Issue - meetings

Councillor I C Bates, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 4th and 18th October and 22nd November 2007.

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In connection with Item No. 38, the Executive Councillor for Finance, Councillor T V Rogers referred to the uncertainty which continued to under-pin the preparation of the draft 2008/09 budget.  Councillor Rogers added that whilst information regarding the level of Revenue Support Grant to be awarded to the Council had not yet been received, it had been decided that additional funding for concessionary fares would be provided by a specific grant from April 2008 for a period of not less than three years.  Although there was not yet any indication of the Government’s attitude to capping, Councillor Rogers envisaged a Council Tax increase of less than 5% if the Council were to avoid the likelihood of capping.

The Council’s attention also was drawn to the proposed draft budget for 2008/09 and the risks and opportunities which might need to be addressed in the Medium Term Plan in the forthcoming financial year.  Councillor Rogers concluded his address by commending the recommendations of the Cabinet on the draft budget and MTP 2008 – 2013 to the Council.

On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor Mrs M Banerjee, Councillor Rogers confirmed that it was unlikely that Council Tax would be increased above 4.99% should a capping regime be imposed by the Government and that the Council would continue to search for alternative ways of funding to meet their budgetary requirements.

On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor J A Gray commending the budgetary analysis work undertaken by the Cabinet in the preparation of the budget, the Leader, Councillor Bates, acknowledged the questioner’s support and reminded Members that the Council set one of the lowest council tax levels in the country and it received a low grant settlement from central government at a time when the Authority still was expected to deliver new housing without any essential improvements in local infrastructure.  Councillor Bates suggested that all Councils in Cambridgeshire should make a case jointly to central government for an increase in revenue support grant.  Whereupon, having been moved and seconded and put to the vote the recommendations contained in Item No. 38 (a) – (d) were declared to be CARRIED.

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In connection with Item No. 39, it was noted that the recommendation had been considered previously under Minute No. 46 ante.

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In connection with Item No. 50 and in response to questions from Councillors R W J Eaton and M G Baker, the Leader, Councillor Bates, noted the availability of survey work undertaken in St. Neots which had indicated a preference for restricted parking in Longsands Road and had indicated that some 80% of respondees would prefer to travel by bus.  He added that the former depot at Godmanchester had been opened for car parking and would provide an additional 200  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services.

Have recommended to full Council that they:

note the implications of receiving a low level of revenue support grant in terms of future council tax rises and in that respect to request Officers to report to a future meeting on other options which would involve a maximum increase of 7.5%;

support a policy of limiting increases in budget requirement to 4.99% but to invite Officers to consider models requiring a lower requirement approximately to c.4%;

support the draft Medium Term Financial Plan as the basis for the production of the 2008/2009 budget, the revised Medium Term Plan for 2009-2013 and a financial plan to 2018/2019.;and

request Officers to review critically all budgets and Medium Term Plan schemes (revenue and capital).

Further to Minute No. 07/54 and by way of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the present position on the draft 2008/09 budget, the Medium Term Financial Plan for the period up to 2012/2013 and the longer term financial forecast to 2018/2019 together with the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Corporate and Strategic Framework) thereon. 

In discussing the content of the report, Members emphasised the need to consider a range of potential scenarios, particularly given the uncertainty as to future levels of revenue support grant and the possible impact of a lower than expected increase in government grant in 2008/09 and in that context it was

RESOLVED

  that full Council be recommended to;

  (a)  note the implications of receiving a low level of revenue support grant in terms of future council tax rises and in that respect to request Officers to report to a future meeting on other options which would involve increases of  between 4.99% and 7.5%;

(b)  support a policy of limiting increases in budget requirement to 4.99% but to invite Officers to consider models requiring a lower requirement approximating to circa 4%;

(c)  support the draft Medium Term Financial Plan as the basis for the production of the 2008/2009 budget, the revised Medium Term Plan for 2009-2013 and a financial plan to 2018/2019.;and

(d)  request Officers to review critically all budgets and Medium Term Plan schemes (revenue and capital).