Decision details

The Cabinet meeting of 22^nd September 2014 considered a report ‘Medium Term Financial Strategy 2015/16 to 2024/25’ and within this report considered that it may be necessary to review the budget process and timetable having regard for the comments arising from the cross party budget working group to explore the options to commence consultation at the earliest opportunity.

The corporate management team, Cabinet and the cross party Budget Working Group had explored options to release budget proposals in two stages, enabling views of all residents, partner organisations, businesses and other interested parties to understand the scale of the financial challenge and feedback their views commencing with the first tranche of budget proposals.

The report was submitted to Cabinet as part of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework that required Cabinet to initiate and propose budget proposals to set a balanced budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The purpose of the report was to:

·      approve the first phase of Cabinet’s budget proposals for consultation to contribute towards closing the budget gap of £25m. Subject to Scrutiny feedback and comments from all residents, partner organisations, businesses and other interested parties, Cabinet will recommend budget proposals to Council in December 2014 to implement at the earliest opportunity;

·      approve and outline the approach for the remaining budget process; and

·      outline the financial challenge the council faces in the current financial year and in setting a balanced budget for 2015/16.

The Council must set a lawful and balanced budget. The approach outlined within the report worked towards setting a lawful and balanced budget.

Cabinet considered releasing all budget proposals in the New Year after the provisional finance settlement announcement as Cabinet had done so over previous financial years. The cross party Budget Working Group expressed a desire to release budget proposals earlier than in previous years. Cabinet considered the cross party Budget Working Group’s view and recognise that as work is continuing to identify and propose further budget proposals, and given the unprecedented scale of the savings to find, Cabinet agreed to publish their budget proposals in two stages.

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