The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out updates to the 2018/19 budget within the existing framework of the 10-year budget and savings plan. 

Informed by the latest information from Government and discussions with Cabinet, it was proposed that the Council continued to set a revenue budget which assumed no funding from Government through the Revenue Support Grant or New Homes Bonus. This would result in the Council continuing to be financially self-sufficient as set out in its Corporate Plan.

To achieve this aim and to ensure a balanced budget position over the next 10-year period, whilst also increasing the Council’s ability to be sustainable beyond that time, a savings requirement of £100,000 per annum was included.   Other pressures may come out later in the budget process, such as when the Local Government Finance Settlement was announced in December.  There may therefore be a requirement for further savings.  Officers would continue to monitor these pressures and report the latest position to Cabinet in December.

No new growth and savings items had been proposed in the report for services applicable to this Advisory Committee.  Members were given the opportunity to discuss and put forward any growth and savings suggestions. 

Members considered possible growth items to assist in the appointment of a Planning Enforcement Manager, the appointment of a full-time CIL Officer, an additional Officer in Planning Policy and measures to improve recruitment and retention of Planning Officers. Members noted that the Government had proposed a ringfenced increase in planning application fees. Members considered the Building Control Team, how competitive it was and that it’s fees were set to recover costs.

Action:   The Legal Services Team to provide the sum of legal costs from planning enforcement matters recovered per year.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved:  That Cabinet be advised that

a)      no growth and savings proposals had been identified in Appendix D to the report, applicable to this Advisory Committee; and

b)     the following growth suggestions be discussed further

·            to assist in the appointment of a Planning Enforcement Manager;

·            the appointment of a full-time CIL Officer; and

·            an additional Officer in Planning Policy.

·            measures to improve recruitment and retention of Planning Officers

·            training budget for Building Control staff to encourage upskilling and retention

and that such these issues may be covered by the increase in planning application fees, a balancing of Building Control fees and revisiting SCIA 15 of 2014/15 regarding the CIL monitoring income.