Issue - meetings

To receive the verbal update.

The Chief Executive introduced the verbal item on the Financial Forecast and Budget Position.  Stage One of the budget had been completed with Stage Two being discussed at County Council the previous week with the following outcomes:

·         Council Tax range would be between 3% and 5%;

·         That the recommendations from Cabinet be received, which were;

(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.

            A discussion was due with Welsh Government (WG) officials on the position.  He commented on a possible additional £20m for Local Authorities for 2018/19, with a possible £40m in 2019/20 which based on the formula would be £950,000 and £1.7m for 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively for Flintshire.  He also commented on the three specific requests of WG which were: (1) Domiciliary Care Fee Cap; (2) Intermediate Care Fund; and (3) Apprentice Tax Levy.  Councillor Shotton said the lobbying was continuing on those three specific areas. 

            Councillor Attridge commented on the projected 1% for pay increases in the budget and asked what the position would be if that percentage was increased.  Councillor Shotton explained that the Employers Offer, following national negotiations,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106