Decision details

Part B: Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2023/24 to 2025/26

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Part B is the Council’s 2023/24 to 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) forecasts and assumptions as part of setting a robust and resilient budget and financial plan to meet the unprecedented uncertainty, volatility and risk within the financial landscape. This report builds on those updates considering any further national and local changes impacting on the 2023/24 Budget and MTFP.

Decision:

The Cabinet has considered an update on the Council’s 2023/24 to 2025/26 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) forecasts and assumptions as part of setting a robust and resilient budget and financial plan to meet the unprecedented uncertainty, volatility, and risk within the financial landscape, and has:-

 

(1) Noted the details of the 2023/24 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and the expected announcement of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement;

 

(2) Noted the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2023/24 to 2025/26;

 

(3) Noted and approved the indicative budget adjustments since the MTFP Update presented to the Cabinet meeting on 28 September 2022 resulting in savings requirement of £4.277m in 2023/24;

 

(4) Approved the allocation of £8.643m of the corporate contingency budgets to Cash Limit budgets as part of the budget setting process as set out in paragraphs 3.18 to 3.20;

 

(5) Noted the Section 151 Officer recommendation to hold the Council’s General Fund Balance at its current level £15.183m in 2023/24 aligned to his risk assessment of the budget and the adequacy of reserves and balances to support the Council’s 2023/24 Budget; and 

 

(6) Agreed to take the necessary steps to propose a final balanced 2023/24 Budget including any proposed Council Tax increase to be recommended for approval at the Council meeting on 23 February 2023.

Alternative options considered:

None.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Reason Key: Significant expenditure or savings;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Equality and/or Environmental Impact Assessment: Considered as part of the report

Decision Reference: CAB368

Declarations or conflicts of Interest: None.

Forward Plan Reference: F&R9

Other reasons / organisations consulted

As part of the 2023/24 Budget Setting process

Contact: Jonathan Davies, Corporate and Support Services Email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk Tel: 218 1025, Lisa Joy, Corporate and Support Services Email: lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk Tel: 0161 474 4044.

Report author: Jonathan Davies

Publication date: 01/02/2023

Date of decision: 31/01/2023

Decided at meeting: 31/01/2023 - Cabinet

Effective from: 08/02/2023

Accompanying Documents: