To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 9 February 2017.

The Finance Partner - Corporate Services & Operations, Mark Lampard, explained that the report set out the Council budget for 2017/18.  Members were informed that the priority in setting the budget had been to ensure the continued delivery of quality services for all residents, especially the most vulnerable, whilst the Royal Borough remained a low tax council.  The Finance Partner - Corporate Services & Operations gave Members a brief presentation on the highlights of the proposed budget for 2017/18 which covered the following:

·         Local Revenue Investments.

·         Revenue recommendations.

·         17/18 Capital investment.

·         Business Rates – for business.

·         Context.

It was noted that the budget proposed a 0.95% increase in core council tax (£8.62) and a 3% adult social care precept at band D (£27.75) adding to the 2016/17 precept of £18.14.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

·      That the monetary terms increase for Council tax Band F could be found in the report papers.

·      That 2019/20 was the proposed date for full retention of Business Rates

·      That information about the Nicholson’s Centre could be found in the Capital section of the report under the ‘Broadway Opportunity Area’. 

·      That the Parking Provision paper had been before Cabinet this week, including potential  capital spend proposals including a proposed additional deck at Riverside Car Park.

·      That an explanation about how the reserves were maintained could be found in the report papers.

·      That appropriate cost and income budgets were inflated by 2% (based on RPI in September 2016).

·      That there were £5.9m savings identified in the budget across three directorates.  It was noted that the CCTV proposal could be found in ‘Delivering Differently in Operations..   

·      The Apprentice Levy was primarily about training funded by charge of  0.5% f the Council Payroll. The £180k was a corporate figure that included schools. 

Councillor Werner questioned why the budget paper was being put forward before the CCTV proposal had been decided.  The Finance Partner - Corporate Services & Operations explained that the majority of savings proposals were included in the paper that had been approved by Cabinet and that the CCTV proposal would be going before Cabinet in January.

Councillor Werner stated his disappointment that the Council was breaking its Manifesto pledge about Council Tax.

The Crime & Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Panel unanimously agreed to recommend to Cabinet that they note the report and approve the:

i)             Detailed recommendations contained in Appendix A which includes a Council Tax at band D of £915.57, including a 0.95% increase of £8.55.

ii)            Adult Social Care Precept of 3% (an increase of £27.75 on the £18.14 precept included in the 2016/17 budget) to be included in the Council’s budget proposals, making this levy the equivalent of £45.89 at band D.

iii)           Fees and Charges contained in Appendix D are approved.

iv)           Capital Programme, shown in appendices F and G, for the financial year commencing April 2017.

v)            Prudential borrowing limits set out in Appendix L.

vi)           Business rate tax base calculation, detailed in Appendix O, and its use in the calculation of the Council Tax Requirement in Appendix A.

vii)         Head of Finance in consultation with the Lead Members for Finance and Children’s Services is authorised to amend the total schools budget to reflect actual Dedicated School Grant levels.

viii)        Head of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance is authorised to make appropriate changes to the budget to reflect the impact of the transfer of services to Achieving for Children and Optalis.

ix)           Responsibility to include the precept from the Berkshire Fire andRescue Authority in the overall Council Tax charges is delegated to the Lead Member for Finance and Head of Finance once the precept is announced.