(a)          Decision(s)

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

(2)          That in relation to Council tax, Council be recommended to approve an increase of £5 (3.48%) in respect of a Band D property for the financial year commencing on 1 April, 2018.

(3)          That Council be recommended to approve the budget for 2018/19, which included the use of £1.53m of New Homes Bonus to meet the costs of the Connected Knowledge Programme in 2018/19, and the Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in summary form at Appendix A to the Cabinet report.

(4)          That the fees and charges (taken into the final calculations) set out in Appendix E to the Cabinet report be agreed.

(5)          That Council be recommended to approve Aylesbury Special Expenditure totalling £864,700, supported by a precept of £45, which represented a Council Tax freeze for Special Expenses (as set out in Appendix F to the Cabinet report).

(6)          That Council be recommended to affirm the decision made in February, 2017, following negotiations with unions and the staff side, to approve a two year pay award for staff, with 2% being payable across all grades for 2018/2019, (the second year of the agreement), for which provision had been made in the draft budget proposals.

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

The Council is statutorily required to set a budget for 2018/2019 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) and would be actioned.  In particular, the Leader of the Council indicated that Cabinet would consider the Committee's request to review the possibility of devolving Special Expenses services to Aylesbury Town Council and would seek reports in due course on the implications of this.  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.