Issue - meetings

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council

1)    approve the initial budget proposals for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report; and

2)    determine the position of the Council on a proposal to continue the 4 days unpaid leave arrangement.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on an initial set of budget proposals for 2019/20.

          An amendment in respect of the saving proposal at Item 28 in the Appendix to the report was proposed by Councillor Wharton. This referred to the bowling greens at Crow Wood Park, Hough Green Park and Leigh Recreation Ground being closed, or offered to bowling clubs to operate. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Polhill.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 (3), a recorded vote was taken.

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors Abbott, Baker, M. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Cassidy, Dennett, Dourley, Fry, Gerrard,  Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan,  MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Philbin, Polhill, C. Plumpton Walsh, Joe Roberts,  Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That Council

1)    approve the initial budget proposals for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report, subject to the following alteration:-

That, following consultation with all bowling clubs in the Borough, Item No 28 in Appendix 1, should now read “ The bowling greens at Crow Wood Park, Hough Green and Leigh Recreation Ground be closed or offered to the bowling clubs to operate” and that the annual charge to individual bowlers be increased from £25 per annum to £30 per annum.

2)    the present arrangement for four days unpaid leave for staff be continued for the next three years, commencing with the 2019/20 financial year; and

3)    a Task and Finish Group be established to review those arrangements with a view to reporting back to Council on alternative options for the future.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which presented the revenue budget proposals for 2019/20.

The Board was advised that the Medium Term Financial Strategy forecast potential revenue budget funding gaps of £21m over the next three years. This figure assumed that the Council would apply a general council tax increase of 2.9%.

Appendix 1 presented the first set of proposals totalling £4.7m and it was proposed to implement these immediately in order to achieve a part-year saving in 2018/19.This would assist in keeping the Council’s overall spending in line with budget. In addition, a number of proposals would take time to implement and therefore commencing this process as soon as possible would assist with ensuring they were fully implemented from 1 April 2019.

It was reported that a second set of budget saving proposals currently under consideration by the Budget Working Group, would be recommended to Council on 6 March 2019, in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2019/20.

Reason(s) for Decision

To seek approval for the initial set of revenue budget proposals for 2019/20.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

There was no alternative option, as failure to set a balanced budget would put the Council in breach of statutory requirements.

Implementation Date

The 2019/20 revenue budget would be implemented from 1 April 2019.

          RESOLVED: That Council

1)    be recommended to approve the initial budget proposals for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report; and

2)    determine the position of the Council on a proposal to continue the 4 days unpaid leave arrangement.