Issue - meetings

To consider and approve:

·         the revised General Fund Budget and Cap Capital Programme for 2018/19 and;

To consider and recommend to Council:

·         the General Fund Budget Estimates 2019/20 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24;

·         the Council Tax levels for 2019/20;

·         the Capital Programme 2019-2022;

·         the Treasury Management, Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy for 2019/20.

Members considered the Corporate Budget 2019 and Medium Term Financial Strategy report presented by Councillor Hay.

Councillor Buckton proposed an amendment.  He proposed that Recommendation 3(x) of the report in the Cabinet agenda be amended to read:

3(x)    one of the following two options proposed in respect of Fenland District Council’s Band D Council Tax is agreed for 2019/20:

(a)  Council Tax be set at £265.59, an increase of £5.13 (1.97%) on the current year (2018/19) requiring no contribution from General Reserves or unidentified savings to set a balanced budget;

or

(b)  Council Tax be set at £260.46, the same level as the current year 2018/19 (no increase) and if the Council approves this option then a contribution of £150,720 is made from General Reserves in 2019/20 to secure a balanced Budget.  

Councillor Cornwell seconded the amendment.

Councillor Hay pointed out that should it be decided to set Council Tax at the same level as the current year, this would lead to a shortfall of £708,000 in 2020/21.

Cabinet AGREED to the proposed amendment of Recommendation 3(x).

Cabinet AGREED to approve:

(i)              The revised estimates for 2018/19 as set out in Section 7 and Appendix A showing an estimated under-spend at outturn in the region of £103,000/

and to recommend that Council approve:

(ii)            the General Fund revenue budget for 2019/20;

(iii)           the adoption of the Medium Term Financial Strategy;

(iv)          the Capital Programme and funding statement;

(v)            the adoption of the Business Rates Relief scheme;

(vi)          the expenses detailed in Section 10 to be treated as general expenses for 2019/20;

(vii)         the Port Health levy for 2019/20;

(viii)       the adoption of additional Council Tax premiums on Long Term Empty Properties as detailed in Section 12;

(ix)          the Treasury Management, Capital Strategy Minimum Revenue Provision, Investment Strategy, Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2019/20;

(x)            one of the following two options proposed in respect of Fenland District Council’s Band D Council Tax for 2019/20:

(a)  Council Tax be set at £265.59, an increase of £5.13 (1.97%) on the current year (2018/19) requiring no contribution from General Reserves or unidentified savings to set a balanced budget;

or

(b)  Council Tax be set at £260.46, the same level as the current year 2018/19 (no increase) and if Council approves this option then a contribution of £150,720 is made from General Reserves in 2019/20 to secure a balanced budget.

[Councillor Hay abstained from voting on the proposal to amend Recommendation 3(x)]