Decision details

Draft Revenue Budget 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2025/26

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To approve the Draft Budget for 2023/24 and MTFS for general consultation and note the proposal for the Council Tax increase for 2023/24.

Decisions:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the draft budget for 2023/24 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2023/24 to 2025/26 for general consultation set out in Appendices 1(A & B) and 2 to the officer report be approved, so that the budget could subsequently be considered following the consultation responses and the equality impact assessment (s) before referral to Council in February 2023;

 

(2)            the Autumn Settlement 2022 confirming broad plans for public spending for 2023/24 be noted, and that the draft budget be updated when the detail in the Indicative Financial Settlement, expected in the week commencing 19 December 2022 was announced followed by the Final Settlement no later than January 2023;

 

(3)            at draft budget stage, an estimated budget gap of £10.923m for 2023/24, £0m for 2024/25 and £10.964m for 2025/26 remained, be noted (noting the caveat regarding the Social Care Grant in Table 1of the officer report);

 

(4)            the proposal to increase core Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/24 and 2024/25 and then by 1.99% in 2025/26, as set out in Table 1 and paragraph 1.17 of the officer report, be noted;

 

(5)            the proposal to increase Adult Social Care Precept Council Tax by 2% in 2023/24 and then by 1% per annum in 2024/25 and 2025/26 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept, as set out in Table 1 and paragraph 1.17 of the officer report, be noted;

 

(6)            the draft Public Health budget for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 3 to the officer report, be agreed;

 

(7)            it be noted that no structured changes to the schools funding formula for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 4 of the officer report, were proposed;

 

(8)            the assumed funding for the protection of social care 2023/24 through the Better Care Fund (BCF), be noted; and

 

(9)            the Director of Finance and Assurance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, be authorised to agree Harrow’s 2023/24 contribution to the London Borough’s Grant Scheme, noting that final approval would be sought from Cabinet and Council in February 2023.

 

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that the Council published a draft budget for 2023/24 and a draft three-year MTFS to 2025/26.

 

Report author: Strategic Director of Finance

Publication date: 09/12/2022

Date of decision: 08/12/2022

Decided at meeting: 08/12/2022 - Cabinet

Effective from: 17/12/2022

Accompanying Documents: