Issue - meetings

General Fund Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25

 

 

Meeting: 08/02/2024 - Council (Item 61)

61 CABINET RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL - GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET 2024/25 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2025/26 TO 2027/28 pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to Council in relation to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2027/28.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At 7:58pm, prior to the consideration of this item, Councillor Gordon left the meeting.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources introduced the report and moved the recommendation. The Leader seconded the motion.

 

Councillor Graham proposed the following amendments. Councillor Child seconded the motion.

 

1)    Requests a review into the Council’s approach to tourism, in order to demonstrate impact and value for money.

 

2)    Requests a review into the Council’s approach to communications in order to demonstrate impact and value for money.

 

3)    Commission an organisation to engage young people in Melton Mowbray and key rural villages to divert them away from risky behaviours and into other services and activities. Review whether alternate funding sources could be found beyond 1st year.

 

4)    Make Community Coordinator role permanent and full time and increase focus on liaison with Parish Councils.

 

5)    Establish a £50k Rural Flood grant scheme to support Parish Councils’ ability to prevent and respond to flood events. Scheme to require match funding from Parish Councils.

 

6)    Whilst the funding allocated to the Design Guide and the additional allocation of funding for the town centre is welcomed, the initial focus for the funding should be on establishing an approved Town Centre Masterplan, setting out the long-term plan for the town layout and function. This should then be underpinned by the Design Guide, place branding and a 10-year asset management plan, which are owned and adopted by all relevant partners. The £20k (and associated UKSPF funding) allocated should be reserved until such time as these plans are in place and, where possible, the development of the Masterplan should be incorporated within the Local Plan Review.

 

7)    Requests a review into the Council’s approach to managing corporate property responsibilities, specifically in relation to ensuring an appropriate balance between the core in-house team managing day to day, and the requirement to support development projects with additional and specific expertise and capacity.

 

8)    Requests a review of financial affordability over the medium term and consideration of options and opportunities for shared services to support long term sustainability.

 

In addressing the amendments, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources stated the following:

  • The administration are not against increasing staffing levels but the increases must be affordable.
  • Amendments 1, 2 and 7 were not accepted, as they had either been covered or there are more appropriate means of carrying out the work proposed.
  • Amendment 3 was not accepted. It was noted that there had been a 77% cut in youth funding since 2010 and that this was an area that the County Council were ultimately responsible for. It was also highlighted that the Council was going to develop a Young Persons Strategy and that this should be done first.
  • Amendment 4 was not accepted, as the growth can’t be supported as it isn’t sustainable and the current post is new and needs to be reviewed for impact first.
  • Amendment 5 was not accepted, as it would not deliver the required improvements, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61

Meeting: 07/02/2024 - Cabinet (Item 73)

73 GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET 2024/25 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2025/26 TO 2027/28 pdf icon PDF 416 KB

A report on the Revenue Budget for 2024/25, including the proposed level of council tax for borough council purposes and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/28.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

1)    NOTED the year end forecast and financial position for the General Fund and Special Expenses for 2023/24.

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council:

2.1     Approve the revenue budget subject to any amendment arising from the final settlement for 2024/25 for General and Special Expenses, including proposed growth and savings items, as set out in Appendix A and D and summarised in section 4.5.

2.2     Approve an overall Band D council tax increase of 2.99%, with the individual Band D council tax levels across each fund set out in para 4.5.7.

2.3     Note that the Council’s employee establishment will be updated in line with any changes arising from approval of any of the growth proposals set out in Appendix A.

2.4     Approve implementation of a 100% premium for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for longer than one year and a 100% premium for second homes as set out in para 4.5.5. The premiums will be implemented from 1 April 2025.

2.5     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to increase resources required to meet the needs of the resettlement scheme subject to there being sufficient grant funding to meet the revenue costs.

2.6     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve to fund any one-off change and redundancy costs arising from the reconfiguration of the IT service provided by the Leicestershire ICT Partnership, as set out in para 4.5.6 (m).

2.7     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve to fund any one-off costs associated with any potential future planning appeals.

2.8     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve, to fund a permanent Environmental Programme Manager, to support the introduction of food waste collection and other environmental projects, until such time as the sufficiency or otherwise of the revenue grant funding is known and assessed.

