Decision details

The Director, Finance and Digital Services provided the Cabinet with the results of the second phase of the Budget consultation in order for Members to consider and amend as necessary the draft budget strategy, which they would wish to recommend to Council at the meeting on 4th March 2020.

The Director advised that although the financial climate remained a challenge, the Council to date had delivered year on year balanced budgets alongside a robust investment programme, which supports key priorities.

Having regard to the repercussions of Storm Dennis and the devastation caused within RCT as a result of the floods, Members were asked to authorise the Director of Finance and Digital Services to amend the budget strategy report to reflect the impact of the allocation of £1M from General Reserves in response to Storm Dennis.

The Deputy Leader took the opportunity to thank the robust financial team, who she considered to be an asset to RCT and the staff who had continued to deliver. The Deputy Leader noted that the proposed Council Tax increase for 2020/21 of 2.85%, was stable considering the continuing financial pressures and was low in comparison to those proposed in neighbouring local authorities.

The Deputy Leader took the opportunity to speak of the atrocities caused by Storm Dennis in the local communities and praised residents for the support they have given one another. The deputy Leader was happy to support the additional recommendation, commenting that the payment would help residents and businesses at such a difficult time.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services was also happy to support the additional recommendation and stated that although Wales Audit Office recommend that the General Reserves remain above the minimum level of £10M, they are to be spent at a time of emergency, which it evidently was.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To recommend the Budget Strategy to Council on the 4^th March 2020;

2.    To authorise the Director of Finance and Digital Services to amend the level of contribution from the Medium Term Financial Planning and Service Transformation Reserve as a consequence of any change to the Council’s resource levels announced in the Final Local Government Settlement; and

3.    To authorise the Director of Finance and Digital Services to amend the budget strategy report to reflect the impact of the allocation of £1M from General Reserves in response to Storm Dennis.