Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee support the overall budget strategy;

(b)       That the Committee re-affirm the Council’s position on local taxation policy;

(c)        That the Committee support the Council’s expectations of Governments, as outlined within the presentation provided;

(d)       That the Community, Housing and Assets cost pressures, as outlined within the report, be noted; and

(e)       That no further cost efficiency areas be proposed by the Committee to be explored further.

The Chief Executive and Corporate Finance Manager introduced the first budget stage report which detailed the forecast and the cost pressures which would make-up the total budget requirement.

A report to Cabinet in October had provided an update on the financial forecast for 2021/22 and the following two financial years.  A full review of the forecast had been undertaken to build an accurate and robust baseline of cost pressure which needed to be funded.  The review had taken into account the ongoing impacts of the emergency situation including the speed of recovery of income against set targets.

This report set out the limited solutions available to fund the cost pressures with the funding strategy highly dependent on sufficient national funding for local government.  The details of the cost pressures for Housing and Assets were included in the report.

The Chief Executive and Corporate Finance Manager gave a detailed presentation which covered the following areas:-

• Financial Forecast for 2021/22;
• The Future – What we advised back in February;
• Summary Totals of Cost Pressures;
• Three Part Solutions and Risk-Taking;
• National Position and Funding;
• Potential Funding Scenarios;
• Budget Timetable;
• Support and Challenge Today

Additional details around specific Housing and Assets cost pressures were provided by the Chief Officer (Housing & Assets) as part of the presentation.

In response to a question from Councillor Brown, the Chief Officer advised that a list of commercial units available to rent was available on the Council’s website and work was being undertaken to make them more visible.

In response to a question from the Chairman around financial assistance from Welsh Government, the Chief Executive explained that the provisional budget settlement would be received on 22 December and a briefing was planned for 23 December in order to provide an update to all Members. 

The Committee were asked to consider the recommendations detailed within the report and outlined within the presentation, which were moved by Councillor Kevin Rush and seconded by Councillor Ron Davies. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support the overall budget strategy;

(b)       That the Committee re-affirm the Council’s position on local taxation policy;

(c)        That the Committee support the Council’s expectations of Governments, as outlined within the presentation provided;

(d)       That the Community, Housing and Assets cost pressures, as outlined within the report, be noted; and

(e)       That no further cost efficiency areas be proposed by the Committee to be explored further.