The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Management Team presenting a 2016/17 General Fund revenue budget including schools and a proposal for the level of Council Tax for 2016/17. This item was considered by all three Scrutiny Committees.

Members of the Cabinet acknowledged the sterling work undertaken in the preparation of the budget and asked that the thanks and appreciation to those involved be recorded.

Recommended:-

In respect of 2015/16:

1. That the forecast outturn of £126.093 million, be noted

2. That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling £5.624 million, as set out in detail in Appendix 15 of the submitted report, be approved.

3. That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £6.853 million, as set out in detail in Appendix 15 of the report, be approved.

In respect of 2016/17:

4. That the Section 151 Officer’s (Head of Finance and Resources) report on the robustness of the proposed budget, the adequacy of the Council’s reserves and the Reserves Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be noted.

5. That a General Fund net revenue budget for 2016/17 of £123.206 million, as set out in Appendix 3 of the submitted report, and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be approved.

6. That a Council Tax increase of 1.99% for the Southend-on-Sea element of the Council Tax for 2016/17, be approved.

7. That an Adult Social Care precept of 2%, be approved.

8. That it be noted that, the Council’s preceptors Essex Police and Fire Authorities have yet to formally meet to agree their Council Tax levels for 2016/17 and the Leigh-on-Sea Town Council has confirmed its precept of £391,550 and a consequential increase of 5.67% in their Council Tax.

9. That no Special Expenses be charged other than Leigh-on-Sea Town Council precept for 2016/17.

10. That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling £5.785 million, as set out in Appendix 15 of the report, be approved.

11. That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £9.659 million, as set out in Appendix 15 of the report, be approved.

12. That the schools’ budget and its relevant distribution as recommended by the Schools’ Forum and as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

13. That the pressures required of £1.355 million, as set out in Appendices 11 and 12 of the report, and the General Fund and Public Health savings required of £10.467 million, as set out in Appendices 13 and 14 of the report, and the subsequent individual service cash limits for 2016/17, as contained in Appendices 3 to 10 of the report, be approved.

14. That the direction of travel for 2017/18 and beyond, as set out in Section 11 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

15. That the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy up to 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 16 of the submitted report, be approved. 

16. That authority be delegated to the Head of Finance and Resources (S 151 Officer) in consultation with the Leader to make the required changes to the Council Budget following the final Local Government Finance settlement and other related Government announcements including Public Health.

Reason for Decision

Budget setting is at the core of the Council’s corporate planning framework. It is a complex process that is fully integrated with strategic and service planning. Annually, prior to the start of the financial year, the Council agrees its budget using a consistent, transparent and prudent approach.

Other Options

None.

Note:- This is a Council Budget Function, not eligible for call in by virtue of Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rule 1.1(b)

Executive Councillor:- Woodley