Issue - meetings

Councillor Russell Holland, the Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills along with the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets submitted a joint report that presented the 2020/21 revenue budget forecast out-turn.

Councillor Holland introduced the joint report, thanking Officers for their efforts to deliver a budget without an overspend while acknowledging the support from central government in response to Covid-19 to compensate for lost income and higher expenditure.

Councillor Grant asked a number of questions about the cost of the Council Tax booklet and distribution of information about the local elections and the choice of advertising channels. The Leader confirmed that the cost was 14p per booklet and undertook to provide the full cost. The Returning Officer responded to the questions about the local elections; however, as the decisions of the Returning Officer are not a matter for the executive, the Leader closed discussion on this topic.

Councillor Williams drew Members’ attention to the success officers had achieved in managing the two demand-led budgets – Children’s Services and Adult Social Care.

Resolved: That the 2020/21 revenue budget forecast out-turn for each service area set out in Table 1 and Appendix 1 be noted.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.