Decision details

That the Cabinet recommends that Council approves:

1. The net budget requirement for 2018-2019 of £229.1 million for General Fund services (paragraph 17.3 of the report).

2. The Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2019 to 2019-2020 as detailed in Table 7 and the budget preparation parameters underpinning the MTFS as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

3. The budget allocation for Adult Social Care in 2018-2019 outlined in the report, making due consideration to the Minimum Funding Level for Adult Social Care (section 15.0 of the report).

4. A Council Tax for Council services in 2018-2019 of £1,540.21 for a Band D property, being an increase of 3.99% on 2017-2018 levels, which incorporates the 2% increase in relation to Adult Social Care (paragraph 7.5 of the report).

5. That work starts on developing budget reductions for 2019-2020 and progress be reported to Cabinet in July 2018 (paragraph 17.4 of the report).

6. Revisions to the local council tax reduction scheme to introduce: a disregard of bereavement support payment, a disregard of any payments made under ‘We love Manchester Emergency Fund’ (WLMEF) and the ‘London Emergencies Trust’ (LET) and to add wording to allow references to legacy benefits to include universal credit.

1. That the changes to the 2018-2019 draft budget for General Fund services, since the draft budget was last reported to Cabinet on 18 October 2017, be approved as detailed in sections 3 to 16 of the report.

2. That the implementation of the new budget reduction, income generation and efficiency proposals totalling £7.1 million, be approved subject to consultation and equality analysis where necessary (paragraph 14.6 of the report).

3. That the transfer of any additional Section 31 grant monies in 2017-2018 arising as a result of the Revaluation 2017 into a specific reserve be approved to support any future potential business rates pressures (paragraph 9.4 of the report).

4. That it be approved that the findings from the budget consultation process will be used to inform the development of future years’ budget strategies (paragraph 13.7 of the report).

5. That the continuation of delegated authority as approved by Cabinet on 19 October 2016 to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance be approved to continue to consider further opportunities to accelerate contribution payments to the West Midlands Pension Fund to secure additional savings and to agree the timing and amount of payments with the West Midlands Pension Fund (paragraph 5.5 of the report).

6. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the calculation and allocation of growth in the central share of business rates for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 to be passported to the WMCA (paragraph 9.5 of the report).

1. That it be noted that the budget for 2018-2019 is in balance without the use of general reserves (paragraph 17.2 of the report).

2. That it be noted that, in the opinion of the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), the 2018-2019 budget estimates are robust (paragraph 17.3 of the report).

3. That it be noted that, in the opinion of the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), the proposed levels of reserves, provisions and balances is adequate in respect of the forthcoming financial year (paragraph 18.7 of the report).

4. That it be noted that a further £19.5 million needs to be identified over the period to 2019-2020 in order to address the projected budget deficit (paragraph 17.4 of the report).

5. That it be noted that, due to external factors, budget assumptions remain subject to significant change, which could, therefore, result in alterations to the financial position facing the Council (paragraph 4.2 of the report).

6. That it be noted that there continues to be a considerable amount of uncertainty with regards to future funding streams for local authorities particularly with regarding 2020-2021 onwards. The Comprehensive Spending Review 2020, the Fair Funding Review and potential pressures arising as a result of new responsibilities will impact upon the Council’s budget. At the point that further information is known it will be incorporated into future reports to Councillors (paragraph 17.8 of the report).

7. That it be noted that, having identified significant budget reductions over the last eight financial years, the extent of the financial challenge over the medium term continues to represent the most significant challenge that the council has ever faced (paragraph 17.5 of the report).

8. That it be noted that the overall level of risk associated with the 2018-2019 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2019 to 2019-2020 is assessed as Amber (paragraph 19.1 of the report).

9. That it be noted that Councillors must have due regard to the public sector equality duty (Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) when making budget decisions (paragraph 24.3 of the report).