Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Stage Two Budget options within the Scrutiny report and the recommendations of Cabinet detailed below be received;

(i)         That feedback from Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be received with a recommendation to Council on Stage 2 of the budget strategy;

(ii)        That the remaining stages of the budget process and the timescales be noted; and

(iii)       Cabinet received and accepted in full the 6 draft recommendations from Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee (listed below).  Cabinet noted and recommended Stage 2 of the budget to County Council with the proviso that the specific proposals on schools budgets and car parking charges would be reported to the respective Overview and Scrutiny Committees in January for full review, for them to report back before any final agreement on those two areas.

Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Recommendations:

1.            That having considered the Stage 2 budget options, the report and proposals be noted;

2.            That the remaining stages of the budget process and timescales be noted;

3.            That the letter to the Cabinet Secretaries for Finance and for  Local Government and Public services   and the Resilience Statements be circulated to all Members;

4.            That the full detail of the assessments of the risks, impacts and consequences of all of the budget proposals be made available for review in January;

5.            That the Environment and Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committees be convened in January to review in detail the car parking charges and school budget proposals respectively, including the risks and consequences of the proposals, prior to any final decision being taken; and

6.            That a report reviewing the process for the setting of the annual budget process be prepared for the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee at its meeting on 31^st January 2018.

(2)       That the remaining stages of the budget process and the timescales be noted; and

(b)       That the remaining stages of the budget process and the timescales be     noted.

The Chief Executive introduced the report on the Financial Forecast and Stage Two of the Budget 2018/19 which had been submitted to a special meeting of Corporate Resource Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6^th December and a special meeting of Cabinet that morning.  A copy of the draft recommendations from the special Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had been endorsed by Cabinet that morning, had been given to Members.

Councillor Heesom queried why Members were being asked to approve minutes of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee in this meeting.  The Chief Executive explained that Members were not being asked to approve minutes and at the scrutiny meeting the previous week, Members who were present were advised that the outcome of that meeting would be reported to Cabinet and then to County Council.  The recommendations and minute content were draft.  Councillor Carver indicated that as Chair of that Committee, they were indeed a fair record of what was agreed.  Following a further comment from Councillor Heesom, the Chief Executive confirmed that he was faithfully reporting what Cabinet had decided that morning, taking into account the resolutions of Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Cabinet received and accepted in full the six draft recommendations from Corporate Resources, which were:

1.    That  having considered the Stage 2 budget options, the report and proposals be noted;

2.    That the remaining stages of the budget process and timescales be noted;

3.    That the letter to the Cabinet Secretaries for Finance and for Local Government and Public services and the Resilience Statements be circulated to all Members;

4.    That the full detail of the assessments of the risks, impacts and consequences of all of the budget proposals be made available for review in January;

5.    That the Environment and Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committees be convened in January to review in detail the car parking charges and school budget proposals respectively, including the risks and consequences of the proposals, prior to any final decision being taken; and

6.    That a report reviewing the process for the setting of the annual budget process be prepared for the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee at its meeting on 31^st January 2018.

Cabinet had noted and recommended Stage Two of the budget to County Council with the proviso that the specific proposals on schools budgets and car parking charges would be reported to the respective Overview and Scrutiny Committees in January for full review, for them to report back before any final agreement on those two areas.  Cabinet also noted the remaining stages of the budget process and the timescales.

The Corporate Finance Manager explained that following approval of Stage One of the budget proposals the gap had reduced to £10.5m which excluded the impact of any in-year risks and pressures which could continue into the new financial year.  Stage Two budget proposals were categorised into high or low level of control/certainty and full details were contained in the Corporate Resources Overview  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76