Issue - meetings

Medium Term Financial (MTFP) and Budget Strategy Report

 

 

Meeting: 14/02/2023 - Dorset Council (Item 54)

54 Budget Strategy and Medium-Term Financial Plan pdf icon PDF 447 KB

To consider the Budget recommendations from Cabinet.

 

Appendix 2 to the report to be published as soon as it becomes available.  

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy Portfolio Holder presented the Budget strategy and medium-term financial plan (MTFP).  A copy of his speech is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

 

The Chairman invited the Group Leaders to present their replies to the budget proposals.

 

Cllrs Ireland, Sutton and Hughes presented their budget speeches which are attached as appendices to these minutes. 

 

Cllr Ireland proposed an amendment to the budget, which was seconded by Cllr Jill Taylor.

 

Members debated the amendment as proposed, comments included:

 

  • The proposal was not necessary as a separate piece of work was being undertaken to provide a fund of £2M, which would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting later in February.
  • Surprise was expressed that no prior notification of the proposal to offer a £2M fund had been received. It would also be favourable to have allow for both options – i.e. the £2M fund and the sum requested in the amendment.
  • There was no information in relation to the item on the Cabinet Forward Plan, with the exception of a report title.

 

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those who voted in favour of the amendment:- 30

Jon Andrews, Peter Barrow, Shane Bartlett, Belinda Bawden, Derek Beer,

Richard Biggs, David Bolwell, Alexandra Brenton, Andy Canning, Kelvin Clayton, Tim Cook, Beryl Ezzard, Brian Heatley, Ryan Holloway, Nick Ireland, Stella Jones, Paul Kimber, Robin Legg, Howard Legg, David Morgan, Jon Orrell, Molly Rennie, Maria Roe, Andrew Starr, Gary Suttle, Clare Sutton, Roland Tarr, David Taylor, Gill  Taylor, Sarah Williams

 

Those who voted against the amendment:- 43

 

Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Michael Barron, Pauline Batstone, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Mike Dyer, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, Paul Harrison, Jill Haynes, Robert Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, Louis O'Leary, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Valerie Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, David Shortell, Jane Somper, William Trite, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller, John Worth

 

 

Those who abstained:- 0

 

 

 

Following a recorded vote, 30 for, 43 against and 0 abstentions the amendment was LOST.

 

Following the amendment being lost, Members continued to debate the budget as originally proposed.

 

The Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy Portfolio Holder was confident that the budget was balanced but still encouraged prudence when committing reserves.

 

Members were appreciative of the officer work that had gone into producing the budget and the opportunity of attending budget cafes, cross party working and input from the Scrutiny Committees.

 

Cllr Flower presented his speech as seconder of the budget proposal, attached as an appendix to the minutes.

 

Proposed by Cllr Suttle, seconded by Cllr Flower.

 

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those who voted in favour of the recommendations:- 59

 

Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Jon Andrews, Michael Barron, Shane Bartlett, Belinda Bawden, Pauline Batstone, Derek Beer,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54

Meeting: 23/01/2023 - Cabinet (Item 94)

94 Medium Term Financial (MTFP) and Budget Strategy Report pdf icon PDF 435 KB

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy set out the Budget Strategy and medium-term financial plan. He confirmed that all members of the council had the opportunity to help shape the budget and he acknowledged the involvement of both Scrutiny Committees.

 

The presenting detail of the budget strategy report; the Portfolio Holder highlighted that an increase in general council tax of 1.9987% and 1.9987% in the social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,905.93; an overall increase of 3.9974%, was proposed.

 

He also took the opportunity to highlight other aspects of the budget including, Dorset Council Plan priorities, fees and charges and the possibility of increasing second home council tax as part of possible future legislation.

 

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank scrutiny for their comments as part of the budget process.

 

In a response to a question around the pay award, the Chief Executive confirmed that the council engaged and was committed to the national negotiation scheme and the result of those negations would be honoured.

 

It was proposed by Cllr G Suttle and seconded by Cllr P Wharf

 

Recommendation to Full Council

 

(i)             That the revenue budget summarised in Appendix 1, be agreed

 

(ii)           That the increase in general council tax of 1.9987% and 1.9987% in the social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,905.93; an overall increase of 3.9974%, be agreed

 

(iii)          That the council tax base agreed by the S151 Officer earlier in this budget setting process, be noted.

