Decision details

The Business Manager – Financial Services presented a report which set out the Budget Strategy for 2022/2023 prior to detailed work commencing on preparation of the budget. The Council’s Constitution required that the Council’s Section 151 Officer present a report on the overall Budget Strategy to the Policy & Finance Committee for approval.  The budget process would result in the setting of the budget and the Council Tax for 2022/23.

The Strategy took into consideration agreed financial policies on Budgeting and Council Tax, Reserves and Provisions, Value for Money and also a set of budget principles which set out the approach to be taken to the budget process. These policies had been reviewed and updated as appropriate and were attached as appendices to the report.

The current Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) was approved on 9 March 2021.  The report set out a summary of the financial forecast identified within the current MTFP assuming that Council Tax at average Band D would increase by the same rate as the previous three financial years, namely 1.94%.

The report also set out a number of underlying assumptions which would be applied in compiling the draft budget for 2022/23 including staff costs, provision for inflation and fees and charges.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

(a)           the overall General Fund & HRA budget strategy be approved;

(b)          the consultation process with Members be noted;

(c)       budget officers continue work on the assessment of various budget proposals affecting services for consideration in setting the Council's budget; and

(d)      budget managers work with finance officers in identifying further efficiency savings, increasing income from fees and charges and in identifying new sources of income.

Reason for Decision

To enable the Council’s budget process to proceed encompassing agreed assumptions.