Agenda item

To consider the initial draft 2020/21 Budget and options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget and agree a future strategy for further budget reductions for 2021/22 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 Financial Services 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 and there was doubt over whether the Provisional Settlement would be received from Central Government by the New Year. 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.

Members considered the following:

·         Was the projected increase in business rates realistic

·         The number of appeals going back to 2010 and effect on the budget if all of these were successful

·         The forecast for the planning department

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