Agenda item

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

The proposals contained in this report build upon those included in previous reports to the Executive in 2014 and most recently in August 2015. They respond to the updated financial forecasts for 2016/17 to 2020/21 set out in the report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services elsewhere on the agenda for this meeting.  That report estimates that, based on a series of assumptions and projections, there is a forecast cumulative budget reduction requirement which rises to some £58.5m by 2020/21. It is acknowledged that, following the recent spending review announcements, there are a number of elements of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and Indicative Budget for 2016/17, particularly in relation to council tax, which will have to be reviewed once the local government finance settlement has been announced later in the month.

This report follows the decision taken by the Executive on 18 August 2015 to make available for consultation, in draft form, a number of proposed business cases relating to the service redesigns.  It restates the Executive’s strategic approach to managing growth and public service reform through the Investing in Stockport programme; responds to a number of points from the Medium-Term Financial Forecast; sets out the agreed strategic context; outlines the proposals for implementation in 2016/17, and the approach to and feedback from consultation on these; sets out the workforce implications of the proposals; and suggests appropriate risk assessed use of reserves and balances. 

An Equality Impact Assessment, indicative budget proposals, and a full report on consultation activity are appended to the report.  Final business cases for 2016/17 Investing in Stockport proposals, along with updated draft business cases for 2016/17 proposals, are also appended to this report.

The Executive is recommended to:

•        agree the indicative cash limit budget allocations outlined in Appendix One and the proposed indicative budget for 2016/17 set out in Appendix Two.

•        agree those proposals that are in Final Business Case format and ask officers to proceed to implementation for 2016/17

•        agree those proposals that are to return to Executive in February 2016 for implementation in 2016/17 via the January cycle of Scrutiny Committees.

•        continue with the steps necessary to agree and reach a final balanced budget proposal for 2016/17 for presentation to the Council Budget meeting in February 2016.

Officer contact: Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 3181

RESOLVED – That in relation to Investing in Stockport: Executive Proposals:-

·         the indicative cash limit budget allocations outlined in Appendix One of the report and the proposed indicative budget for 2016/17 set out in Appendix Two be approved;

·         those proposals that were in Final Business Case format be approved and officers be authorised to proceed to implementation for 2016/17;

·         agreement be given to those proposals that were to return to Executive in February 2016 for implementation in 2016/17 via the January cycle of Scrutiny Committees;

·         the Corporate Leadership Team continue with the steps necessary to agree and reach a final balanced budget proposal for 2016/17 for presentation to the Council Budget meeting in February 2016.