The Finance & Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the progress made in preparing the 2022/23 budget and updated Members on key financial information. The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer - Finance & Trading set out the background to the report.

The Head of Finance set out that recommendation (a) of the report asked Cabinet to consider and respond to comments and recommendation of the Advisory Committees regarding growth and savings / additional income proposals (SCIAs) listed in Appendix D and detailed in Appendix E. He explained the SCIAs and invited questions and comments from Members.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That

a)    SCIAs 1 – 7 (22/23) detailed in Appendix E be included in the budget;

b)    a SCIA be presented to Cabinet in January on the following savings suggestion put forward by the Advisory Committees listed in Appendix F:

i)              Review the potential of setting up of a social letting agency;

and that there be no further action on the following savings suggestions put forward by the Advisory Committees listed in Appendix F:

ii)             Charging for tourism events;

iii)           Charging for sporting events.

c)    Officers be requested to identify further saving options to be included in the Budget Update report to Cabinet on 13 January 2022.