Issue - meetings

To ensure awareness of the arrangement whereby the Chief Executive as the BCP Gold Command Officer for COVID 19 will authorise any urgent expenditure required to mitigate the implications of the coronavirus.

To request Officers, undertake a fundamental review of the approved 2020/21 Budget to ensure it is best positioned to respond to the challenges which will now be faced by the council and its community.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Note that the Chief Executive in his capacity as the Gold Command Officer for COVID 19 will authorise any urgent expenditure to support the Councils response to the coronavirus; and

(b)          Request that the Chief Finance Officer brings forward for Cabinet consideration a fundamental review of the 2020/21 Budget in response to the impact on the Councils finances of the coronavirus and the costs likely to be incurred in support of the most vulnerable within our community.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

The Council needs to ensure it has a robust and prudent strategy to manager the impact of Covid-19 on its financial sustainability.

The Section 151 Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘J’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to approve the report in order to ensure that the Council has a robust and prudent strategy to manage the impact of Covid-19 on its financial sustainability.

Councillors present at the meeting addressed Cabinet citing the need to ensure the Council helps those in our community, and that it was appropriate to review what the budget spend priorities are during this difficult time.

The Leader advised that regular meetings were being held and that new Government Guidance was being released regularly, and that it was intended that the Council would release updates every other day. Further to this the Leader advised that all departments were on critical incident processes.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           Note that the Chief Executive in his capacity as the Gold Command Officer for COVID 19 will authorise any urgent expenditure to support the Councils response to the coronavirus; and

(b)           Request that the Chief Finance Officer brings forward for Cabinet consideration a fundamental review of the 2020/21 Budget in response to the impact on the Councils finances of the coronavirus and the costs likely to be incurred in support of the most vulnerable within our community.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance