This report was considered by the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel on 5 February and following that meeting it was agreed that the report should be updated prior to its consideration by Cabinet.

Issue

To consider the General Fund Revenue Budget 2013/14 (Paper 5).

Considerations

In July 2012 the Council approved the Medium Term Budget Strategy that provides the background for the preparation of the Revised Budget for 2012/13 and Budget for 2013/14.

The Budget process underpins, in financial terms, the delivery of the Council’s Strategic Priorities and includes the ongoing savings resulting from the Council’s Efficiency Strategy which was first approved by Cabinet on October 2007.

The detailed draft Budget recommended in the report is the culmination of that process, and assumes net spending incorporating an increase in the basic level of Council Tax of 0%.

Taking account of the Settlement from the Government, and allowing for a 0% Council Tax increase in 2013/14, the draft Budget presented is a balanced Budget, which sets the Council’s net Budget requirement in 2013/14 at £11,076,130. The Budget Summary contained in Appendix A to the report includes a projection for the Council’s Budget to 2016/17.

Cabinet needs to make recommendations to Full Council (25 February) on the Budget, the level of the Council’s element of the Council Tax and related matters.

The report was considered by the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel on 5 February 2013 where it was agreed that the Budget report be recommended to Cabinet, subject to:

(a)       The report being amended to reflect the £500 change in Asset transfer figures; and

(b)       The inclusion of a pie chart as an appendix to the report, showing the Council’s income and expenditure.

Following the Scrutiny Panel meeting the report was revised to reflect these comments and to update some of the details.

RECOMMENDED -

(1)          That the revised Budget for 2012/13 (paragraph 6) be approved;

(2)          That the net revenue Budget requirement for 2013/14 be set at £11,076,130 and that the impact on the Council’s General Fund Balance (paragraph 6) be noted;

(3)          That the Local Government Finance settlement for 2013/14 and 2014/15 (paragraphs16 - 18) be noted;

(4)          That one-off budget growth of £124,000 in 2012/13 and £79,000 in 2013/14 (paragraph 4) be approved;

(5)          That new efficiency savings targets from 2013/14  to 2016/17 of £1.5Million (paragraph 34) and a revised staff turnover target for 2013/14 (paragraph 40) be approved;

(6)          That the Council Tax for Eastleigh Borough Council be increased by 0% for 2013/14 (paragraph 19);

(7)          That the Special Expenses for Parish and Non-Parish areas (paragraph 31) be approved; and

(8)          That the revenue financing of the Community Investment Programme (CIP) of £216,000 (paragraph 43) be noted.

Issue

To approve schemes as part of the four-year Community Investment Programme (CIP) (Paper 6).

Considerations

The Council approved a 4-Year Strategy in April 2002 and since then reports have been submitted, on a regular basis, to the Executive/Cabinet seeking approval for schemes to progress. Each year the programme has been updated and has established a four year rolling programme of schemes for the CIP.

The report seeks further approvals to be financed from funds earmarked for the CIP.

Cabinet reviewed and approved the Community Investment Strategy on 17 July 2012 which updated the programme for 2012/13 to 2016/17.

RECOMMENDED -

That the changes to the Prudential Indicators (Appendix B) be approved.

RESOLVED -

(1)             That funding of £67,000 (£12,000 in 2012/13 and £55,000 in 2013/14) for the Self Service project as an invest to save scheme to be funded from future revenue savings over the life of the Self Service project be approved; and

(2)             That the approvals given since the last revised Community Investment Programme (CIP) (Appendix A) be noted.

To consider the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2013.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2013 be agreed as a correct record.

Councillor Alan Broadhurst declared a an Interest in agenda item 4, Grants to Sponsored Bodies and Borough-wide Organisations, because he is Chairman of the Eastleigh Deposits Scheme.

Issue

To approve grants to sponsored bodies and Borough-wide organisations (Paper 4).

Considerations

Approval is sought for the annual grants to One Community, Eastleigh Citizens Advice Bureau, Winchester and District Relate, Solent Relate and Homestart.

In addition approval is sought for annual grants to Borough-wide community organisations. These grants are separate to the ones awarded by local area committees and take account of organisations working across the Borough.

RESOLVED -

(1)             That the grants for sponsored bodies be approved as follows:

(2)             That the grants to Borough-wide organisations detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved in principle but that the final detail be delegated to the Leader, the Cabinet Member for Communities, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Service and the Health and Community Team Manager to agree.

(NOTE: Councillor Broadhurst declared an interest in this item but remained in the room during its consideration and vote.)