Issue - meetings

Councillor Russell Holland, the Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills along with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets (Section 151 Officer) submitted joint report setting out the current budget management position for the 2020/21 financial year and proposing a Budget for 2021/22. 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 the joint report and thanked all staff for their efforts in bringing the 2021/21 to a projected balance by the end of the financial year, having warned Cabinet at previous meetings that this might not be so.  He also noted the government’s financial support that had contributed towards this. 

Councillor Holland added that the draft budget 2021/22 was seeking to propose to Council a Council Tax increase of 4.99%, which would include 3% permitted as the Adult Social Care precept. The Cabinet Member outlined some of the demographic and inflationary cost pressures the Council was facing. The Leader added that this proposed increase was in-line with similar councils in England.

Councillors Jim Grant and Bob Wright asked a number of questions to which Councillor Holland and Councillor Ford - the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health - responded at the meeting.

        i.            How was the budget taking into account the costs of supporting the victims of ‘long-Covid’ as well as the additional pressures from increased domestic violence and mental health issues? Officers were aware of the budget pressures and the Council was working with the Clinical Commissioning Group and the NHS to support a ‘long-Covid’ treatment protocol.

       ii.            How did the budget interpret the Government’s concept of levelling up? This is a central government focus on regional inequalities. Swindon has received significant amounts through the Local Enterprise Partnership and the New Towns Fund.

     iii.            Was the budget’s focus on investment appropriate, should it address more demand issues now? The budget was continuing to focus on long-term investments that would bring tangible benefits to the Borough.

The Leader of the Council agreed to a request from Councillor Dale Heenan - Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, Culture and Heritage – to send a communication to all staff members to thank them for their efforts in balancing the budget.

Resolved: (1) That Cabinet notes the medium term financial context and impact on Swindon of the draft Local Government Finance settlement;

(2) That Cabinet notes the projected out-turn for 2020/21;

(3) That Cabinet notes the consultation feedback summarised in Appendix 3,

(4) That Cabinet notes the detailed Dedicated Schools Grant budget for 2021/22, based on a provisional funding envelope of £216.131m;

(5) That Cabinet notes that, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2003, the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets, confirms 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.

(6) That the virements set out in Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44