Issue - meetings

To receive and recommend to Council the Final Revenue Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25.

Executive Councillor: J A Gray

The Cabinet has recommended to Council

§  approval of the overall Final Budget 2020/21 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25 as outlined in Appendix 1 which includes the Revenue Budget at Section 2 and the Capital Programme at Section 3; and

§  the “Plan on a Page” as outlined in Appendix 3.

By means of a report by the Finance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were provided with details of the Final Budget 2020/21 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25 which included the Capital Programme.

The Finance Manager drew attention to changes made to the budget since the Cabinet’s previous meeting where it was noted that only two minor changes had been made. In receiving the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet welcomed the reduction in the budget gap at the end of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy period which was now estimated to be £0.453m. This reflected an improvement of around £1m when compared to the previous year.

Having expressed their appreciation to the Executive Councillor for Resources, Senior Officers and staff for their efforts in producing a comprehensive budget, it was

RESOLVED

that Council be recommended to approve:

(a)  the overall Final Budget 2020/21 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25 (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted, which includes the Revenue Budget at Section 2 and the Capital Programme at Section 3); and

(b)  the new “Plan on a Page” (as attached as Appendix 3 of the report now submitted).

The Panel are to receive the final 2020/21 budget and medium term financial strategy 2021/22 to 2024/25.

With the aid of a report by the Finance Manager (a copy of which has been appended in the Minute Book), the Final Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy were presented to the Panel. Members were informed that there had been few changes since the draft was presented the previous month although the changes that have been made were listed in Appendix 2.

Following a query by Councillor Wakeford on the Overview and Scrutiny comments on the draft budget and whether they were considered, the Executive Councillor for Resources reassured the Panel that the comments were given full consideration before a decision was made.

When Councillor Wakeford questioned whether the Cabinet had considered the proposals in the alternative budget, the Executive Councillor commented as the report author was not in attendance when the item was considered, the Cabinet could only base their judgements upon the report and the Panel’s comments on it. The Executive Councillor confirmed that the Cabinet concluded there were better options available than the ones presented by the alternative budget.

Councillor Morris asked the Executive Councillor to comment on a Hunts Post article on the proposed level of increase in Council Tax. In response, the Executive Councillor stated that the increase was beneath the average rise in local wages in Cambridgeshire and in line with the increase in the state pension and therefore remained affordable to residents.

Councillor Wakeford highlighted the lack of increase in One Leisure Fees and Charges and asked if it could be confirmed that because there was no increase in the budget, it did not necessarily mean there would not be an increase in charges during the calendar year. It was confirmed to the Panel that Councillor Wakeford’s assumption was correct.

RESOLVED

a)  that the changes in Appendix 2 to the report now submitted be noted, and

b)  the Panel’s comments be forwarded to Cabinet for consideration alongside the Final Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy.