Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council Executive Councillor (Support & Governance).

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Support & Governance) (Councillor Iain Roberts) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Executive’s Revenue Budget Proposals for 2016/17 and Capital Programme Investment Plans and outlines the prospects for the Council’s finances for the medium term.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That the Council Meeting

(1) Approve the Budget for 2016/17 described in the report and set out in Appendix Three.

(2) Note the financial forecasts for 2016/17 to 2020/21 (Appendix Eight), and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council.

(3) Approve the capital programme and the funding arrangements as described in section eight of the report and set out at Appendix Nine.

(4) Approve the prudential indicators set out in Appendix Ten.

(5) Note the risk assessment of the Budget at Appendix Six and the report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix Seven.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED

That the Council Meeting agrees to the proposed amendment to the report titled “2016/17 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Plan” put forward by the Conservative Group, and as set out in its proposals thereby limiting any increase in the Council Tax to 2% i.e. the social care precept and which would result consequential changes to Appendices 2, 3, 8 and 11 to the report.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance)

This report will outline the Executive’s response to the Medium Term Financial Forecasts for 2016/17 and beyond.

NOTE: At the time of the publication of the agenda the final local government finance settlement has not been published by the Government. As a result it has not been possible to finalise this report for publication. The report will be published as soon as possible after the finalisation of the Council’s financial settlement.

Officer contact: Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 3181, Laureen.donnan@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Executive’s Revenue Budget proposals, and Capital Investment Plans and the prospects for the Council’s finances for the medium term.

The Executive Councillor (Support & Governance) highlighted that the Executive was proposing a 3.5% increase in Council Tax, which included the 2% social care precept, and that further proposals in relation to the use of the transitional grant funding would be submitted to the Council Meeting.

The Leader of the Council commented on the challenge of preparing the budget proposals given the lateness of the Local Government Finance Settlement, but thanked those involved for their hard work. She emphasised that the proposals would deliver the savings originally planned that would assist in meeting the Council’s future financial challenges.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the proposed 2016/17 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Plan, the Council Meeting be recommended to:

·         agree the Budget for 2016/17 described in the report and set out in Appendix Three;

·         note and comment upon the financial forecasts for 2016/17 to 2020/21 (Appendix Eight), and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council;

·         pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions to produce a Council Tax increase of 3.75% (inclusive of a 2% increase in relation to a Social Care Precept) for Council services as illustrated at Appendix Eleven;

·         approve the capital programme and the funding arrangements as described in section eight of the report and set out at Appendix Nine;

·         approve the prudential indicators set out in Appendix Ten; and

·         note the risk assessment of the Budget at Appendix Six and the report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix Seven.