Issue - meetings

Members considered details related to the overall draft revenue budget for Corporate Policy and Resources and those recommended by Prosperous Communities Committee for the period 2021/2022.

The key highlights were as follows:

·         The budgets for consideration excluded central support and capital charges;

·         The net movement from the base budget was an increase of £743,000;

·         The Corporate Management finance costs of Covid-19 were offset by grant income budgets;

·         A vacancy factor of 2% of total establishment salary budgets had been built into base budgets.  The 2% vacancy factor of £184,400 was held within Corporate Management finance;

·         Investment property rental income had been reduced by £203,000.  No further acquisitions were expected;

·         The 2021/2022 base budget for Prosperous Communities Committee showed a budget increase of £114,600.  The major variances to the 2020/2021 base budget were detailed in the report, but included green waste charging and the re-profiting of planning fee income.

Following this introduction, Members asked questions of officers.  Further information was provided:

·         The reintroduction of Town centre market rents decision to be considered by Prosperous Communities Committee had been deferred and could not be reintroduced until June at the earliest.  The £6,000 financial pressure of this could be offset by Covid-19 grants;

·         Where town centre markets were referred to in the report, it specifically meant Gainsborough Market.

Members then discussed an additional recommendation to the printed set.  This additional recommendation was moved and seconded, and following a vote it was RESOLVED to add this recommendation for consideration under a final vote.

Following this vote, the 5 recommendations were moved and seconded, and following a vote it was RESOLVED to:

(a)  Accept the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee budget 2021/22 and recommend to Council for inclusion in the overall Council budget 2021/22.

(b)  Accept the Prosperous Communities Committee Budget 2021/22 and recommend to Council for inclusion in the overall Council budget for 2021/22.

(c)   Approve any minor changes be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

(d)  Recommend to Council the 2022/23 to 2025/26 estimates for both this Committee and those of Prosperous Communities Committee for inclusion in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2021/22 to 2025/26.

(e)  Recommend that a future strategic forum or workshop, in advance of setting the budget, take place, for members to discuss and debate the contents of any future budget.