Decision details

Resolved to recommend:

General Fund Revenue Estimate

a) a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax requirement of £10.218m, and of £10.908m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2016/17;

b) an increase of 2.78% in Council Tax for Dacorum Borough Council;

c) the base estimates for 2016/17, as shown in Supplementary Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2016/17 – 2019-20, as shown in Supplementary Appendix A2;

d) the forecast balances of the Revenue Reserves as shown in the Supplementary Appendix J, and approve paragraphs 10-20 of the Cabinet report as the updated Reserves Strategy.

e) increases in Fees and Charges for 2016/17 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3

f)    the Treasury Management Strategy for 2016/17, attached at Appendix K;

g)  the Treasury Management Principles and Practices for 2016/17, attached at Appendix L;

h)  that this budget paper, will form part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy

Four Year Settlement

i)       the Corporate Director (Finance & Operations) in consultation with Budget Review Group to decide on whether to accept Government’s offer of a four-year finance settlement.

Capital Programme

j)       the revised Capital Programme for 2015/16, and for 2016/17 to 2020/21, as detailed in Appendix I;

k)     the financing proposals in Appendix I subject to an annual review of the financing options by the Corporate Director (Finance & Operations), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, during the preparation of the Statement of Accounts.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

l)       reduce dwelling rents by 1% in accordance with government legislation, resulting in an average rent of £105.19 per week (based on 52 weeks);

m)   the HRA estimate for 2016/17 as shown in Appendix F.

Terms & Conditions

n)     the continued application of a living wage supplement for all affected employees, in accordance with the rates of the Living Wage Foundation, for 2016/17 (to be reviewed annually thereafter).

Statement by Chief Finance Officer

o)     the statement by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the robustness of the budget estimates and level of reserves as set out in Appendix M.