Issue - meetings
Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2021/22
Meeting: 12/12/2018 - Cabinet (Item 117)
117 Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24 
PDF 263 KB
Lead Member – Councillor D Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Finance
Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [s151 Officer]
Contact: James Walton Tel: 01743 258915
Decision:
RESOLVED:
That the savings proposals be approved which will deliver a balanced budget as outlined in Appendix 4 to the report, enabling the Leader of Council to take his proposed budget to consultation before reporting to Council on 28 February 2019.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance on the Council’s Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24 and provided an update on work completed over the Autumn, including a review of delivery against the plans set out in February and a range of proposals to enable a balanced budget to be set for 2019/20.
A Member commented on the brevity of the report and the dearth of information relating to some of the budget savings and drew particular attention to monies outstanding to the Council from the CCG. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing reported that the legacy debt had been paid and the figures within the report related to commissioning work; he anticipated that savings would be delivered,
Another Member voiced grave concerns regarding the financial situation of the authority resulting from Government policies. Reliance on the Government’s Fairer Funding Strategy was, he believed, a massive gamble.
The Leader gave assurances that the Council would deliver a balanced budget in this and the next financial year. He acknowledged that there were uncertainties going forward but stated that the Council was planning on a worst-case scenario and had taken a conservative approach. The Portfolio Holder for Finance commented that beyond 2019/20 issues would be dealt with when they became certain; he acknowledged that other Councils had taken an alternative view.
RESOLVED:
That the savings proposals be approved which will deliver a balanced budget as outlined in Appendix 4 to the report, enabling the Leader of Council to take his proposed budget to consultation before reporting to Council on 28 February 2019.