Issue - meetings

To consider the initial draft 2021/22 Budget and options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget and agree a future strategy for further budget reductions for 2022/23 onwards.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a *report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting the initial draft 2021/2022 Budget and options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget and agree a future strategy for further budget reductions for 2022/23 onwards.

The Principal Accountant explained that this was the first iteration of the General Fund Budget and that the Medium Term Financial Plan was due to go to the Cabinet on 3^rd December 2020.

The officer outlined the contents of the report stating that we were living in unprecedented times and the difficulties that were faced in considering a draft budget for 2021-22; this was the final year of a four year fixed funding settlement, there was uncertainty with Business Rates, the rural settlement payment, the New Homes Bonus and interest rates and that the pandemic had had a significant impact on service income. General assumptions had been provided in the report, the overall proposed deficit was shown in the report as was the impact of the pandemic on business and the standard pressures. There was a need to work with officers to make significant savings across the board and to consider revenue opportunities.

He explained that there may be a need to look at the Council’s statutory services and downgrade them from the current platinum service to a silver service but this would be dependant on the priorities of Members. He explained that MDDC were currently a high performing Council and that it was a question of, if monies could be saved this way and would Members want that.

The Chief Executive stated that the dilemma for Members was what level of service they wanted to provide against what the Council could afford. He stated that the Council could provide a minimum service level or an enhanced level at an additional cost.

Consideration was given to:

·         Queries with regard to 3 Rivers financing

·         Queries with regard to Climate Change initiatives within the budget

·         Queries with regard to the increase in the open spaces budget

The Principal Accountant stated he would provide written answers to the queries raised by Members.

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes