Issue - meetings

Council is recommended to:

1. Approve the net budget requirement for 2019-2020 of £234.9 million for General Fund services (as set out at paragraph 18.1 of this report).

2. Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 as detailed in Table 10 and the budget preparation parameters underpinning the MTFS as detailed in Appendix 1 to this report.

3. Approve a Council Tax for Council services in 2019-2020 of £1,617.06 for a Band D property, being an increase of 4.99% on 2018-2019 levels, which incorporates the 2% increase in relation to Adult Social Care (as set out at paragraph 7.5 of this report).

4. Approve that work start on developing budget reductions and income generation proposals for 2020-2021 onwards in line with the Five Year Financial Strategy (as set out at paragraph 14.3 of this report) and progress be reported to Cabinet in July 2019 (as set out at paragraph 18.8 of this report).

5. Approve the revision to the Council Tax Charges on Empty Properties and Second Homes Policy with effect from 1 April 2019 to introduce additional charges (as set out at paragraph 8.3 of this report).

Cabinet resolved:

1. That the changes to the 2019-2020 draft budget for General Fund services, since the draft budget was last reported to Cabinet on 17 October 2018, as detailed in sections 3 to 17 of this report be approved.

2. That the implementation of the new budget reduction, income generation and efficiency proposals totalling £4.0 million, subject to consultation where necessary (as set out at paragraph 15.3 of this report) be approved.

3. That it be approved that work towards the development of budget efficiencies, budget reduction and income generation proposals towards the target of £500,000 (as set out at paragraph 15.6 of this report) commence immediately and progress will be reported back to Councillors in July 2019.

4. 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 2019-2020 and future years to be passported to the West Midlands Combined Authority (as set out at paragraph 9.6 of this report).

5. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to respond to the consultation on the Business Rates Retention Scheme and the Review of Relative Needs and Resources, and any future related consultation papers.

6. That approval be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with Director of Finance and Director of Education, to approve changes to the local funding formula for Schools including method, principles and rules adopted (as set out at paragraph 17.4 of this report).

7. That it be noted that the budget for 2019-2020 is in balance without the use of general reserves (as set out at paragraph 18.1 of this report).

8. That it be noted that, in the opinion of the Director of  ...  view the full decision text for item 7

Councillor Louise Miles presented the 2019-2020 Final Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 for approval and recommendation to Full Council. The report outlined the progress made in the previous financial year towards the projected budget challenge, the current budget pressures and changes to the Council Tax rates and Business Rates. The report also outlined the breakdown of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2019-2020 and other grant funding. The budget had been set in a challenging climate for Local Authorities with increasing demands on services.

Resolved:

Council is recommended to:

1. Approve the net budget requirement for 2019-2020 of £234.9 million for General Fund services (as set out at paragraph 18.1 of this report).

2. Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 as detailed in Table 10 and the budget preparation parameters underpinning the MTFS as detailed in Appendix 1 to this report.

3. Approve a Council Tax for Council services in 2019-2020 of £1,617.06 for a Band D property, being an increase of 4.99% on 2018-2019 levels, which incorporates the 2% increase in relation to Adult Social Care (as set out at paragraph 7.5 of this report).

4. Approve that work start on developing budget reductions and income generation proposals for 2020-2021 onwards in line with the Five Year Financial Strategy (as set out at paragraph 14.3 of this report) and progress be reported to Cabinet in July 2019 (as set out at paragraph 18.8 of this report).

5. Approve the revision to the Council Tax Charges on Empty Properties and Second Homes Policy with effect from 1 April 2019 to introduce additional charges (as set out at paragraph 8.3 of this report).

Cabinet resolved:

1. That the changes to the 2019-2020 draft budget for General Fund services, since the draft budget was last reported to Cabinet on 17 October 2018, as detailed in sections 3 to 17 of this report be approved.

2. That the implementation of the new budget reduction, income generation and efficiency proposals totalling £4.0 million, subject to consultation where necessary (as set out at paragraph 15.3 of this report) be approved.

3. That it be approved that work towards the development of budget efficiencies, budget reduction and income generation proposals towards the target of £500,000 (as set out at paragraph 15.6 of this report) commence immediately and progress will be reported back to Councillors in July 2019.

4. 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 2019-2020 and future years to be passported to the West Midlands Combined Authority (as set out at paragraph 9.6 of this report).

5. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to respond to the consultation on the Business Rates Retention Scheme and the Review of Relative Needs and Resources, and any future related consultation papers.

6. That approval  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7