Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) considering the options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2020/2021 and agree a future strategy for further budget reductions for 2021/2022 onwards.

The Group had before it and NOTED a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting the draft budget proposals for 2020/2021.

The Group Manager for Finance outlined the content of the report and explained to Members that the report would be presented to Cabinet with the information available at the time and that the settlement from Central Government was for 1 year instead of the 4 expected. She explained that the Council had been very vocal about the absence of the Fair Funding Review there was doubt over whether the Provisional Settlement would be received from Central Government by Christmas. This delay would cause further uncertainty.

She informed the Group that the Council had gone out to public consultation on the budget and had so far received 408 responses. Officers were currently looking at those to help inform the budget setting process.

She explained that the Vehicle Contract set up had come from the Ear Marked Reserve created from the sinking fund initially established to replace the Council’s vehicle stock.

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes.