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Agenda item

Revenue Budget 2014/15 (C2749)

(CSP: 6 & 8)

Purpose: To consider and recommend to Council the 2014-15 Revenue Budget.

Decision:

Resolved that the Executive recommend to Council:

 

(1)     That the Fees & Charges be approved as set out in Appendix F and the appropriate statutory notices be placed where required in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014

 

(2)     That the Special Expenses be approved as set out in Appendix G in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014.

 

(3)     That the 2014-15 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ci) and Cii) be agreed along with the 2015-16 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ciii).

 

(4)     That the 2014-15 budget requirement for Council tax setting purposes of £76.56 million requiring a Council Tax freeze be approved.

 

 

This decision is not subject to call in as:

 

·      the item is due to be referred to Council for final approval.

 

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 11) concerning the 2014-15 revenue budget. Councillor Alan Law noted that a replacement for pages 255-257 (Children Centre’s Fees and Charges) of the agenda had been tabled at the meeting and these amendments would be reflected in the paperwork for full Council.

Councillor Law explained that this year the Council would again not be increasing Council Tax despite a reduction of £3.67m in the grant (the Revenue Support Grant) that the Council received from Central Government. In addition additional costs of £2.2m would be incurred to cover the costs associated with wages and contractual inflation and the Council would also experience additional pressures from some of the demand led services.

Councillor Law was therefore pleased to note that despite this the Council were only proposing £1.3m of disinvestment. This had been achieved through efficiency measures  and increased productivity.

Councillor Jeff Brooks explained that the Opposition would not be commenting on the proposals at this meeting and would instead make comments on the budgets at the March Council meeting.

RESOLVED that the Executive recommended to Council:

That the Executive recommends to Council

 (1)   That the Fees & Charges be approved as set out in Appendix F and the appropriate statutory notices be placed where required in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014

 (2)   That the Special Expenses be approved as set out in Appendix G in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014.

 (3)   That the 2014-15 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ci) and Cii) are agreed along with the 2015-16 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ciii).

 (4)   That the 2014-15 budget requirement for Council tax setting purposes of £76.56 million requiring a Council Tax freeze be approved.

Reason for the decision: Formulation of the 2014/15 Budget is a requirement to meet the Council’s Statutory duties.

Other options considered: None.

Supporting documents: