Decision details

The Council Meeting has:-

·         Approved the Budget for 2022/23 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3;

·         Noted the risk assessment of the 2022/23 Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates also included at Appendix 5;

·         Approved the required Council General Fund Balance to reflect the Section 151 Officer assessment of risks;

·         Noted and approves the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2022/23 to 2024/25 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council; and

·         Passed the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.5% in 2022/23 (1% General increase, 1% Adult Social Care Precept increase and 1.5 deferred 2021/22 Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

Subject to:-

·         Funding the ‘general’ increase in council tax for the worst off in our borough by a cost of living rebate in 2022/23. This would be given to all those living in properties in council tax band A to D.

·         Funding this by using £1.599m from general reserves in 2022/23.

·         The Cabinet being recommended to ensure that those residents in bands E to H properties but on low incomes are duly considered for the discretionary funding which is being made available by Government for those in need of support.

To pass the budget without amendment.

None.