Decision details

It was resolved –

·                To agree the final details of the Council’s proposed budget as shown in Section 4 of Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the report.

·                To note the Section 151 Officer’s recommendation that the Council should maintain a minimum of £8.6m general balances.

·                To note the comments made by the Section 151 Officer on the robustness of the estimates made, as set out in Section 5 of Appendix 1.

·                To recommend a net budget for the County Council of £174.569m and resulting increase in the level of Council Tax of 5.00% (£68.40 – Band D) to the Full Council, noting that a formal resolution, including the North Wales Police and Community Council precepts will be presented to the Council on 9 March, 2023.

·                That any differences between the provisional settlement and the final settlement will be adjusted for by using the general contingency which is included in the 2023/24 budget, or by making a contribution to/from the Council’s general reserves in order to set a balanced budget.

·                To authorise the Section 151 Officer to make such changes as may be necessary before the submission of the final proposals to the Council.

·                To agree that any unforeseen pressures on demand led budgets during the financial year will be able to draw upon funding from the general contingencies budget.

·                To request the Council to authorise the Executive to release up to £250k from general balances if the general contingencies budget is fully committed during the year.

·                To delegate to the Section 151 Officer the power to release funding from the general contingency up to £50k for any single item. Any item in excess of £50k not to be approved without prior consent of the Executive.

·                To confirm that the level of Council Tax Premium for second homes increases to 75% and for empty homes remains at 100%.