The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out progress made in preparing the 2019/20 budget and updated Members on key financial information.  The Council had an excellent track record in identifying, planning for and addressing financial challenges.  In light of the challenging financial position facing all authorities eight years ago, for 2011/12 the Council produced a 10-year budget together with a savings plan for the first time.  This was the ninth year this method had been used and provided the Council with a stable basis for future years.

There were several changes to the assumptions since the Financial Prospects report on 13 September 2018 which included additional income from the Property Investment Strategy.  Since the last report the Advisory Committees had been presented with growth and savings proposals. If all of the proposals included in the report were accepted by Cabinet together with the changes to assumptions an additional small saving of £4,000 will be required to produce a balanced 10-year budget.

The Chief Finance Officer informed Members that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement was due to be announced today but had been delayed due to the Government’s commitment to Brexit business.

Cabinet identified which further growth and savings suggestions made by the Advisory Committees would require Service Change Impact Assessments to Cabinet in January, be kept on the list for possible future investigation or to not take any further.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That

a)     Cabinet support SCIAs 2-15 as listed in Appendix D;

b)     the approaches below to each further growth and savings suggestion listed in Appendix F, be agreed:

                            i.                the following be considered for this budget cycle and SCIAs presented to Cabinet on 10 January 2019

Growth

·         Preventative asset maintenance in order to have it fully funded within five years.

Savings

·         The Parish Projects capital budget of £51,000 be investigated as a possible one off saving due to the now alternative option of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

·         Removal of the Equalities Legislation budget.

·         Review of the associated costs of agenda printing, delivery and Member postal arrangements. 

·         A taxi licensing training centre at the Council’s offices.

·         An increase in the publicity of the Council’s MOT test centre.

ii.           the following items be kept on the list for possible future investigation

Growth

·         Consideration be given to asking Officers to investigate whether there was an increased need which outweighed the current provision of the HERO service, and if so the Committee gave its general support to the scheme as a growth item.

Savings

·         A shared service for the Legal team.

·         A full time magistrate on call to support the Legal team

·         Sponsorship of the Council’s car parks.

·         A service level agreement for operators of council premises to use print studio.

iii.         no further action be taken on the following

·         None

c)  Officers identify further savings options to be included in the Budget Update report to Cabinet on 11 January 2018.