Agenda item

To consider a report by the Lead Member for Finance.

The Committee considered a report by the Lead Member for Finance on the proposals for the 2019/20 Revenue and Capital Budgets, Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy. It was noted that a detailed budget briefing would be held on 12 February 2019 before consideration by the Council at its meeting on 20 February 2019.

 

Clarification was provided that the Public Health budget was a ring-fenced budget, which was not expressly shown within the Lead Members’ report, and that the level of funding in comparison to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area was linked to population and levels of deprivation.  It was also anticipated that the Joint Public Health Board would continue to serve the Pan-Dorset area after 1 April 2019.

 

Members recognised the significant value for money that Dorset County Council had delivered through Public Health funding since the transfer from the NHS in recent years.

 

A question was asked regarding the date and timescale for the commencement of a base budget review of Children’s Services, to which the Interim Chief Financial Officer confirmed that the budget was due to be set on 20 February 2019 and that the review would start after this date.  He also confirmed that it would take as long as needed to get it right as a priority area for the new Council.

 

Recommendations

 

That the Shadow Dorset Council be recommended to approve:

 

1. The 2019/20 Revenue budget as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the Lead Member for Finance’s report;

 

2. The fees and charges for regulatory services in Appendix 4of the report;

 

3. That for fees and charges that usually increase by inflation they increase by 2.4% for 2019/20;

 

4. That £700,000 is set aside for the costs of the local elections from the council tax surplus and that the balance is added to general reserves;

 

5. The 2019/20 Capital Programme set out in Appendix 5 of the report;

 

6. The Band D council tax charge is £1,629.75 for 2019/20 and that the full resolution on council tax is set out in the budget report to the Shadow Council;

 

7. The 2019/20 Capital Strategy set out in Appendix 6 of the report;

 

8. The 2019/20 Treasury Management Strategy set out in Appendix 7 of the report;

 

9. That £13.5m of capital receipts be used to fund the LGR implementation costs in accordance with the governments flexible use of capital criteria; and,

 

10. That the minimum level of general reserves be set at £14.5m and the maximum set at £29m for 2019/20.

 

Decisions

 

1. That a Base Budget Review of Children’s Services be undertaken with the new Executive Director People – Children.

 

2. That a Review of Capital is undertaken and reported to the September 2019 meeting of the Cabinet.

 

3. That a review of Reserves be undertaken and reported to the September 2019 meeting of the Cabinet.

 

Reason for Recommendations and Decisions

 

To enable the 2019/20 revenue and capital budgets to be set.