Issue - meetings

That having considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2022/23 report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters to be raised at Cabinet.

The Chief Executive introduced a report on the latest position for the Council Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23 in advance of receipt of the Welsh Local Government Provisional Settlement and formal budget setting process.

The Corporate Finance Manager reminded the Committee of the position reported in July prior to Overview & Scrutiny Committees supporting cost pressures within their respective portfolios.  An updated additional budget requirement reported to Cabinet in October was mainly due to the increase in Employer National Insurance contributions from April 2022.  The current position - which took into account pay and inflationary assumptions, the draft budget increase from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service and other adjustments - had further increased the additional budget requirement to £20.696m.  The report detailed changes since the previous estimate including the impact of inflationary increases on pay and school utility budgets, together with social care commissioning.  Ongoing risks such as Out of County Placements would need to be carefully monitored, along with impact of the Hardship Fund ceasing in March 2022.  Although a revised efficiency target of £1.250m had been identified, the funding solutions to reach a legal and balanced budget were mainly reliant on an annual uplift in Revenue Support Grant.

A report by the Welsh Local Government Association detailing the impact of cost pressures across Wales also reflected the local position when taking account of the efficiencies identified and an annual uplift in Council Tax similar to recent years.  A collective letter to Welsh Government from all six North Wales Councils in advance of the Provisional Settlement was also shared.

Councillor Paul Shotton raised concerns about the cost pressures which demonstrated the need for a favourable outcome on the Provisional Settlement.

On changes since the previous budget estimate, Councillor Paul Johnson said there were a number of areas on which the Council had little or no control.

The recommendation was moved and seconded by Councillors Paul Shotton and Haydn Bateman.

RESOLVED:

That having considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2022/23 report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters to be raised at Cabinet.