality Impact Assessment in the coming months. If, following a review of the outcome of the consultations and Equality Impact Assessments any of the specific proposals cannot be delivered, the Corporate Management Team be instructed to propose alternative compensatory savings;

4.         that the additional transitional funding be noted;

5.         that Officers be instructed to make any necessary detailed changes, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to the budget allocations, as set out in the detailed appendices to the report, as a consequence of the late amendment, for final presentation to Council.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.            that the Revenue Budget for 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2016/17 to 2019/20, be approved;

2.         that in line with Government guidance, the following increases in council tax (CBC element) for residents of Central Bedfordshire be approved:

(a)       a Band D increase of £25.51, representing a 1.95% increase on the charge for 2015/16; and

(b)       a Band D increase of £26.17, representing a 2.0% increase on the charge for 2015/16, reflecting a precept of this amount to help fund adult social care costs.

In total the Band D increase will be £51.68, representing a 3.95% increase in the charge for 2015/16.  The CBC element of Band D council tax for 2016/17 will therefore be £1,360.01.

Note: Cllr Tubb left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.