Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Panel;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 8: Information Report - Draft Revenue Budget 2014/15,  Medium Term Financial Strategy  2014/15 to 2016/17 and Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18

Councillors Keith Ferry, Susan Hall and Ajay Maru declared non-pecuniary interests in that they were business owners in Harrow.  They would remain in the room whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2013/14.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Susan Hall be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2013 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2013 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 48 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions, petitions or deputations were received at this meeting.

Report of the Director of Finance and Assurance.

The Panel received a report of the Director of Finance and Assurance which set out the Council’s proposals for the draft Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014/15 to 2016/17 and also the Draft Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18 for consultation.

The Director of Finance and Assurance highlighted the following aspects of the report:

·                    the impact of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review had had been challenging for local authorities.  There had been a 28% cut in government funding for local authorities up to 2014/15 and the Government’s austerity programme was expected to continue until 2018/19;

·                    the reduction in government funding had increased pressures on local authorities’ ability to fulfil their statutory responsibilities, such as caring for young people and vulnerable adults;

·                    Harrow received one of the lowest grant funding settlements in London and consequently Council Tax in Harrow was relatively high to enable it to fulfil all its statutory duties;

·                    a two-year budget for 2013/15 had been agreed in February 2013. Harrow’s Corporate Priorities, which were to ‘Deliver a cleaner, safer and fairer Harrow’, were core principles of the budget setting process;

·                    savings and growth items had been reviewed to ensure that the budget was robust and appropriate adjustments had been made following the review.  A funding gap of approximately £20m for 2015/16 and approximately £19m for 2016/17 was anticipated as government grants to local authorities continued to reduce in the future;

·                    repercussions of the Government’s Welfare reforms had also been factored into the budget and it was anticipated that there would be increased pressures in the areas of Adult social care and Children’s Services;

·                    there were also a number of inflation related pressures;

·                    the Government’s freeze on increases in Council Tax meant reduced income for local authorities, however, this would be mitigated by the 1% Council Tax Freeze Grant from central government;

·                    Business Rates, which were set nationally and not by local authorities, had also been capped at 2%;

·                    a four-year Capital budget was being proposed for approval in 2013/14 and a £250m investment programme for Public Realm was planned;

·                    the Children and Families Directorate was delivering savings through innovative and flexible working. The Environment and Enterprise Directorate had seen substantial growth in parking income. Greater efficiencies in the Resources Directorate and the deletion of the Chief Executive’s post would provide additional savings.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted