(a)          Decision(s)

(1)  That the Finance and Services Scrutiny Committee  be thanked for its input to the budget planning process.

(2)  That Council be recommended to increase Council Tax by £5 (3.59%) in respect of a Band D property from 1 April, 2017.

(3)  That Council be recommended to approve the budget for 2017/2018 and the Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in summary form in Appendix A to the Cabinet report.

(4)  That the revised list of fees and charges (taken into the final calculations) attached to the Cabinet report be agreed.

(5)  That Council be recommended to approve Aylesbury Special Expenditure totalling £845,800, supported by a precept of £45, which represents a Council Tax freeze for Special Expenses (as set out in Appendix F to the Cabinet report).

(b)          Reason(s) for Decision(s)

The Council is statutorily required to set a budget for 2017/2018 and plan for expenditure in subsequent years based upon the Medium Term Financial Plan.

(c)        Alternative Options Considered

The development of the initial proposals has involved a number of key elements of choice as set out in previous reports and the latest report submitted to Cabinet, which reflects the Government Grant settlement numbers.

(d)       Relevant Scrutiny Committee

Finance and Services.  That Committee’s comments were reported to Cabinet by the Committee Chairman and were taken into account in reaching the recommendations indicated above (as set out in the Cabinet Minutes). Cabinet’s final recommendations will now be submitted to Council and as such are not subject to call-in.

(e)        Conflicts of Interest / Dispensation(s)

None.