Agenda item

To set out for Cabinet consideration and recommendation to Council the proposed 2023/24 budget and council tax based on.

·      Increasing Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/24 in line with the government’s annual basic threshold.

·      Collecting the full additional 2% Adult Social Care (ASC) precept in 2023/24.

·      The implementation of £32.9m of savings and efficiencies from 1 April 2023 onwards (List 1).

The implementation of £2.2m of additional savings and efficiencies from 1 July 2023 onwards (List 2).

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Leader advised that the report requested that Cabinet consider and recommend to Council the proposed 2023/24 budget and council tax based on.

·     Increasing Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/24 in line with the government’s annual basic threshold.

·     Collecting the full additional 2% Adult Social Care (ASC) precept in 2023/24.

·     The implementation of £32.9m of savings and efficiencies from 1 April 2023 onwards (List 1).

·     The implementation of £2.2m of additional savings and efficiencies from 1 July 2023 onwards (List 2).

The Chairman of the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet advising that at their recent meeting their had been a lengthy debate on the report but that no formal recommendations had been made.

RECOMMENDED that:-

1) undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014.

a)      agrees that a net budget of £308.831m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £243.797m, is set for 2023/24 based on the draft local government settlement figures published by government in December 2022.

b)      agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2023/24 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%.

c)      confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and set out in paragraph 48 to 65.

d)      approves the 2022/23 capital budget virement to accept the £18.2m Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) capital grant as set out in Appendix 5

e)      agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 6.

f)       agrees the implementation of £32.9m of List 1 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 April 2023.

g)      agrees the implementation of £2.2m in annualised List 2 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 July 2023.

h)      approves the continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) into 2023/24 as set out in sections 64.

i)        continues the discretionary local scheme for war pensioners in which the Council disregards all prescribed War Disablement Pension or prescribed War Widow’s/War Widower’s Pensions income over and above the statutory limits for both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

j)        recognises that via the governments Council Tax Support Fund, and for 2023/24 only, LCTSS claimants’ bills will be reduced by up to £25.

k)      implements a control to strengthen commissioning, procurement, and contract management arrangements in support of the delivery third party spend transformation savings.

l)        approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as set out in paragraphs 75 to 83.

m)  approves the capital investment programme (CIP) as set out in paragraphs 116 to 142 and Appendix 7.

n)    approves the capitalisation of £0.9m of highway neighbourhood expenditure each year for the period of the MTFP, funded from prudential borrowing.

o)    agrees capital investment of £5m in seafront infrastructure assets funded by borrowing supported by revisions to beach hut fees.

p)    agrees capital investment of £0.3m in the council’s IT & IS capital infrastructure investment plan as set out in Appendix 7c and as funded from borrowing.

q)    confirms the previously approved budget of £12.5 million for Roeshot Hill and Crescent Road to be repurposed and used under the CNHAS Programme.

r)      agrees the capitalisation of the council’s waste bin replacement strategy at £0.4 million per annum funded by borrowing.

s)     approves Cabinet’s recommendation 7 September 2022 to increase the acquisition programme 4a (street acquisitions) budget originally approved by Council in February 2022 from £47.9 million to £68.8 million.

t)      approves the asset management plan as set out as Appendix 8.

u)    agrees the treasury management strategy (TMS) and prudential indicators as set out in paragraphs 164 to 176 and Appendix 9.

v)     accepts and supports the formal advice of the chief finance officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the reserves as set out in paragraphs 177 to 182 and Appendix 10.

w)   approves the chief officers’ pay policy statement for consideration and approval by the council in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 as set out in paragraphs 184 to 186 and Appendix 10.

x)     requests that the chief finance officer provides Council with a schedule setting out the rate of council tax for each category of dwelling further to councillor’s consideration of the decision required in respect of (1) above and after taking account of the precepts to be levied by the local police and fire authorities, neighbourhood, town and parish councils, and chartered trustees once these have been determined prior to the Council meeting on the 21 February 2023.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation

Cllr Andy Jones left the meeting at 11;10am