Agenda item

Report of the Director of Finance.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  to Council

That

(1)            the 2022/23 budget be approved, being mindful of the results of the various consultations and equality impact assessments, to enable the Council Tax for 2022/23 to be set (Appendix 15 to the officer report refers); 

(2)            the Model Council Tax Resolution 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 11 to the officer report, be approved;

(3)            in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Chief Executive be authorised to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 2 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

(4)            the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as set out in Appendix 2 to the officer report, be approved;

(5)            the 2022/23 Members’ Allowance Scheme, as set out in Appendix 12 to the officer report, be approved;

(6)            the 2022/23 Annual Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 13 to the officer report, be approved; and

(7)            the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy, as set out in Appendix 14 to the officer report, be approved.

[Call-in does not apply to the decisions above as they are reserved to full Council.]

RESOLVED:  To note

(8)            the balanced budget position for 2022/23 and 2024/25 and the budget gap of £16.593m for 2023/24 (Table 2a to the officer report);

(9)            the use of £14.7m Budget Planning Reserve MTFS to achieve the balanced budget position for 2022/23, which was reversed out in the following year (Table 2a, paragraph 1.49 to the officer report);

(10)        the intention to increase Council Tax by 1.99% in 2022/23 (paragraph 1.21 to the officer report);

(11)        the intention to increase Council Tax by a further 1% in 2022/23 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept (paragraph 1.21 to the officer report);

(12)        the 2022/23 budgets for Schools and Public Health as set out in Appendices 6 & 7 to the officer report;

(13)        the assumed funding for the protection of social care 2022/23 through the Better Care Fund as set out in paragraphs 1.62 to 1.65 to the officer report; and

(14)        the requirement to develop a robust finance strategy to address the predicted MTFS shortfall of £16.593m ready for presentation to the incoming administration in May 2022 (Paragraphs 1.69 to 1.73 to the officer report).

Reason for Recommendations: To ensure that the Council set a balanced budget for 2022/23.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.