Issue - meetings

(i)            That the 2019/20 General Fund Revenue Budget, as detailed in this report and in the report to Cabinet dated 16^th January 2019 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ii)           That the Capital Programme for 2019/20 to 2021/22, as shown at Appendix 3, be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iii)         That an increase in the Band D council tax levy of 2.99% be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iv)         That a minimum level of un-earmarked reserves and contingencies of £1.548m, required to be maintained for 2019/20, is recommended to Full Council for approval.

(v)          That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20 be recommended to Full Council for approval and that the results of the consultation around de-minimus changes be considered by Full Council.

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg introduced a report asking the Cabinet to recommend the 2019/20 General Fund Revenue Budget and the 2019/20 Capital Programme to Full Council at its meeting on 20 February, 2019.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency, Councillor Stephen Sweeney advised Members that there was a ‘new way of working’ in preparing the accounts in that it now involved more face to face working with officers and Members.  Councillor Sweeney gave credit to the officers and the Interim Executive Director for Resources and Support Services, Jan Willis for reworking the way in which they are prepared.

Members’ attention was brought to paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3 of the report, referring to the Business Rates Pilot and savings.

The Revenue Budget and Capital Programme were considered by the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee on 24 January who noted everything that had been undertaken.

Members thanked Councillor Sweeney and officers for their work and had no hesitation in recommending the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme to Full Council.  Having a ten year Strategy would mean that ‘big’ spends could be identified more quickly and savings made  would be available for Council projects

The Leader thanked Councillor Sweeney and officers for the work that had been done.   Reference was made to ‘a Town Centre for All’ and the projects fitting in with the new Council Plan which was agreed last September.

Resolved:      (i)         That the 2019/20 General Fund Revenue Budget, as

detailed in this report and in the report to Cabinet dated 16^th January 2019 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ii)          That the Capital Programme for 2019/20 to 2021/22, as shown at Appendix 3, be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iii)         That an increase in the Band D council tax levy of 2.99% be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iv)         That a minimum level of un-earmarked reserves and contingencies of £1.548m, required to be maintained for 2019/20, is recommended to Full Council for approval.

(v)          That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20 be recommended to Full Council for approval and that the results of the consultation around de-minimus changes be considered by Full Council.