In respect of 2016/17:

1.    That the forecast outturn of £123.206million, be noted.

2.    That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling £6.468million, as set out in detail in Appendix 16 to the submitted report, be approved.

3.    That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £7.226 million, as set out in detail in Appendix 16 to the report, be approved.

In respect of 2017/18 and later years:

1.    That the Section 151 Officer’s (Director 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 to the report, be acknowledged.

2.    That a General Fund net revenue budget for 2017/18 of £123.153 million, set out in Appendix 3 to the report, and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be approved.

3.    That a Council Tax increase of 4.99% for the Southend-on-Sea element of the Council Tax for 2017/18, being 1.99% for general use and 3% for Adult Social care, be approved.

4.    That it be noted that the 2017/18 revenue budget has been prepared on the basis of using £1.637 million for earmarked reserves for the core budget to allow for a smoothing of the budget gap across the next three financial years with a consequent replenishment of those reserves in 2017/18 and 2018/19. Also, that it be noted that £2.222million of the Business Rates Retention reserve is being used to equalise the projected 2017/18 business rates yield.

5.    That the position of the Council’s preceptors be noted as follows:

-          Essex Police Authority – approved Council Tax increase of 3.25%

-          Essex Fire Authority – approved Council Tax increase of 1.99%

-          Leigh-on-Sea Town Council – approved precept increase of 1.59%

6.    That no Special Expenses be charged other than Leigh-on-Sea Town Council precept for 2017/18.

7.    That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling £1.009million, as set out in Appendix 16 to the report, be approved.

8.    That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £17.150million, as set out in Appendix 16 to the report, be approved.

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

10. That the pressures required of £3.000 million, as set out in Appendices 12 and 13 to the report, and the General Fund and Public Health savings required of £7.502million, as set out in Appendices 14 and 15 to the report, and the subsequent individual service cash limits for 2017/18, as contained in Appendices 3 to 11 to the report, be approved.

11. That the direction of travel for 2018/19 and beyond, as set out in Section 11 of the report, be endorsed.

12. That the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy up to 2020/21, as set out in Appendix 17 to the report, be approved.

13. That authority be delegated to the Director of Finance and Resources (S151 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.