 

(iv)           That no change to the current scheme of Local Council Tax Support as set out in this report, be agreed

 

(v)           That the capital strategy set out in Appendix 3 be agreed and the review in progress around the current capital programme and emerging bids, be noted.

 

(vi)          That the treasury management strategy set out in Appendix 4, be agreed.

 

(vii)        That the assumptions used to develop the budget strategy and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), as set out throughout this report, and summarised in Appendix 5, be agreed

 

(viii)       the recommended balances on earmarked reserves and on general funds, including the minimum level of the general fund, the application of a further £3.5m of reserves to support the safety valve agreement, and the repurposing of £3m of the Council’s other reserves for spend-to-save investment in transformation, be agreed

 

(ix)          That the fees and charges policy set out in Appendix 6, be agreed

 

(x)           That the responses to recommendations and comments made as part of the budget scrutiny process (Appendix 7), be agreed

 

(xi)          Those recommendations 1-6 from the 8 December 2022 Harbours Advisory Committee meeting regarding fees and charges, budgets, and asset management plans, be agreed

 

(xii)        That the flexible use of £5.3m of capital receipts for the purposes of transforming the Council’s asset portfolio over the next three to five years, be agreed. Work with DLUHC is ongoing to confirm this.

Reason for Recommendation

The Council is required to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94

Meeting: 12/01/2023 - Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee (Item 53)

53 Budget Strategy and Medium-Term Financial Plan pdf icon PDF 324 KB

To receive a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Development (Section 151 Officer).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee was invited to consider the budget proposals for 2023/24 prior to consideration at Cabinet on 23 January 2023 and Full Council on 14 February 2023. The report gave a summary of progress to date on the budget strategy and process and provided the opportunity for the scrutiny committees to review further, budget assumptions and actions being proposed to deliver a balanced and sustainable budget for 2023/24.

 

The Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee had the opportunity to consider the implications of the proposals on behalf of residents of Dorset and to provide constructive challenge to decision makers before a final decision was made. It was noted that the comments made by the committee would be reported to Cabinet on 23 January 2023 and taken into consideration as part of the budget setting process.

 

Portfolio holders and officers provided a short introduction to their budget areas as relevant and in addition, the Executive Director for Corporate Development provided an overview of Central Finance and Capital issues.

 

Further to the discussion held, the Chairman provided a summary of the key points raised during the discussion in relation to each area covered by the committee and noted that the points below would be submitted to Cabinet as part of the budget setting process:

 

Place Directorate – Highways, Travel and Environment

 

·       It was noted that Dorset Travel was facing cost pressures of circa £2.5m in the current year and particular reference was made to SEND transport, which was facing significant cost increases, well above the rate of inflation.  Concern was expressed about cost increases in this area and the impact on the budget.  Recognition of the links to work with Children’s and Adult Services to reduce costs for travel for the council

·       A comment was made that it was difficult to justify increases to charges for car parking until improvements to car parks were rolled out, due to public expectation as to the service they should be getting.

 

At this point in the meeting, the committee had a ten-minute adjournment and returned at 11.43am.

 

Place Directorate – Economic Growth, Assets and Regeneration

 

·       The committee were content with the strategic approach being taken in the area of Economic Growth, Assets and Regeneration but flagged a concern around whether there were sufficient staffing levels to deliver the council’s aspirations in this area.

 

Place Directorate – Natural Environment and Ecology

 

·       In order to provide transparency around the council’s costs for climate change work, consideration should be given to how costs in this area and investments received from external sources, could be presented outside of the budget book

·       The committee wished to flag up the potential risks around decisions on the council’s vehicle fleet – purchase versus lease of vehicles and fuel type (electric versus hydrogen).

 

At this point in the meeting, it was proposed by J Andrews seconded by D Shortell and agreed by the committee, that the meeting continue beyond the 3-hour limit as set out in the Constitution.

 

Place Directorate – Planning

 

·       The committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53