Agenda item

To consider the draft budget for 2010/11 and recommend its adoption to the Council. 

Note that the budget papers will be circulated as a separate document before the meeting. 

(Time: 2.44pm to 2.54pm)

(Councillors Jenny Hannaby and Angela Lawrence each declared personal interests in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34, they remained in the meeting during its consideration.) 

The Executive received and considered report 109/09 of the Head of Finance that set out draft Executive budget proposals for 2010/11 to 2014/15.  The portfolio holder for finance presented the report.  This included a medium term financial plan covering the same period, schedules of unavoidable budget adjustments, savings, growth proposals, the capital programme, and car parking charges.  The Executive noted that the revised scheme of delegation gave authority to directors and heads of service to determine the fees and charges to be levied for all council services, excluding car parking charges. 

Tabled at the meeting was an addendum to the report, with amended recommendations and additional appendices showing one-year supplies and services budget reductions (appendix G), and a schedule of proposed partnership grants for 2010/11 (appendix H). 

The portfolio holder reported that the preparation of the budget had been more difficult this year than in previous years.  However, through careful management, the proposed budget showed the council would have robust balances at the end of the medium term financial plan period.  Council Tax increases would be maintained at reasonable levels of 3.9 per cent per annum.  The savings proposed were in low or minimum risk areas.  Some parking charges would increase—the first increase in three years—but there would be no charge after 4pm.  Staff were thanked for their input to the budget preparation and in identifying savings. 

In forming the budget proposals the Executive had listened to the consultation responses and made some adjustments.  The Executive had also considered the equality impact assessments of the proposed savings.  The amended budget proposals were recommended to the Council for adoption on 17 February 2010.   

R E C O M M E N D E D

(a)       that the Council approves:

(i)                 the Medium Term Financial Plan 2010/11 to 2014/15;

(ii)               the inclusion of unavoidable service budget adjustments within the council’s budget;

(iii)             the inclusion of savings within the council’s budget;

(iv)             the inclusion of the growth proposals within the council’s budget;

(v)               the items proposed for the Capital Programme 2010/11 and to note possible future capital schemes for 2011/12;

(vi)             the car parking fees and charges as proposed;

(vii)           the inclusion of the one-year supplies and services budget reductions;

(viii)         the payment of grants to external organisations;

(b)       that the savings set out in appendix C to the report be agreed and the officers be authorised to take all necessary steps to achieve those savings; and

RESOLVED

(c)        that authority be delegated to the portfolio holder with responsibility for finance to make minor changes to the Executive’s budget proposals, if necessary, to take account of unforeseen issues prior to the Council considering the proposals at its meeting on the 17 February 2010, provided that the portfolio holder notifies the Council of any such changes at that meeting.