Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Report of Director of Corporate Services   (report published on 14 January 2021)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Director of Corporate Services that provided an update on the Council’s budget strategy for 2021/22 and financial outlook up to 2024/25. Specifically, the report considered the budget and council tax proposals for 2021/22.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Regarding the budget strategy, Cabinet may approve the proposals as set out, or require changes to be made to the suggested approach. The overriding aim of any budget setting process is to approve a balanced budget by statutory deadlines, allocating resources to help ensure delivery of the Council’s corporate and service ambitions. The proposed approach is in line with that broad aim and any changes that Cabinet puts forward should also be framed in that context.

In term of the actual budget position, this report puts forward a balanced budget. If Cabinet agrees the budget then it will form their proposal to Budget Scrutiny Panel on 26 January 2021. The feedback from this meeting will be considered by Cabinet and incorporated into a final budget proposal which will be considered at the Cabinet meeting on 09 February 2021 and recommended to Council on 24 February 2021.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Parr:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             That Cabinet make recommendations to Council regarding the Lancaster City Council element of the Council Tax as set out in paragraph 3.4 (option one) of the report which is a £5 increase to the Band D Council Tax (from £231.95 to £236.95).

(2)             That Cabinet makes recommendations regarding its initial budget proposals as set out in section 4 and appendix A of the report.

(3)             That the recommendations and proposals in this report be referred for scrutiny to the Budget and Performance Panel on 26 January and to full Council on 27 January for initial consideration in order that any feedback can be provided to Cabinet at its 09 February meeting.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Director of Corporate Services

Chief Finance Officer

Reasons for making the decision:

The budget represents in financial terms what the Council is seeking to achieve through its Framework and incorporates measures to make progress in addressing the climate emergency and digital improvements as well as activities to address wellbeing, health and community safety. The decision enables Cabinet to make recommendations to Council in order to complete the budget setting process for 2021/22.