Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

This report deals with the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2020/21, the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2021/22 and also presents a forecast for Business Rates income for 2021/22.  These items form an integral and important part of the Council’s budget setting process.

It is recommended:-

(1) That the Cabinet:

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit of £48.543m in 2020/21 relating to a Council Tax deficit of £5.603m and Business Rates deficit of £42.940m;

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit to be reimbursed to the Council’s General Fund in 2021/22 of £47.271m relating to a Council Tax deficit of £4.760m and Business Rates deficit of £42.511m;

·         Note the 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 95,945.1 Band D equivalent dwellings. The Council’s final 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the Council meeting on 21 January 2021;

·         Provisionally approve the 2021/22 forecast for Business Rates income of £77.055m; and

·         Note the forecast 100% Pilot benefit from the 2020/21 Pilot of £2.966m.

(2) That the Cabinet delegates the following decisions to the Corporate Director – Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance:-

·         The decision to change the in-year provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund position in 2020/21 prior to declaring the position by 31 January 2021;

·         The decision to continue in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Business Rates pooling arrangement; and

·         The decision to vary the Business Rates forecast presented in Table 7 and Table 8.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email: jonathan/davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2020/21, the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2021/22 and a forecast for Business Rates income for 2021/22.

RESOLVED – (1) That in relation to the Stockport Billing Area - 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase and Non Domestic Rates forecast, the Cabinet has agreed to:-

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit of £48.543m in 2020/21 relating to a Council Tax deficit of £5.603m and Business Rates deficit of £42.940m;

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit to be reimbursed to the Council’s General Fund in 2021/22 of £47.271m relating to a Council Tax deficit of £4.760m and Business Rates deficit of £42.511m;

·         Note the 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 95,945.1 Band D equivalent dwellings. The Council’s final 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the Council meeting on 21 January 2021;

·         Provisionally approve the 2021/22 forecast for Business Rates income of £77.055m; and

·         Note the forecast 100% Pilot benefit from the 2020/21 Pilot of £2.966m.

(2) That the following decisions be delegated to the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance:-

·         the decision to change the in-year provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund position in 2020/21 prior to declaring the position by 31 January 2021;

·         the decision to continue in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Business Rates pooling arrangement; and

·         the decision to vary the Business Rates forecast presented in Table 7 and Table 8.