Meeting documents

CDC Cabinet
Tuesday, 5th February, 2019 4.30 pm

Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 5th February, 2019 4.30 pm (Item 169.)

Decision:

Members of the Cabinet received a report providing information regarding the Councilâ€™s revenue budget for 2019/20 which would form the basis of setting the Council Tax. The Cabinet were therefore asked to recommend to Full Council that the budget be agreed at the Council meeting on 26 February 2019.Â

RECOMMENDED to Council

Revenue Budget 2019/20

1. That the revenue budget for 2019/20 be approved, as summarised in the table in paragraph 4.13.

2. That the following use of earmarked reserves for 2019/20 be agreed:

- Local Development PlanÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£217k

- Planning DigitalisationÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£81k

- Economic Development ReserveÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£62k

- Waste Efficiency ReserveÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£66k

- Leisure FundÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£50k

3. That the following additions to earmarked reserves for 2019/20 be agreed:

- Capital - Funding replacement refuse vehiclesÂ Â£394k

- Capital - Funding of capital programmeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â£189k

4. That the creation of a new earmarked reserve of Â£1,995k for unitary implementation costs be agreed. Part of this reserve will be drawn down in 2019/20 after approval by the Shadow Authority.

5. That the creation of a new earmarked reserve for community projects be agreed, with the amount to be confirmed at the Full Council meeting on 26 February 2019.

6. That a budget requirement of Â£10,910k be approved, which will result in a District council tax of Â£186.30 for a Band D property.

7. That the level of fees and charges for 2019/20 (Appendix C) be agreed with the proviso pre-planning charges remain unchanged prior to a detailed review.

8. That the advice of the Director of Resources (Appendix A) be noted.

And RESOLVED

Setting the Council Tax

9. That this report be made available to all Members of the Council in advance of the Council Tax setting meeting on 26^th February, and a final report produced for the Council meeting incorporating the information from preceptors, and the final decisions of the Cabinet on the budget.

Medium Term Financial Strategy

10. To note the comments in the report on the Councilâ€™s financial position in respect of the years following 2019/20.

Minutes:

It was noted that the announcement of the decision to create a unitary authority in Buckinghamshire from 2020/21 did not affect the requirement on the Council to set a legal and prudent budget for 2019/20 that addresses the Councilâ€™s aims and objectives. It would be necessary at a corporate level to make provision within reserves for the transition costs to the new unitary authority.

A 3% increase in Council Tax was proposed which would result in the district proportion of Council Tax being increased to Â£186.30 for a Band D property. The key financial risks were noted along with the proposed level of reserves earmarked to mitigate those risks. The Council would have the suggested prudent level of general reserves of Â£900k.

The report had been considered by the Resources Overview Committee who recommended that Cabinet considered reducing the 3% council tax increase and further recommended that the windfall funding from the Chiltern Crematorium could be used for one off projects to the benefit of the local residents and council taxpayers.

The Cabinet agreed that the 3% increase ensured that Chiltern remained in a sound financial position and this had been the correct approach in the past. It was noted that whilst in a healthy position now, this could change should Government reinstate the negative revenue support grant which had been cancelled for 2019/20. Cabinet were in agreement with an earmarked reserve fund being created to benefit communities on particular projects.

Councillor P Martin reported that in respect of the Planning and Economic Development fees and charges, pre-planning charges had been reviewed and benchmarked against other local authorities and a report looking at this in further detail would be brought to a future meeting. At this time, the charges would remain at their present level.

The Cabinet expressed thanks to all officers involved in preparing the budget. The Deputy Leader was also thanked for his work in developing this yearâ€™s draft budget.

RECOMMENDED