2.9     Approve that any current year surplus/deficit on general expenses at 31 March 2024 be met by transfers to or from the Corporate Priorities Reserve, in order to maintain the working balance at its agreed level of £1m;

2.10    Approve that any current year surplus/deficit for Special Expenses Melton Mowbray at 31 March 2024, be transferred to/from the Special Expenses Reserve thereby bringing the actual working balance back to the target £50k;

2.11    Note the changes made to the risk categorisation of budgets as set out in para 4.8.1 and Appendix F.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources, introduced the report the purpose of which detailed the year end forecast and financial position for the General Fund and Special Expenses 2023-24 and set out the forecasts of the Council’s financial position for the next 3 years.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources advised the Council had now received a final settlement additional figure from the Rural Services Delivery Grant of £34,000 and figures would be adjusted subject to decisions made at Council on 8 February 2023.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources advised that due to budget constraints investment had to be prioritised and focused with investments in areas such as planning, town centre and environmental health.

 

The Director for Corporate Services advised that with the budget proposals being dependent on the use of reserves, the Council would need to develop a Financial Sustainability Plan. 

 

The Director for Corporate Services confirmed that with the information provided from budget holders at the present time and the risks presented at section 15 in the report, she is satisfied with the robustness of the estimates and reserves.

 

Cabinet:

 

1)    NOTED the year end forecast and financial position for the General Fund and Special Expenses for 2023/24.

 

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council:

2.1     Approve the revenue budget subject to any amendment arising from the final settlement for 2024/25 for General and Special Expenses, including proposed growth and savings items, as set out in Appendix A and D and summarised in section 4.5.

2.2     Approve an overall Band D council tax increase of 2.99%, with the individual Band D council tax levels across each fund set out in para 4.5.7.

2.3     Note that the Council’s employee establishment will be updated in line with any changes arising from approval of any of the growth proposals set out in Appendix A.

2.4     Approve implementation of a 100% premium for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for longer than one year and a 100% premium for second homes as set out in para 4.5.5. The premiums will be implemented from 1 April 2025.

2.5     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to increase resources required to meet the needs of the resettlement scheme subject to there being sufficient grant funding to meet the revenue costs.

2.6     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve to fund any one-off change and redundancy costs arising from the reconfiguration of the IT service provided by the Leicestershire ICT Partnership, as set out in para 4.5.6 (m).

2.7     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve to fund any one-off costs associated with any potential future planning appeals.

2.8     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access the Corporate Priorities Reserve, to fund a permanent Environmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73

Meeting: 25/01/2024 - Scrutiny Committee (Item 37)

37 GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET 2024/25 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2025/26 TO 2027/28 pdf icon PDF 168 KB

The report on the General Fund Revenue Budget 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2027/28 is to be presented to the Committee, prior to final consideration by Cabinet and Council in February 2024.

 

Please note that Appendix E (Parish Council Precepts) is not available. This appendix will be available for the Council meeting in February.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director for Corporate Services (Section 151 Officer), Dawn Garton, introduced the report with a presentation.

 

A concern was raised that as there is a lot of information in the paper for Members to consider, the job of Scrutiny is difficult. Members recognised the link between the Corporate Strategy and Budget, but it would be better if they were done separately. It was explained that it was time to renew the Corporate Strategy and that it usually wouldn’t be presented every year. In addition, Officers take Members through the budget process throughout the year and that it is discussed at the State of Melton Debate and there is the Budget Scrutiny Workshop in December as well. Members were also provided the opportunity to raise any further queries with the Director for Corporate Services outside of the meeting.

 

Members Allowances was raised. It was explained that there is due to be an independent review in 2024/25 but that the annual uplift had been provided for in the budget.

 

The backlog of service charging at Pheonix House and the concern over whether the occupiers know it is coming was raised. It was explained that Officers have discussed the issue with occupiers and that they are aware of the process. The building has been surveyed and the charges will be divided accurately. Officers confirmed that there will be an accrual at year end, and it will go in the current year accounts. It was also highlighted that the Council will also be considering the new Asset Management Plan which demonstrates the significant progress that the Corporate Asset team has made over the last year.

 

A concern was raised in relation to the increasing charges at Thorpe Road Cemetery, as well as the repairs that need doing and the remaining number of plots. It was clarified that work preparing to increase capacity at the current cemetery has progressed, but the work has not yet been undertaken. It was noted that the Special Expenses Budget is a small budget and that the increase in fees is necessary to help mitigate the rising costs.

 

Concern was raised over the spend on consultants around projects. The Chief Executive clarified there was not significant use of consultants but confirmed that there will be occasions where using external technical expertise is necessary, especially in areas the Council doesn’t have in-house expertise.

 

Members raised the issues of the car parking assessment and whether external resources were required for that. It was explained that this was a legacy commitment and that there is no proposed budget allocated to the task. What there is, is a commitment to review options for new car parking technology which does not require additional resources.

 

A Member raised concern that there is a lot of red on the risk register. In response it was explained that finance is a high risk, especially post covid, with rising inflation, reduced income and decreasing government grants but that the Council’s finances are under control and there had not been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37