Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget Proposals for 2023/24 and outlining the Council’s financial outlook and challenges across the medium term period 2023/24 to 2024/25.

RESOLVED - (56 for, 4 against) (1) That approval be given to the Budget for 2023/24 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) That the risk assessment of the 2023/24 Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates also included at Appendix 5 be noted.

(3) That approval be given to the required Council General Fund Balance to reflect the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer’s assessment of risks.

(4) That approval be given to the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2023/24 to 2025/26 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in

formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council.

(5) That approval be given to the one-off positive investments funded by the available one-off resources.

(6) That the appropriate Council Tax resolutions be passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.99% in 2023/24 (1.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

Councillors Shan Alexander, Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Grace Baynham, Kate Butler, Christine Carrigan, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Stuart Corris, Liz Crix, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Roy Driver, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, Sue Glithero, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, Oliver Harrison, Louise Heywood, Keith Holloway, Ian Hunter, Mark Hunter, Jilly Julian, Gary Lawson, Rory Leonard, Georgia Lynott, Colin MacAlister, Carole McCann, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Tom Morrison, Amanda Peers, Ian Powney, Mark Roberts, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Becky Senior, Vince Shaw, Frankie Singleton, Lisa Smart, Andy Sorton, Charlie Stewart, Catherine Stuart, John Taylor, Aron Thornley, Sue Thorpe, Wendy Wild, Elise Wilson, Suzanne Wyatt and Matt Wynne.

The councillors who voted against the resolution were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Linda Holt); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Mike Hurleston and Oliver Johnstone.

The purpose of the report is to present the proposed 2023/24 Cabinet Revenue Budget. The report highlights our strategic approach to responding to the medium term financial forecasts, and our overarching priorities and desired outcomes upon which the Cabinet has based its budget proposals, and which form the basis of the Borough Plan and updated Council Plan included elsewhere on this agenda. Recognising the unprecedented uncertainty and financial pressures facing Local Government, we continue to commit to developing opportunities that enhance the lives of our residents. However, we recognise that this sits within a context of national and global uncertainty making a stable and resilient Council budget over the medium term period essential.

This report needs to be considered in conjunction with the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer’s Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2023/24 to 2025/26 report (MTFP Update report) presented elsewhere on this agenda. This report sets out the forecasts and assumptions underpinning the Council’s MTFP and the budget challenges facing the Council over the medium term period.

The Cabinet is requested to recommended that the Council Meeting:-

(1) Approve the Budget for 2023/24 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3;

(2) Note the risk assessment of the 2023/24 Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates also included at Appendix 5;

(3) Approve the required Council General Fund Balance to reflect the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer’s assessment of risks;

(4) Note, comment upon and approve the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2023/24 to 2025/26 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council;

(5) Approve the one-off positive investments funded by the available one-off resources; and

(6) Pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.99% in 2023/24 (1.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the 2023/24 Cabinet Revenue Budget for approval and outlining the Council’s financial outlook and challenges across the medium term period 2023/24 to 2025/26.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       The proposal for the further devolution of funding to wards was highlighted and welcomed as an indicator of the intention to continue to devolve decision-making to the lowest possible level.

·       The Council had to date made reductions of £133 million in its budget, in the face of rising costs.

·       The Council was aiming to introduce the lowest rate of council tax increase in Greater Manchester.

·       Council tax remained a regressive form of taxation and in particular adult social care needed to be funded fairly through general taxation.

·       The proposed allocation of funding for free schools meals was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

(1) Approve the Budget for 2023/24 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3;

(2) Note the risk assessment of the 2023/24 Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates also included at Appendix 5;

(3) Approve the required Council General Fund Balance to reflect the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer’s assessment of risks;

(4) Note, comment upon and approve the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2023/24 to 2025/26 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council;

(5) Approve the one-off positive investments funded by the available one-off resources; and

(6) Pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.99% in 2023/24 (1.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.