Issue - meetings

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

21 November 2023

7.1       CA/99/23 FINANCIAL MONITORING REPORT

12 December 2023

7.2       CA/106/23 VCS COMMISSIONING – GRANT APPROACH

7.3       CA/108/23 COUNCIL TAX BASE REPORT AND SUPPORT SCHEME

30 January 2024

7.4       CA/09/24 TREASURY MANAGEMENT MID-YEAR REVIEW

13 February 2024

7.5       CA/18/24 BUILDING SAFETY POLICY

7.6       CA/19/24 COMMITTEE TIMETABLE

7.7       CA/20/24 HRA BUSINESS PLAN REFRESH

7.8       CA/23/24 BUDGET

7.9       CA/24/24 CHILTERNS BEECHWOODS SPECIAL AREA OF

CONSERVATION  MITIGATION STRATEGY AND SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE NATURAL GREENSPACE UPDATE

7.10     CA/25/24 FINANCIAL MONITORING REPORT

Cllr Tindall introduced the Cabinet Referrals

CA/99/23         FINANCIAL MONITORING REPORT

The recommendations were agreed by the Council

CA/106/23       VCS COMMISSIONING – GRANT APPROACH

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/108/23       COUNCIL TAX BASE REPORT AND SUPPORT SCHEME

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/09/24         TREASURY MANAGEMENT MID-YEAR REVIEW

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/18/24         BUILDING SAFETY POLICY

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/19/24         COMMITTEE TIMETABLE

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/20/24         HRA BUSINESS PLAN REFRESH

The recommendations were agreed by the Chamber

CA/23/24         BUDGET

I stand to present this budget as the leader of a new Liberal Democrat administration, the first change in political administration for 22 years. Since the last budget was set a year ago, the council and the economic outlook has also changed and changed significantly the wider economic and political outlook remains very uncertain with a general election looming during the period of this budget.

The new administration is still developing and revising the council’s corporate plan for the next four years and on publication, this will set out the main strategic outlook and objectives of the new administration.

The economic and financial challenges brought by Covid were significant, and the creation of the economic recovery reserve provided a structured financial response to set the foundations for the 2024/25 budget. With the UK economy officially in a time of recession the council has many challenges, but will be positioned in the medium term to continue back to full economic health, as we recover both from the covid period and the Trussonomics of 2022.

Amongst a very challenging economy, Dacorum Borough Council has played a key role in extending help and support to our businesses and communities at a time they needed it most, and the proposed budget for 24/25 continues that investment. The 2024/25 proposed budget continues to support our day-to-day services, amid so much financial uncertainty. I have no doubt that this consistency and reliability will be reassuring for residents across Dacorum, but in particular for the most vulnerable within our community.

Support for Business.

It is a tribute to Council staff, particularly those within the Revenues & Benefits Team and the Economic Development Team that they have constantly evolved to support the local businesses. A key enabler of this has been the development of the Economic Recovery Board and the Hemel Place Board to bring together major businesses, stakeholders and the council to drive forward the key requirements to support business growth.

In addition to this, the Council has worked closely with its commercial tenants throughout the last year to ensure it does all it can to support them through the post pandemic period, which has resulted in occupancy levels remaining incredible high at circa 96%, The next stage of the recovery phase is supporting businesses with the debt they now hold as a result of covid.

The Council will continue to work closely with its public and private sector partners over the coming months to ensure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7