Issue - meetings

Report to follow.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Accountant that asked them to note the current projected budget gaps set in in the report.

They were also asked to recommend that:

1.    Council seeks to protect its council tax base over the four-year outline budget period by increasing the council tax by the maximum allowed by the Government limits,

2.    Council utilise the sinking Fund Reserves to maintain the £10,8m income support for frontline services, affordable housing and regeneration programme, and

3.    Council uses all of the initiatives in the report to close the forecast budget gaps for the years 2024-25 to 2026-27, as set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy

The Committee were advised that it is currently forecast that there would be a deficit of £574,000 though this figure could change once all the information from the other Committees had been collated.

Councillor Beardsmore proposed moving Standing Orders to allow the meeting to conclude at 22:30 in order to finish this item.

The Committee agreed

A Budget Briefing session had been scheduled for 25 January 2023 and the Chief Accountant stated that he was happy to arrange a briefing solely for members of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee if required.

The Committee resolved note the projected Budget gaps and to recommend to Council that all the recommendations outlined in the report be agreed.

Report to follow.

This item was not discussed at this meeting of Council.

Report to follow.

This item was deferred to the meeting of the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee to be held on 16 January 2023.