Issue - meetings

The Report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend that Council;

a)    adopts the budget setting report and associated financial strategies 2019/20 to 2023/2024, including the Transformation Strategy and Efficiency Statement to deliver efficiencies over the five year period.

b)    Adopts the Capital programme, as set out in Appendix 4 of the annex to the officer’s report.

c)    Adopts the Capital and Investment Strategy, as set out in Appendix 5 of the officer’s report.

d)    Sets Rushcliffe Borough Council’s element of the 2019/20 Council Tax for a Band D property at £137.39.

e)    Sets the Special Expenses for West Bridgford, Ruddington and Keyworth, as detailed at Appendix 1 of the annex to the officer’s report, resulting in the following Band D Council tax levels for the Special Expenses area:

                      i.        West Bridgford £48.51

                    ii.        Keyworth £1.60

                   iii.        Ruddington £3.37

Councillor Moore presented the report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services outlining the Council’s proposed budget for 2019/20 and the five year Medium Term Financial Strategy. The proposed budget set the Council Tax for the coming year at £137.39 for a Band D property (which represents an increase of £4.95 or 3.73%) as well as the additional Special Expenses for West Bridgford, Ruddington and Keyworth. The report presents a balanced budget despite an ambitious capital programme and further cuts in central government funding. Councillor Moore further outlined that despite the proposed increase, Rushcliffe’s Council Tax would remain the lowest in Nottinghamshire and within the lowest quartile nationally. As a result of this prudent and responsible budget, Councillor Moore was pleased to announce that the Council was now self sufficient and thanked Mr Linfield and his team for all of their hard work.

The report was seconded by Councillor Upton who made no further comments. Councillor Mason expressed the belief that this was an excellent and restrained budget which demonstrated as desire to protect services as well as a willingness to invest in the future. Councillor Robinson also thanked Mr Linfield and his team for delivering a balanced and robust budget at a very difficult time.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend that Council;

a)    adopts the budget setting report and associated financial strategies 2019/20 to 2023/2024, including the Transformation Strategy and Efficiency Statement to deliver efficiencies over the five year period.

b)    Adopts the Capital programme, as set out in Appendix 4 of the annex to the officer’s report.

c)    Adopts the Capital and Investment Strategy, as set out in Appendix 5 of the officer’s report.

d)    Sets Rushcliffe Borough Council’s element of the 2019/20 Council Tax for a Band D property at £137.39.

e)    Sets the Special Expenses for West Bridgford, Ruddington and Keyworth, as detailed at Appendix 1 of the annex to the officer’s report, resulting in the following Band D Council tax levels for the Special Expenses area:

                      i.        West Bridgford £48.51

                    ii.        Keyworth £1.60

                   iii.        Ruddington £3.37

Reason for decisions

To comply with the Local Government Finance Act (1972) and ensuring the budget enables corporate objectives to be achieved. The Council is required to set a balanced budget and that it has adequate funds and reserves to address its risks.