Agenda item

(a)  To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the Executive’s Final Revenue Budget Proposals for 2015/16 inclusive of consultation outcomes. -TO FOLLOW

(b)  To submit the report of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on Scrutiny feedback. - TO FOLLOW

(c)  To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the final proposals for the 2015/16 Capital Programme.

(a)  The report of the Interim Head of Function and Section 151 Officer in respect of the Medium Term Financial Plan and detailed revenue budget proposals for 2015/16 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Finance reported that the Authority received a 3.9% reduction in its Revenue Support Grant for 2015/16 meaning that it was required to identify savings in the region of £4m.That process has been undertaken via service reviews and service challenges involving Member input with all departments working towards a savings target of 10%. Budgets have also been reviewed in terms of housekeeping efficiency. No significant budget reductions in statutory services are proposed and an element of protection is being afforded to schools. The Authority’s approach is also based on eschewing the use of reserves in 2015/16 in anticipation that that cushion may be required in what are expected to be financially  challenging years ahead. The public consultation exercise on the Budget proposals specifically was undertaken through a variety of means and drew 73 responses mainly around the increase in Council Tax and the savings proposal in relation to school breakfasts which is included in the efficiencies schedule subject to consultation and scrutiny. In proposing a 4.5% increase in the Council Tax, the Authority has sought to be reasonable being mindful of the number of low income families on the island; the rate of Council Tax on Anglesey still remains one of the lowest in Wales.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services referred also to reductions in grant funding to the Authority across a range of services over and above the 3.9% reduction in the RSG and the identification of £4m of savings which that has necessitated. He said that in order to obtain a clear understanding of the full budgetary position the sum total of grant reductions needs to be known. The Interim Head of Resources and Section 151 Officer said that the relevant figures are lodged within the individual directorates, but can be extricated and circulated.

The Chief Executive said that due to the timing of the confirmation of certain grants which can extend into the new financial year, the position in full may not become clear for a few months.

It was resolved -

•  To note the formal consultation meetings on the budget proposals and the resulting feedback as outlined in section 2 of the report and in Appendices 1 and 2.

•  To note the equalities implications summary on the budget proposals in section 10 of the report.

•  To agree that within the proposed budget, schools are given an increase in budget which meets the Welsh Government’s pledge for schools funding as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

•  To agree the final details of the Council’s proposed budget, investments, pressures and savings as shown in Appendices 3 and 4 to the report.

•  To note the Section 151 Officer’s recommendation that minimum General Fund Balances be maintained at £5m, the confirmation of the robustness of the estimates

underlying the proposals and the adequacy of the General Reserves in the context of other earmarked reserves.

•  To recommend a net budget for the County Council and resulting Council Tax to the Council, noting that a formal resolution including the North Wales Police and

Community Council Precepts will be presented to the Council on the 26 February, 2015.

•  To authorise the Section 151 Officer to make such changes as may be necessary before submission to the Council.

•  To approve the inclusion of the “School Breakfast” efficiency saving as part of the efficiency saving register in Appendix 4 to the report, but to note that if this efficiency

saving is not achievable or acceptable following full consultation and scrutiny (report to be brought to the Executive at the end of May, 2015) there is a specific contingency

which is in place which the Executive is able to instruct the Section 151 Officer to release.

•  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 budgets.

•  To recommend a 4.5% Council Tax increase to full Council.

(b)  The report of the Interim Head of Democratic Services summarising the response of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee to the 2015/16 Budget proposals from its meetings held on 3rd and 10th February, 2015 was presented for the Executive’s information.

Councillor R. Meirion Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported on the Committee’s views and recommendations.

It was resolved to note the views and recommendations of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee with regard to the 2015/16 Budget proposals from its meetings held on 3rd and 10th February, 2015.

(c)  The report of the Interim Head of Resources and Section 141 Officer in respect of the capital bids for 2015/16 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Finance reported that in response to the recommendation made by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee that Project 13 (rewiring of school buildings) be included within the capital programme for 2015/16 he was proposing an amendment to the recommendations of the report to allow both Project 13 and Project 19 (refurbishing school toilets) regarding which concern had also been expressed, to be accommodated within the Capital programme by increasing the capital budget by 450k to be funded from slippage on the 2014/15 Capital Programme.

The Executive endorsed the amendment.

 It was resolved -

•  That the 2015/16 capital programme be set at £450k higher than the £14.480m shown in the report, to be funded by slippage on the 2014/15 Capital Programme and that the additional funding be used to implement the proposals relating to the rewiring of education buildings and refurbishing school toilets.

•  To accept the recommendation in Appendix CH to the report.