Issue - meetings

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills along with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets submitted a joint report presenting the 2020/21 revenue budget forecast out-turn and the latest position regarding the budget for 2021/22. In addition, this report meets the requirement to publish initial proposals for the Budgetary and Policy Framework at least two months before the Framework must be adopted.

Councillor Holland summarised the government support the Council had received so far to cope with the extra expenditure and lost income owing to Covid-19. However, he warned Cabinet of the difficulties still to be faced in completing the draft 2021/222 budget, as there were already significant demand-led pressures before the pandemic. Councillor Holland proposed the following amendment, which the Leader of the Council seconded: ‘To insert a new recommendation at 2.5 “Authorise the Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets, to agree the Collection Fund

Balance and draft Council Tax Base, following the receipt of the

Necessary information from central government,” and to renumber the subsequent recommendations.’

Councillor Jim Grant asked a series of questions relating to the level of government funding in general, the payment for adult social care and the response to Covid-19. The Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills responded at the meeting. Councillor Holland emphasised that there was an urgent need for a wider debate in the country to determine what level of care should be provided and how it should be financed.

Resolved: (1) That the 2020/21 revenue budget forecast out-turn for each service area set out in Table 1 of the joint report and at Appendix 1 be noted;

(2) That the virements set out in Appendix 2 be approved;

(3) That £150,000 from the Hardship grant awarded in March 2020 be allocated to the Swindon Emergency Assistance Fund, in order to help those in financial hardship through provision of necessities or provide financial guidance to such individuals;

(4) That it be noted that the update on the financial outlook and that the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021/22 has yet to be published and therefore the funding position for that year remains uncertain;

(5) That the Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets, be authorised to agree the Collection Fund Balance and draft Council Tax Base, following the receipt of the necessary information from central government;

(6) That it be approved that consultation commences for budget proposals set out in Appendix 3 with the outcome of that consultation being reported to Cabinet in February 2021 prior to considering the final budget to be recommended to Council;

(7) That the change to Empty Homes Premium for properties that are unoccupied or unfurnished for more than 10 years be approved; and

(8) That it be approved that the local Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35