Issue - meetings

Cabinet received a report as part of the Council’s agreed process for integrated finance and business planning.

The purpose of the report was to recommend to Council budget proposals for 2014/15 through to 2023/24, in line with the final local government finance settlement for 2014/15 and in advance of some Department for Education specific grants being finalised. The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) was presented at the meeting of Cabinet held on 3 February 2014 and remained the basis for Cabinet to recommend the budget for approval by Council. The report was supplemented with the MTFS and budget consultation and was due to be refreshed to include the updates contained within the report, for Council on 5 March 2014.

The report further provided an update on the budget consultation responses received so far, recognising that the consultation remained open until 4 March 2014 and that some meetings with key stakeholder groups had yet to take place. In addition, the report had regard to the revised budget timetable approved by Council at the meeting held on 4 December 2013

Councillor Seaton introduced the report and in the first instance acknowledged the number of consultation responses received, thanking all those involved and the hard work undertaken by officers in the development of the document.

Further key points highlighted by Councillor Seaton included the substantial number of consultation responses received in relation to the Children’s Centres and St Georges Hydrotherapy Pool; the reduction in grant by nearly £44m in 2015/16; evidence of investment in the city including Peterborough having one of the lowest shop vacancy rates in the country; GSCE results in Peterborough being the sixth most improved in the county; an independent report of UK cities highlighted that Peterborough was the UKs fastest growing city and had the second highest private sector employment growth and the fifth highest housing stock growth; Peterborough had the sixth lowest council tax in the country and it was proposed to freeze the level for the next two years.

In summarising, Councillor Seaton advised that the budget proposed struck the right balance between supporting vulnerable people and minimising the impact on services, whilst also meeting the financial challenges and placing the Council on a sound financial footing moving forward and improving the city for all residents.

Councillor Seaton further added that he had an update on the Hydrotherapy pool. Following feedback from the Disability Forum and the recent petition received, Cabinet remained committed to trying to find a future solution for the users of St Georges Hydrotherapy Pool.

It remained unclear as to whether there was a long term future for the pool given the high levels of maintenance and repair that the site required, however all avenues would be explored and the Council would continue to keep the facility open beyond April, whilst working with others to consider future options. It was advised that a number of Councillors had pledged Community Leadership Fund money in order to keep the pool open for around another three months.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO BRING THEIR COPY OF THE BUDGET 2014/15 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY TO 2023/24 DATED 3 FEBRUARY 2014 TO THE MEETING.