Cabinet considered the latest financial update. The Lead Member explained that of the £2.2m set aside to respond to unexpected issues, the council had hitherto not needed to spend much of the total. In contract the revenue account was projected to run £1.2m ahead of the targets set. This meant the council was £1m ahead overall in terms of the impact on reserves. The figure of £1.2m was predominantly related to volume driven aspects of Children’s Services, as opposed to inefficient or ineffective delivery of services. In Adult Social Care the volume issue was running below what had been anticipated therefore this offered some mitigation. In the Communities and Place directorates, both anticipated balanced budgets at this stage.

The Lead Member highlighted that the council had agreed a budget including substantial tactical investments in excess of £75m during the course of the year. Some of those investments were not happening as quickly as had been originally anticipated, therefore it was more likely than not that the council would be borrowing less than £70m.

In relation to business rates, the Lead Member highlighted a number of important new initiatives. A new Business Rate Relief for public houses was being proactively promoted to 89 public houses identified as fitting the guidelines. A new Discretionary Relief Scheme was focussed on Business Rate payers whose rateable value was less than £200,000 but whose bill had increased by more than 12.5% in the last year due to revaluation. The council’s policy was being revised to make this clear and would be actively promoted; 34 businesses had already been identified and would be sent an updated application form in September 2017.

The Lead Member reported that, in agreement with officers and members of the Budget Steering Group, it was anticipated that the budget would be brought forward by 2-3 months. This was important as local authorities faced a number of challenges and it would allow issues to be discussed before the budget approval process began in the new year. A report would be presented to Cabinet in October 2017 to include savings, a capital expenditure plan and borrowing expectations for 2018/19.

The Lead Member for Adult Services explained that each year when the budget was set it took into account a number of cases that were yet to be determined, for example challenges from other local authorities as to which council was responsible for paying for an individual’s care. The council had won three cases recently therefore the budget was not underspent and no-one was losing out on any care. Overall the council was spending more on Adult Services.

The Lead Member for Culture and Communities commented that since the promotion of Andy Jeffs to Executive Director, a new Head of Revenues and Benefits had been appointed. Business rate collection rates continued to be good.

The Executive Director confirmed that a response had been drafted for the Lead Member to agree, to respond to CAMRA in relation to rate relief for public houses.

The Principal Member for Neighbourhood planning and Ascot & the Sunnings welcomed the rate relief for small businesses, particularly retail, as there were a number affected in her ward.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet:

i)             Notes the Council’s projected outturn position for 2017-18 and mitigating actions to address service pressures.

ii)            Approves the addition of a £173,000 grant funded budget to the capital programme to repair potholes across the Borough (details in paragraph 4.22).