Issue - decisions

1.      The feedback from consultation with the public, organisations and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, have been considered and welcomed (detailed at Annex 1 and in the Corporate Plan 2010-2013 report elsewhere on the Cabinet agenda).

2.      The Council’s representations on the provisional formula grant settlement are noted (Annex 2 of the Cabinet report).

3.      The projected 2009/10 outturn position of £283k under spend (as at the end of December 2009) is noted.

4.      The issues identified through Equalities Impact Screening and Assessments are noted (Annex 6 of the Cabinet report).

5.      The changes to the proposed budget (detailed at Annex 3 of the Cabinet report), in light of the consultation responses, equalities issues and the final formula grant settlement, are agreed.

6.      The Cabinet acknowledges the issues and risks detailed in the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of the reserves (Annex 8 of the Cabinet report).

7.      The draft Fees and Charges set out in Annex 10 of the Cabinet report are noted.

8.      Cabinet has agreed that the additional £124k LABGI awarded in 2009/10, together with any remaining unallocated LABGI funding in the Corporate Initiatives Reserve at the end of 2009/10 and any new allocation for 2010/11 are to be set aside in an earmarked reserve for Regeneration and Development for one off purposes.

9.      Council is to be recommended to delegate authority to the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support to implement all budget options and restructurings.

10. Authority is to be delegated to the Director of Finance and Support in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Portfolio Holder to:

·              transfer monies from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·              to update the budget tables and annexes, prior to Council should any further changes be necessary.

·              to update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators report and Treasury Strategy report, prior to Council for any budget changes that impact on these.

11. A General Fund budget for 2010/11 of £32.96m (excluding parishes), is to be recommended to the Council (detailed in Annex 4 of the cabinet report) for its own purposes.

12. The Council is to be recommended to confirm the reserves strategy of protecting balances wherever possible to allow the option of supporting future years’ budgets, aiming for a minimum level of unallocated general fund reserves of £2.195m at the end of 2010/11 having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment and remaining at this level over the medium term.

13. The Council is to be recommended to increase the Council Tax by 2.47% for 2010/11 for its own purposes, thus excluding county, police, and parish precepts.