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 Jilly Julian) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which sought approval for the cabinet’s proposed 2024/25 revenue budget.

MOVED AND SECONDED – (1) That the budget for 2024/25 described in the report and set out in Appendices 2 and 3 be approved.

(2) That the use of available one-off resources to support the positive investment detailed in Section 6, subject to the council’s 2023/24 outturn position and the 2024/25 final settlement be approved.

(3) That the risk assessment of the 2024/25 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 at Appendix 5) be noted.

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

(5) That the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2024/25 to 2027/28 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the council be noted and approved.

(6) That the appropriate Council Tax resolutions be passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 4.99% in 2024/25 (2.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7 be agreed.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - That the Council Meeting gives approval to the proposed amendments to the 2024/25 Cabinet Revenue Budget put forward by the Labour Group and as set out in its proposals and summarised in the document entitled ‘Stockport Labour: Our Approach to the 2024/2025 Revenue Budget’ that had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

For the amendment 61.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The names of those councillors voting on the amendment were recorded as follows:

Those councillors who voted for the amendment were:

The Mayor (Councillor Graham Greenhalgh); The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Kerry Waters); Councillors Geoff Abell, Shan Alexander, Jake Austin, Joe Barratt, Rosemary Barratt, Grace Baynham, Christine Carrigan, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Liz Crix, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, James Frizzell, Sue Glithero, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, Yvonne Guariento, Dominic Hardwick, Helen Hibbert, Keith Holloway, Ian Hunter, Mark Hunter, Dallas Jones, Mark Jones, Jilly Julian, Gary Lawson, Colin MacAlister, Carole McCann, Holly McCormack, Jeremy Meal, Wendy Meikle, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Tom Morrison, Ian Powney, Mark Roberts, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Becky Senior, Will Sharp, Frankie Singleton, Lisa Smart, Charlie Stewart, Catherine Stuart, Leah Taylor, John Taylor, Aron Thornley, Sue Thorpe, Claire Vibert, Karl Wardlaw, Pete West, Wendy Wild, Rachel Wise, Suzanne Wyatt, Alex Wynne and Matt Wynne.

The motion, as amended, was then put as the substantive motion and it was,

RESOLVED – (61 for) - (1) That the budget for 2024/25 described in the report and set out in Appendices 2 and 3 be approved.

(2) That the use of available one-off resources to support the positive investment detailed in Section 6, subject to the council’s 2023/24 outturn position and the 2024/25 final settlement be approved.

(3) That the risk assessment of the 2024/25 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 at Appendix 5) be noted.

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

(5) That the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2024/25 to 2027/28 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the council be noted and approved.

(6) That the appropriate Council Tax resolutions be passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 4.99% in 2024/25 (2.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7 be agreed.

Subject to:

·         undertaking a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The purpose of the report is to present the cabinet’s proposed 2024/25 revenue budget. The report highlights our strategic approach to responding to the significant medium-term financial pressures whilst ensuring a sustainable and stable financial position to deliver our overarching priorities and desired outcomes.

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

(1) Approve the Budget for 2024/25 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) Approve the cabinet’s use of any available one-off resources to support the positive investment detailed in Section 6 subject to the council’s 2023/24 outturn position and the 2024/25 Final Settlement.

(3) Note the risk assessment of the 2024/25 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.

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

(5) Note, comment upon, and approve the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2024/25 to 2027/28 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the council.

(6) Pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 4.99% in 2024/25 (2.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

Officer contact: Gill Lawton on 0161 474 3014 or email: gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the 2024/25 Revenue Budget outlining the Council’s strategic approach to responding to the significant medium-term financial pressures whilst ensuring a sustainable and stable financial position to deliver our overarching priorities and desired outcomes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was no choice but to increase Council Tax to address the funding gap.

·         The expectation from government was that local authorities would raise Council Tax by the maximum amount permitted.

·         There remained the ability to make some positive decisions as part of the budget that had been focussed on making best use of one-off monies.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

(1) Approve the Budget for 2024/25 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) Approve the cabinet’s use of any available one-off resources to support the positive investment detailed in Section 6 subject to the council’s 2023/24 outturn position and the 2024/25 Final Settlement.

(3) Note the risk assessment of the 2024/25 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.

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

(5) Note, comment upon, and approve the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2024/25 to 2027/28 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the council.

(6) Pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 4.99% in 2024/25 (2.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.