Issue - meetings

To receive a report previously considered by the Cabinet on 7 January 2021 and discuss any further changes that the PDG may require prior to the formal recommendation of the budget proposals to Cabinet and Council in February.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, the *Budget report for 2021/2022 from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151).

The Group Manager for Finance explained that it was a very volatile period and the Budget included figures which were outside of the Councils control and related to the unknown impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. He stated that some of the income gap would need to be met from reserves.

Consideration was given to:

·         The losses in the Environment portfolio had been partially offset by over performance in the Garden Waste service and the additional payment from DCC due to less waste being sent to landfill

·         The core spending rise of 4.5% was an average across all councils but this included social care authorities and did not apply to MDDC

·         There was no presumption that after the comprehensive trials that a 3 weekly bin collection service was going to adopted across the district but the savings had been included in case that it was

·         The use of reserves to plug the spending gap may be required

·         The vital road link on the A361 would commence shortly as would the link to Blundells Road.

Members were asked whether there were any areas of savings that they were aware of that they would like investigated, to contribute to closing the budget gap.

Note: *Budget report previously circulated and attached to the minutes