1. That the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 – 2027/28 (Appendix 1 to the submitted report) and the resulting Medium Term Financial Forecast and estimated Earmarked Reserves Balances up to 2027/28 (Annexes 1 and 2 to Appendix 1), and any final minor changes/updates of this strategy as required be delegated to the Executive Director (Finance & Resources), be approved.

2. That the draft Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of the proposed budget, the adequacy of the Council’s reserves and the Council’s Reserves Strategy (Appendix 2 to the report), be noted.

3. That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling £0.706M (Appendix 3 to the report), be approved.

4. That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £2.468M (Appendix 3 to the report), be approved.

5. That the use of £1M from the General Fund balances to support the core 2023/24 revenue budget which will be replenished over the life of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (Annex 1 to Appendix 1 to the report), be approved.

6. That a General Fund Budget Requirement for 2023/24 of £143.875M and Council Tax Requirement of £97.499M (Appendix 4 to the report), be approved.

7. That it be noted that the 2023/24 revenue budget has been prepared based on using £2M from accumulated Collection Fund surpluses to support the core budget and to allow for a smoothing of the budget gap.

8. That a Council Tax increase of 4.99% for the Southend-on-Sea element of the Council Tax for 2023/24, being 2.99% for general use and 2.00% for Adult Social Care, be approved.

9. That the position of the Council’s preceptors, be noted: 

·             Essex Police – proposed Council Tax position increase of 6.84%

·       Essex Fire & Rescue Services – proposed Council Tax increase of 6.57%

·       Leigh-on-Sea Town Council – confirmed Band D precept decrease of 0.71%

10. That no Special Expenses be charged other than Leigh-on-Sea Town Council precept for 2023/24.

11. That the proposed General Fund revenue budget investment of £23.473M (Appendix 5 to the report), be approved.

12. That the proposed General Fund revenue budget savings and income generation initiatives for 2023/24 of £9.215M (Appendix 6a to the report), be approved.

13. That the proposed General Fund revenue cost avoidance and overspend reduction initiatives for 2023/24 of £1.603M (Appendix 6b to the report), be approved.

14. That the approach proposed for the development and implementation of a new transformation blueprint for the Council and to confirm the use of £1.5m from existing earmarked reserves over the next three years to support this programme of activity, be approved.

15. That the implementation of the new Adult Social Care Charging Policy from 1 April 2023 (Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 685