Issue - meetings

To approve, following a recorded vote, the Council’s Budget for the Financial Year, 2020/21.

The Cabinet met on 5^th February 2020 to consider the following reports relating to the Council Budget 2020/21.

(i)   Budget 2020/21 and Beyond.

(ii)  Capital Programme 2024/25.

(iii) Treasury Strategy Statement 2020/21.

Cabinet Minutes 63, 64 and 65 relating to these reports are attached (Pages 15 to 18).

The Council considered joint reports of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Education and Skills and the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets, considered by the Cabinet on 5^th February 2020 relating to (i) Budget 2020/21 and Beyond, (ii) Capital Programme 2020/21, (iii) Treasury Strategy Statement 20120/21, and (iv) Minute 63 of the Cabinet (Budget 2020/21 and Beyond), Minute 64 of the Cabinet (Capital Programme 2020/21) and Minute 65 of the Cabinet (Treasury Statement 2020/21).

(1) Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor David Renard seconded that Minute 63(11) of the Cabinet (Budget 2020/21 and Beyond) be confirmed and adopted.

The resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the vote on Minute 63(11) of the Cabinet (Budget 2020/21 and Beyond) was recorded:

          Councillors voting for the Motion were: Councillors Alan Bishop, Nick Burns-Howell, Matthew Courtliff, Malcolm Davies, Oliver Donachie, Emma Faramarzi, Brian Ford, Dale Heenan, Steve Heyes, Russell Holland, Oladapo Ibitoye, Rob Jandy, Jenny Jefferies, Vinay Manro, Mary Martin, Cathy Martyn, Brian Mattock, Barbara Parry, Kevin Parry, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Roger Smith, Bazil Soloman, Gary Sumner, Tim Swinyard, Caryl Sydney-Smith, Rahul Tarar, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors voting against the Motion were Councillors Junab Ali, Steve Allsopp, Abdul Amin, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Emma Bushell, Claire Crilly,  Mark Dempsey, Paul Dixon, Jim Grant, Fay Howard, Janine Howarth, Jane Milner-Barry, Stan Pajak, Jim Robbins, Adorabelle Shaikh, Imtiyaz Shaikh, Carol Shelley, Kevin Small, Andy Spry and Robert Wright.

There were no abstentions.

(2) Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor David Renard seconded that Minute 64(1) of the Cabinet (Capital Programme 2020/21) be confirmed and adopted.

The resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

In line with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the vote on Minute 64(1) of the Cabinet (Budget 2020/21 and Beyond) was recorded:

          Councillors voting for the Motion were: Councillors Alan Bishop, Nick Burns-Howell, Matthew Courtliff, Malcolm Davies, Oliver Donachie, Emma Faramarzi, Brian Ford, Dale Heenan, Steve Heyes, Russell Holland, Oladapo Ibitoye, Rob Jandy, Jenny Jefferies, Vinay Manro, Mary Martin, Cathy Martyn, Brian Mattock, Barbara Parry, Kevin Parry, Maureen Penny, Garry Perkins, David Renard, Roger Smith, Bazil Soloman, Gary Sumner, Tim Swinyard, Caryl Sydney-Smith, Rahul Tarar, Vera Tomlinson, Steve Weisinger and Keith Williams.

Councillors voting against the Motion were Councillors Junab Ali, Steve Allsopp, Abdul Amin, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Emma Bushell, Claire Crilly,  Mark Dempsey, Paul Dixon, Jim Grant, Fay Howard, Janine Howarth, Jane Milner-Barry, Stan Pajak, Jim Robbins, Adorabelle Shaikh, Imtiyaz Shaikh, Carol Shelley, Kevin Small, Andy Spry and Robert Wright.

There were no abstentions.

(3) CouncillorRussell Hollandmoved and Councillor David Renard seconded that Minute 65 of the Cabinet (Treasury Strategy Statement 2020/21) be confirmed and adopted.

The resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Russell Holland, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Education and Skills along with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets (Section 151 Officer) submitted joint report proposing a Budget for 2020/21 and setting out the financial context for 2021/22 and beyond.  It was noted that, under the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet is required to recommend a budget to Council as part of its formal Council Tax Setting responsibilities.

Councillor Holland introduced his report setting out the implications of the delay in having government grants confirmed owing to the General Election, the continuing demographic pressures, and the desire to provide long-term support for arts groups that would be addressed in a proposed amendment to Appendix 3. He explained that the Council had received a grant of £60k, which had allowed officers to make new proposals to assist the arts groups that had previously expected an £80k cut. Councillor Holland also informed Cabinet of statutory changes imminent regarding the Dedicated Schools Budget. He reminded Members that the budget itself would not be determined until Council on 20^th February 2020.

Councillors Dale Heenan, Jim Grant, Jane Milner-Barry, and Bob Wright asked a range of questions about the budget covering:

·         Whether austerity is continuing for local government and the role of central government in funding the projected increased demand for adult social care,

·         How the proposed budget changes might affect services for the vulnerable,

·         Why Cabinet Members had not brought forward earlier the savings identified in this budget.

·         How Cabinet might work with non-executive members to identify ways to support cultural groups and activities.

·         The use of borrowing to support council and public sector schemes.

·         The proposed support for the literature festival.

·         What alternative proposals had been submitted during the three months since Cabinet approved the consultation budget.

Councillor Holland responded at the meeting.

Resolved –

1)    That the medium term financial context and impact on Swindon of the draft Local Government Finance settlement be noted;

2)    That the projected out-turn for 2019/20 be noted;

3)    That Members note the consultation feedback summarised in Appendix 2,

4)    That the detailed Dedicated Schools budget for 2020/21, based on a provisional funding envelope of £198.28m be noted;

5)    That, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2003, the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets’ confirmation of the robustness of the estimates underlying the recommended Budget and adequacy of reserves in the context of the earmarked reserves and proposed budget risk contingency be noted.

6)    That the medium term financial strategy, set out in Appendix 5 be endorsed;

7)    That the specific reserves held in support of the 2020/21 Revenue Budget set out in Appendix 4 be agreed;

8)    That it be agreed that the proposed Dedicated Schools Budget (DSG) budget deficit should be recovered from within DSG income;

9)    That the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets be authorised to balance any changes between the provisional and final local government finance settlements by adjusting the Budget Risk Contingency;

10) That an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63