Decision details

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets for 2018/19 together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2018/19.

This was agreed at Council on 13^th February 2018 as set out in the minutes.

RESOLVED (unanimously) the Cabinet agreed to:

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2018/19 of £113.271m and the individual service cash limits for 2018/19 as outlined in Annex 1.

b)  The savings and income generation plans outlined in Annex 2 in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3 and thereby agrees to implement the Council’s draft Operational Plan which has been presented to each of the relevant PDS Panels.

c)  That the agreement of a revised TDC Profit share arrangement is delegated to the CEO in consultation with the S151 officer and Leader, with appropriate independent legal advice obtained, and on the basis this will generate a simpler approach and better return for the Council, but that any associated extension of the lease is subject to a separate executive decision.

d)  To help protect front line services and meet additional pressures in Children’s Services the budget includes a recommendation that Council Tax is increased by 1.95% in 2018/19 (an increase of £25.04 per Band D).

e)  An increase of 3% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £38.52 on a Band D property.

f)  That the release of reserves, including the Invest to Save Reserve is delegated to the Council’s S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency and the Chief Executive.

g)  The transfers between reserves outlined in 5.5.1 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.2m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m-£13.1m.

h)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 and delegation of the Leading Together Change Programme funding of £2.0m to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

i)  The Capital Programme for 2018/19 of £83.111m including the capital review outlined in 5.7.2, new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5, planned sources of funding in 5.7.3, and notes the programme for 2019/20 to 2022/23 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

j)  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(ii) to Annex 5(iv) to the relevant Strategic Director or Divisional Director in Consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

k)  Approve the amended process for Provisional Capital Schemes to become Fully Approved Schemes as outlined in 5.7.3 and all other delegations as set out in the report. 

l)  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations outlined in Annex 5(v).

m)  The MRP Policy attached at Annex 6.

n)  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.7.5

o)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

p)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2018/19 shown in the following link  http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/CouncilTaxSupportScheme2017-18  and referred to in 5.3.4.

q)  The additional one-off Adult Social Care Support Grant of £456k for 2018/19 announced in the final local government settlement is held within the Adult Social Care budget as contingency for any Social Care local provider market pressures that emerge during the year. Specific allocations of this funding are to be delegated to the Strategic Director – People & Communities in consultation with the S151 Officer and Cabinet Members for Finance & Efficiency & Adult Care, Health & Wellbeing.

2.2  That the Council include in its Council Tax setting, the precepts set and approved by other bodies including the local precepts of Town Councils, Parish Councils, and Charter Trustees of the City of Bath, and those of the Fire and Police Authorities.

2.3  That Cabinet note the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in 5.6.

2.4  Authorise the Council’s S151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency, to make any necessary changes to the draft budget proposal for submission to Council.

The rationale for the recommendations is contained throughout this report and the accompanying appendices.

The Council’s Section 151 Officer is the Strategic Director - Resources. As Section 151 Officer his duties include ensuring a prudent and balanced budget is set on time which properly takes into account the financial constraints and risks facing the Council.

The report and annexes also contain the other options that can be considered in making any recommendations.