Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Helen Lamb, Head of Finance and Investment.

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) and the Head of Finance and Investment presented the Council Budget 2022/23 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022/23 – 2025/26.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett, was also in attendance at the invitation of the Committee.

Members raised the following points:

·         The structure of the ear marked reserves and how the amount of smoothing reserve was calculated

·         The uncertainty over Port Health income streams in the future as there was not yet sufficient data to determine volumes of work

·         The impact of business rate pooling

·         Whether the Dover District received a fair funding settlement from the government based on its needs

·         To congratulate the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) and his team for the hard work they had undertaken in respect of the budget

·         Councillor S H Beer asked for clarification over the smoothing reserves intended use. In response it was stated that it was intended for emergencies.

·         To question the impact of current and forecast inflation on the figures for 2% contract inflation set out in the budget

·         To welcome the proposals to move to socially responsible investment

It was moved by Councillor S H Beer and seconded by Councillor S C Manion

That it be recommended to the Cabinet:

(a)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes the budget and welcomes the work undertaken by officers.

(b)     That the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet be encouraged to consider the points raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 21 February 2022 in respect of the need for clarification over the intended use of the smoothing reserve and that the ESG investment policy links to achieving the Council’s climate change targets.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Digital and Climate Change

It was agreed:

(a)  That, subject to corrections being made to the report (General Fund budget deficit of £37,000 for 2022/23 and a General Fund budget forecast of £1.6 million), the General Fund Revenue Budget, the Capital and Special Projects Programmes, the Housing Revenue Account budget and the content of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), as proposed in Appendix 1 of the report, be forwarded to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

(b)  That the draft budget be placed on the Council’s website for comments.

(c)   That it be noted that the remaining annexes, including the Council Tax Resolution and Treasury Management, Investment and Capital Strategies will be added to the MTFP, and other minor adjustments made, before being presented to Council in March.