Issue - meetings

[To consider a report on the Draft Budget and Medium term Financial Strategy 2019-2020]. 

The Chair stated that Finance had asked for specific feedback on the Scrutiny process of the budget and on the consultation process.  He asked the Finance Business Partner to present the report.

The Finance Business Partner stated in March 2018 it had been projected that the Council would be faced with finding further estimated budget reductions totalling £19.5 million by 2019-2020.  Following reports to Cabinet in July and October 2018 the budget deficit for 2019-2020 had been reduced to in the region of £6 million.  There would be a further report in the New Year which would detail the latest position. 

The Finance Business Partner stated that the appendices to the report detailed the budget reduction and income generation proposals that the Council were required to consult on.  Within the remit of the Panel there were a number of budget reduction and income generation proposals out for consultation. These were, the proposed review provision of the toilet at the Mander Centre, the review of the residents parking scheme, the review of the maintenance and routine cleaning of illuminated road signs and the WV Active catering offer.  All the other proposals that fell within the remit of the Panel were efficiencies which would be dealt with by the Budget Managers for each area.

The Finance Business Partner asked for comments on the overall Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy, the proposals held within it, the consultation process and the overall budget scrutiny process. 

Resolved: That the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-2020 be noted.