The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report which was the final stage of the budget process that had seen significant member involvement. If approved the net expenditure budget for 2022/23 would be £17.3m with the District’s Council Tax increasing by 2.2% resulting in Band D Council Tax being £229.86, an increase of £4.95. This report once again leaves the council with a fully funded self-sufficient budget over the next 10 years.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer - Finance & Trading advised that it had once again been a challenging budget process with a number of changes made at each stage, which were listed in Appendix E including those supported at the last Cabinet meeting in January.

The Final Local Government Finance Settlement was announced earlier this week and there were no significant changes from the provisional settlement affecting this council.

It was noted that appendices N to R were not included for the meeting but would be included in the Council version of the report after the other preceptors have set their Council Tax.

The report included his opinion, as the Statutory Finance Officer, on the robustness of the budget estimates and adequacy of reserves. It was noted that this report once again left the council with a fully funded self-sufficient budget over the next 10 years, a rare achievement in Local Government.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That

a)         The saving proposals in Appendix E(ii) be included in the budget; and

b)         it be recommended to Council that

                                i.       the Summary of Council Expenditure and Council Tax for 2022/23 set out in Appendix F be approved.

                              ii.        the 10-year budget 2022/23 to 2031/32 which is the guiding framework for the detailed approval of future years’ budgets set out in Appendix C to the report, including the growth and savings proposals set out in Appendix E to the report, and that where possible any variations during and between years be met from the Budget Stabilisation Reserve, be approved;

                             iii.       the Capital Programme 2022/25 and funding method set out in Appendix J(i) and Capital Strategy 2022/23 set out in Appendix J(iii), be approved;

                             iv.        the changes to reserves and provisions set out in Appendix K, be approved; and

                               v.       the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/22, be rolled forward to 2022/23, with effect from 1 April 2022 (Appendix M).