Lead Member – Mr David Turner, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 5. TO FOLLOW

Contact – James Walton Tel: 01743 255001

RESOLVED

i)             That the current financial position and the substantial work necessary to deliver a balanced 2016/17 budget and in future years as set out in Section 7 be noted.

ii)            That the work being undertaken to develop a Sustainable Business Model for the Council be noted, in particular

a.    Resources and Expenditure projections from 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in Section 6

b.    The categorisation of services into “Protected Services” which form the core of services to be delivered by the Council under a Sustainable Business Model as set out in Section 8.

c.    The potential impact on other services which would need to be delivered to a level contained within the Council’s remaining resources (Sections 8 and 9).

iii)           That the options available to Council to manage and maximise resources as set out in Section 8 (8.26 onwards) which will need to be formally agreed in February 2016 be noted.

iv)           That the impact of the Chancellor’s Announcement on 100% Local Business Rate Retention as set out in Section 10, be noted.

v)            That the launch of the ‘Big Conversation’ to engage with stakeholders and the general public over the coming months be noted as set out in Section 11.

73.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support and I.T. presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed Minutes – on the Council’s Financial Strategy 2015/2016 to 2020/2021.  The report presented the next stage in developing a sustainable financial strategy for the Council and modelled the funding anticipated to be available to the Council over the next five years and how expenditure would be contained within these limits.  He stated that insufficient detail was currently known on new opportunities announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for increased retention and control over local business rates; this matter would be considered further when more information had been received. 

73.2    He added that the Council was planning to save over £77 million over the next five years and put the Council’s finances onto a sustainable footing; by 2016/17 the target of £30 million savings was anticipated. He drew particular attention to the launch of the Council’s ‘Big Conversation’ with the public to help explain the changes that needed to be made to the Council and to allow everyone to have an input into the process.

73.3    During the ensuing debate the headline points were acknowledged and support for the ‘Big Conversation’ initiative was supported.  The Leader agreed that the way things were done would have to change and some things would have to stop altogether.  He stressed the importance of the ‘Big Conversation’ and confirmed that a delegation to Westminster may be appropriate and the lobbying of Shropshire MPs represented the first step.

73.4    RESOLVED

i)              That the current financial position and the substantial work necessary to deliver a        balanced 2016/17 budget and in future years as set out in Section 7 be noted.

a.            Resources and Expenditure projections from 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in Section 6

b.            The categorisation of services into “Protected Services” which form the core of services to be delivered by the Council under a Sustainable Business Model as set out in Section 8.

c.            The potential impact on other services which would need to be delivered to a level contained within the Council’s remaining resources (Sections 8 and 9).

ii)               That the options available to Council to manage and maximise resources as set out in Section 8 (8.26 onwards) which will need to be formally agreed in February 2016 be noted.

iii)              That the impact of the Chancellor’s Announcement on 100% Local Business Rate Retention as set out in Section 10, be noted.

iv)              That the launch of the ‘Big Conversation’ to engage with stakeholders and the general public over the coming months be noted as set out in Section 11.