Decision - Budget Update and Savings 2015/16

That the Committee: –

(1)          Notes the updated forecasts for resources and expenditure for 2015/16 and an estimated budget savings requirement for 2015/16 based on a range of council tax propositions.

(2)          Notes the approach taken to identifying savings in the context of the council’s draft Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

(3)          Notes the detailed proposals for savings in 2015/16 based on a council tax increase of 5.9%, which would trigger a referendum in accordance with Chapter IVZA of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and associated regulations (“the Referendum Budget”).

(4)          Notes options for further savings that could form part of the “Substitute Budget” that would be required in addition to the proposals at 2.3 or alternatively to support a budget based on a threshold rise in the council tax (the “Threshold Budget”) or a council tax freeze (the “Freeze Budget”).

(5)          Directs that all of the savings proposals be subject to further consultation, engagement and scrutiny alongside the draft Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

(6)          Notes the indicative allocations of one-off resources for 2015/16 set out in table 1 subject to the identification of sufficient further one-off resources to fund the proposed allocations.

(7)          Notes the update on the HRA budget set out in paragraphs 3.31 to 3.34.

(8)          Notes the Capital Investment Programme update set out in paragraphs 3.35 to 3.36.