Issue - meetings

Budget 2022/23

Meeting: 01/02/2022 - Cabinet (Item 146)

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151)report providing the budget proposals for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account for the year 2022/23 and recommending the Band D Council Tax charge for 2022/23.

The Policy Development Groups have considered the budget and the Economy Policy Development Group has made the following recommendation:

a) Consideration be given to development on car parks and other land assets such as market housing and modular housing in order to better utilise Council assets and maximise income.

b) The Council maximise the opportunities presented by motorway junctions development to allow for further business growth opportunities.

The Homes Policy Development Group has made two recommendations:

Housing Revenue Account: that the rent increase proposed and other budget proposals for 2022/23 be approved (Report attached).

Budget – that a formal marketing campaign on the Piper Alarm System within the Private Sector is undertaken, in particular in areas where there were large numbers of retired electors but also to notify all tenants of the facility as well.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet had before ita *report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) providing the budget proposals for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account for the year 2022/23 and recommending the Band D Council Tax charge for 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the contents of the report stating that the shortfall had reduced from a significant level in the autumn of 2021 to a shortfall of £145k which was proposed to be temporarily transferred from the New Homes Bonus EMR to balance the budget. He highlighted the work of the finance officers and the involvement of the Policy Development Groups who had been actively engaged in discussions with regard to the budget.

Consideration was given to:

· Whether the budget would be used to reduce carbon neutrality, the aspirations within the Climate Change Action Plan, the funding bids that had been progressed, the proposed engagement with the public through the State of the District Debate, the work of officers that was taking place with regard to the climate issues and the training that was being progressed

· The strategic priorities that were being financed

· The ambitions for social housing through the HRA, the work taking place within the estate to address decarbonisation issues and the funding opportunities available which were being utilised

· Whether it was prudent to increase borrowing levels for 3 Rivers Developments Limited

RECOMMENDED to Council that:

1. A Council Tax Requirement of £6,523,930, calculated using a Council Tax of £218.84 for a Band D property, an increase of £5 or 2.34% from 2021/22 and a Tax Base of 29,811.41, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulation 1992, as amended, after the relevant adjustments in respect of the Council tax support scheme approved by Cabinet on 4 January 2022;

2. The overall budgeted Cost of Services within the General Fund budget of £14,785,295 for 2022/23 is approved as detailed across appendices 1 – 3;

3. The 2022/23 budget requires no transfer from the General Fund Balance;

4. A further temporary transfer of £144,879 from the New Homes Bonus EMR to balance the General Fund Budget in addition to the £258,808 already included within previous budget assumptions;

5. HRA budget for 2022/23 be approved as set out in appendix 4;

6. HRA fees/charges are approved based on the attached appendix 5a - b;

7. Work on strategic planning for delivering a balanced budget for 2023/24 is commenced in the Spring.

(Proposed by Cllr B A Moore and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.