Decision details

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the draft General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and capital programme proposals for 2019/20 and beyond as the basis for consultation with Policy Overview Committees and other stakeholders.

2.    Note that confirmation of the Local Government Finance Settlement is awaited from HM Government and this will be taken into consideration in the final budget proposal considered by Cabinet in February 2019.

3.    Request the comments of individual Policy Overview Committees on the draft budget proposals relating to their areas of responsibility, to be collated into a single report back to Cabinet from the Corporate Services, Commerce & Communities Policy Overview Committee.

4.    Approve the proposed amendments to Fees and Charges, included at Appendix 8, as the basis for consultation with Policy Overview Committees and other stakeholders.

5.    Authorise the Corporate Director of Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to respond on behalf of the Council to the consultation on the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and to the Mayor of London’s budget consultation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet put forward for consultation its budget proposals. This included the Council’s Medium Term Financial Forecast, the draft General Fund revenue budget for 2019/20 along with indicative projections for future years, the Housing Revenue Account, fees and charges proposals and the draft capital programme for 2019/20 and beyond.

Cabinet noted that the budget proposals for 2019/20 had been developed to maintain front-line service provision through a 2.4% increase in Council Tax and utilising general balances, whilst avoiding levying the social care precept for the fourth successive year and a continued freeze in Council Tax for over 65s for the thirteenth successive year.

Cabinet considered the background of growing local demand for social care, combined with ongoing reductions in Government support for local services. Overall, Cabinet welcomed the well-designed budget proposals, which it believed would secure the most effective combination of service outcomes and value for money for residents. It was also noted that the Borough’s fees and charges would remain competitive with neighbouring boroughs. The Leader of the Council also updated Cabinet on the Local Government Finance Settlement announced during the day.

The wider proposed capital programme presented by Cabinet continued to invest in new school buildings and also included substantial additional funding for local road improvements, a new leisure centre for the Yiewsley/West Drayton area and a variety of other projects benefiting residents.

Cabinet welcomed a balanced approach to new housing development in the Borough and proposals that would provide for additional new General Needs and Supported Living units.

The Leader of the Council noted the Metropolitan Police’s refusal to accept the Council’s offer to purchase Uxbridge Police Station and also provide for some of its operational costs. In light of this, Cabinet agreed to remove the offer on the table and alternatively earmark the funds for other community capital projects and to increase funding for the Council’s campaign against Heathrow expansion.

In recommending the budget proposals, which had been carefully developed to put residents first, Cabinet agreed for them to go out for public and business sector consultation, including the Council’s Policy Overview Committees, before being re-considered in February 2019.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Cabinet could have chosen to vary the proposals in its budget before consultation. However, to comply with the Budget and Policy Framework, the Cabinet was required to publish a draft budget for consultation at the meeting. 

Officers to action:

Paul Whaymand, Finance

Urgency Provisions

The report relating to this decision had been circulated less than 5 working days before the Cabinet meeting and for the reasons set out on the official notice, it was thereby agreed by the Chairman to be considered as urgent business.

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.