Decision details

The Council's Budget: Medium Term Financial Forecast 2020/21 - 2024/25

Decision Maker: CABINET

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1)    Approve the draft General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and capital programme proposals for 2020/21 and beyond as the basis for consultation with Policy Overview Committees and other stakeholders.

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

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)    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 2020.

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.

6)    Having due regard to the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix 11a, approve for recommendation to full Council the following amendments to the Council’s local Council Tax Reduction Scheme with a view to reforming the scheme with effect from April 2020:

a)    Introduction of a Banding Scheme for Working Age Claimants, including simplification of non-dependent deductions and earnings disregards;

b)   Reducing the capital limit for the scheme from £16k to £6k in line with Universal Credit,

c)    Establishing a £1 minimum weekly award, and;

d)   Maintaining current protections for those households in receipt of higher levels of support within the current scheme due to having more than two children prior to 31 March 2018.

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 2020/21 along with indicative projections for future years, the Housing Revenue Account, fees and charges proposals and the draft capital programme for 2020/21 and beyond.

 

Cabinet noted that the budget proposals for 2020/21 had been developed to maintain front-line service provision through a 3.8% increase in the headline rate of Council Tax which comprised a core Council Tax increase of 1.8% alongside a 2% increase relating to the Adult Social Care Precept. The Leader of the Council noted that this would equate to 83 pence a week for a Band D property.

 

Cabinet welcomed that the proposals included protection for the over 65’s through the continuation of the Older Person’s Council Tax Discount for the fourteenth successive year.

 

Cabinet considered the background of funding pressures and set out further service transformational objectives to maintain quality services to residents. Cabinet noted that the proposals for fees and charges would remain competitive with neighbouring boroughs.

 

The wider capital programme presented showed a commitment to invest in priority local infrastructure projects, including the offer to purchase Uxbridge Police Station, sports club refurbishments, pollution measures near schools and additional funding for local road improvements.

 

The Leader of the Council drew Cabinet’s attention to the funding set aside regarding any Heathrow Airport Development Consent Order.

 

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 2020.

 

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

 

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.

 

Publication date: 18/12/2019

Date of decision: 17/12/2019

Decided at meeting: 17/12/2019 - CABINET

Accompanying Documents: