Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services presenting for approval the Budget for 2015/16 and Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund).            (Report No.158A)

(Key Decision – Reference No.3957)

Members are asked to note that:

·               Recommendations 2.1 – 2.10 were endorsed and recommended onto Council for formal approval by Cabinet on 11 February 2015.

·               The report will need to be considered in conjunction with Report No.166A on the Part 2 Council agenda

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Stafford seconded the report of the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.158A) presenting for approval the Budget for 2015/16 and Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund).

NOTED

1.      The recommendations within the report 2.2 - 2.10 had been endorsed and referred to Council for formal approval by Cabinet on 11 February 2015.

2.      The report would need to be considered in conjunction with Report No.166A on the Part 2 Council agenda (Min.159 refers).

3.      The significant response to the budget consultation process undertaken on the proposals for 2015/16 and outcome, as detailed within section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report.

4.      The Leader of the Council’s thanks to James Rolfe (Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services) and his officers for the preparation of the budget and to all those who had taken part in the consultation process.

5.      The ongoing pressures on the Council’s budget as a result of the reduction in local government funding and continued austerity measures by Central Government, increasing level of demand on services and the negative impact of the funding allocation damping mechanism.  As a result the Leader informed Council that the Authority was considering mounting a joint legal challenge against the Government with a number of neighbouring boroughs in relation to the damping mechanism.

6.         The approach highlighted by the Leader of the Council towards management of the Council’s resources and delivery of a balanced budget.  Despite ongoing austerity, cost shunting measures, reductions in funding and pressures created locally by the current economic climate, significant efficiencies had been achieved, front line services protected with the long term sustainability of key services maintained alongside a further freeze in the level of Council Tax and ongoing investment in key projects and priorities.

7.         The approach towards management of the Council’s resources in both the short term and through the Medium Term Financial Plan had been designed to:

a.      reflect the Administration’s key priorities, commitments and core aim of making Enfield a better place to live and work by delivering Fairness for All; Growth & Sustainability and Strong Communities;

b.      ensure that the Council continued to provide quality services that would meet the changing and growing needs and expectations of service users, support and safeguard the most vulnerable within the local community as well as keeping the borough safe and clean as opposed to only focussing on the provision of statutory services.

8.      The need to recognise:

a.      the ongoing financial pressure on the Council given the reduction in resources available to meet increasing service demands, which would continue to require difficult and tough decisions in relation to service provision and delivery of the Council’s priorities.

b.      the progress being made under the Enfield 2017 transformation programme towards the delivery of sustainable, integrated, efficient, cost effective and local services available to access when needed and supported through assisted self-service.

c.       that borrowing in relation to the Capital Programme had increased but remained affordable and within the required prudential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 141

To receive the report of the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services presenting for approval the Budget for 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund).            (Report No.178A)

(Key Decision – Reference No.3764)

Members are asked to note that:

·               Recommendations 2.1 – 2.12 (as amended) were endorsed and recommended onto Council for formal approval by Cabinet on 12 February 2014.

·               The report will need to be considered in conjunction with Report No.186A on the Part 2 Council agenda

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Stafford seconded the report of the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.178A) presenting for approval the Budget for 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Plan (General Fund).

NOTED

1.         The recommendations within the report 2.2 - 2.12 had been endorsed and referred to Council for formal approval by Cabinet on 12 February 2014.

2.         The report was considered in conjunction with Report No.186A on the Part 2 Council agenda (Min.131 refers).

3.         The outcome from the budget consultation process undertaken on the proposals for 2014/15 as detailed within section 4 and Appendix 1 (b) of the report.

3.         The Leader of the Council’s thanks to James Rolfe (Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services) and his officers for the preparation of the budget and to all those who had taken part in the consultation process.

4.         The ongoing pressures on the Council’s budget as a result of the large scale reduction in local government funding by central Government, increasing level of demand on services and the negative impact of the funding allocation damping mechanism.

5.         The prudent and realistic approach highlighted by the Leader of the Council towards management of the Council’s resources and delivery of a balanced budget.  Despite the reductions in funding and pressures created locally by the current economic climate and Government’s welfare reform programme, significant efficiencies had been achieved and the long term sustainability of key services had been maintained alongside a four year freeze in the level of Council Tax.

6.         The approach towards management of the Council’s resources both looking forward within the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and looking back had been designed to:

a.      reflect the Administration’s key priorities, commitments and core aims of Fairness for All; Growth & Sustainability and Strong Communities; and

b.      provide protection towards social care users, safeguarding for children and those most at risk, as well as keeping the borough clean, tidy and well maintained, running an ambitious cultural and regeneration programme, including projects in Ponders End, Meridian Water, Angel Road, Lea Valley Heat and Power Network, and providing good quality affordable housing whilst reducing costs.

7.      The need to recognise:

a.      the ongoing financial pressure on the Council, which would continue to require difficult and tough decisions in relation to service provision and delivery of the Council’s priorities.

b.      the additional support provided for local business in relation to business rate relief and improvements in Council Tax and debt collection performance

c.       that, whilst borrowing in relation to the Capital Programme would need to be increased, the levels identified remained affordable and within the required prudential indicators.

8.      The concerns highlighted by the Opposition Group in relation to:

a.         Management and stewardship of the Council’s resources by the current Administration and ability of the MTFP to address the significant funding gap identified from 2015-16 and beyond in relation to both the Revenue and Capital Programme.

b.      what was felt to be the limited nature and choices  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119