Cabinet Member for Finance
Decision:
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2022/23 and four-year outlook set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 21 February 2022.
1.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2022/23 is based on a 2% increase to Band D Council Tax.
REASON FOR DECISION
To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Council’s General Fund budget for endorsement and recommendation to Council.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Setting a balanced budget is a statutory requirement, therefore no other options are appropriate in respect of this.
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes:
81.1 The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Simon Barrett introduced the report, and drew Members’ attention to a Council Tax increase of 2% as included in the recommendations. This would be equivalent to an annual increase of £3.50 or 29 pence per month for Band D Property, providing an annual surplus of £527k for 2022/23, this had to be considered in relation to a forecast cumulative deficit of £2.3m by 2025/26.
81.2 Councillor Barrett proposed the recommendations in the report which was seconded by Councillor Busby.
81.3 In response to Councillor Malvisi questions referring to the New Homes Bonus, the Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Barrett explained that the New Homes Bonus impacted on the Council’s deficit.
81.4 Councillor Holt was supportive of 2% increase in Council Tax.
81.5 Councillor Busby queried the capital expenditure on page 53 and whether the £2m for the Belle Vue project was set a figure or whether it was dependent on the sale of the site. The Cabinet Member for Finance responded that the £2m was over and above any receipts for the sale of the land.
81.6 The Assistant Director for Economic Development and Regeneration clarified that the final cost for the entrance had not been received yet and that the £2m would come from borrowing and was allocated for the development of the Belle Vue.
Note: Councillor Dawson joined the meeting at 2:35pm.
81.7 The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Barrett confirmed to Councillor Malvisi that planned maintenance for carparks for next year was £7k.
81.8 Councillor Arthey questioned if improvement work to carparks was included in the budget for 2022/23 and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Barrett stated that the carparking review was coming forward to Cabinet later in the year and that once the requirements and costs had been established recommendations would be brought Cabinet for adoption.
81.9 Councillor Holt referred to the expenditure for the leisure centres and what the allocated ongoing costs were for. The Assistant Director for Corporate Resources clarified that this was for emergency repairs as required for the two leisure centres throughout the year.
81.10 Councillor Busby referred to page 53 and the target capital expenditure of a total of £22.5m, which was never fully spent and how the cost of interest was calculated over the year. The Cabinet Member for Finance responded that it was assumed that 50% of the capital spend would be carried forward.
81.11 The Cabinet Member for Finance Members informed Members that £200K from the General Fund Reserve would be transferred to the General Grants Fund and enable organisations to apply for grants to assist their recovery from the financial effects of the Covid Pandemic.
81.12 Members continued to debate the issues including the implementation of car parking charges and that the cost of running and improving carparks in the District was irrespective of the implementation of car park charges.
81.13 The debate continued in relation to the proposed 2% Council Tax increase and whether this was really needed to fund services in the future given that the cost of living was going to increase in the coming year.
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2022/23 and four-year outlook set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 21 February 2022.
1.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2022/23 is based on a 2% increase to Band D Council Tax
REASON FOR DECISION
To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Council’s General Fund budget for endorsement and recommendation to Council.
Supporting documents: