Issue - meetings

Resolved to Recommend:

General Fund Revenue Estimate

a)       a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax  requirement of £10.709m, and of £11.442m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2017/18;

b)      an increase of 2.71% in Council Tax for Dacorum Borough Council;

c)       the base estimates for 2017/18, as shown in Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2017/18 – 2020/21, as shown in Appendix A2;

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

e)       increases in Fees and Charges for 2017/18 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3;

f)       the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18, attached at Appendix K;

g)      the Treasury Management Principles and Practices for 2017/18, attached at Appendix L;

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

Capital Programme

i)        the revised Capital Programme for 2016/17, and for 2017/18 to 2021/22, as detailed in Appendix I;

j)        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)

k)       reduce dwelling rents by 1% in accordance with government legislation, resulting in an average rent of £104.17 per week (based on 52 weeks); 

l)        the HRA estimate for 2017/18 as shown in Appendix F.

Terms & Conditions

m)     the continued application of a living wage supplement for all affected employees, in accordance with the rates of the Living Wage Foundation, for 2017/18 (to be reviewed annually thereafter).

Statement by Chief Finance Officer

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

Resolved to Recommend:

General Fund Revenue Estimate

a)       a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax  requirement of £10.709m, and of £11.442m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2017/18;

b)      an increase of 2.71% in Council Tax for Dacorum Borough Council;

c)       the base estimates for 2017/18, as shown in Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2017/18 – 2020/21, as shown in Appendix A2;

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

e)       increases in Fees and Charges for 2017/18 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3;

f)       the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18, attached at Appendix K;

g)      the Treasury Management Principles and Practices for 2017/18, attached at Appendix L;

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

Capital Programme

i)        the revised Capital Programme for 2016/17, and for 2017/18 to 2021/22, as detailed in Appendix I;

j)        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)

k)       reduce dwelling rents by 1% in accordance with government legislation, resulting in an average rent of £104.17 per week (based on 52 weeks); 

l)        the HRA estimate for 2017/18 as shown in Appendix F.

Terms & Conditions

m)     the continued application of a living wage supplement for all affected employees, in accordance with the rates of the Living Wage Foundation, for 2017/18 (to be reviewed annually thereafter).

Statement by Chief Finance Officer

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

Reason for Decision

To present to Cabinet budget proposals for recommendation to Council in relation to:

·        Revenue and Capital Expenditure together with the potential use of reserves

·        The setting of the Council Tax for 2017/18

·        The Treasury Management Strategy 2017/18

·        The level of fees and charges for 2017/18

·        Advice to Councillors on the robustness of the Budget proposals and adequacy of balances and reserves as required by the Local Government Act 2003

Corporate Objectives

All of the Council’s corporate objectives are reflected in the Budget proposals.

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer Comments

Monitoring Officer:  

Under the Council’s Constitution it is the responsibility of Cabinet to draw up firm proposals for the Budget, having regard to the responses to the consultation, and to present those proposals to full Council for approval.  Once full Council has approved the Budget it is the responsibility of Cabinet to implement it. 

S.151 Officer:

Comments contained in body of report.  Chief Finance Officer Statement contained in Appendix M of the report.

Advice

Councillor Elliot gave the following introduction to the report:

The Budget Context

After already absorbing annual funding reductions of over £6m since 2010, this budget sets  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21