Performance and Finance Select Committee
22 May 2019
2020/21 Budget Timetable
Report by the Director of Finance and Support Services

Summary The budget timetable required to achieve a balanced budget for 2020/21 has been set to ensure the process allows time for early engagement with all members. It commences with a Member Day on the 26 June 2019 followed by a Formal Cabinet meeting on 11 July 2019 that will set out the proposed savings options required to achieve a balanced budget. Savings options will be asked to be agreed at County Council on the 13 December followed by the approval of the Full Budget on the 14 February 2020. Focus for scrutiny Members of the committee are asked to note the budget timeline attached at Appendix A and ask any questions to aid understanding of the process.

Proposal

Background and Context

The budget timetable has been reviewed to ensure it enables a process that allows sufficient member engagement prior to seeking County Council’s agreement in February 2020 to achieve a balanced budget.

The proposed budget timetable reflects both the informal comments made by members regarding their engagement in the 2019/20 budget process and the results of the annual scrutiny survey of members.

Proposal

2.1	The proposed budget timeline is attached in Appendix 1. It is proposed to commence with a focussed Member Day budget simulation exercise and opportunity to meet with Service lead officers, to understand the challenges we face and identify priorities for the future.

2.2	A formal (public) Cabinet on 11 July will be held to consider the savings programme and any related key decisions that will be published in the Forward Plan between July and September.

2.3	Select committees will carry out pre-decision scrutiny during the autumn, prior to a Performance and Finance Select Committee on 5 December which will have an overview of the Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

2.4	County Council on 13 December 2019 will be asked to agree the savings programme and MTFS.

2.5	Following notification of the Financial Settlement in December 2019, a Member Day on 16 January will be held to present the final proposed revenue budget and the capital programme.

2.6	Performance and Finance Select Committee will consider the 2020/21 Budget Report on 22 January 2020 prior to its presentation to formal (public) Cabinet on 28 January 2020 and request for approval of the budget at County Council on 14 February 2020.

Resources

3.1	The budget timetable can be delivered within existing resources.

Factors taken into account

Issues for consideration by the Select Committee

4.1	The Committee to consider if the proposed timetable addresses the concerns raised regarding the 2019/20 budget process.

Consultation

Select Committee Chairman have been consulted on the proposed timetable.

Risk Management Implications

The uncertainty of government’s timetable for the Spending Review, Fairer Funding consultation and the implementation of the 75% Business Rates system creates a risk that we do not receive our financial settlement from government in time to meet the proposed timetable.

Other Options Considered

The timetable could exclude the proposed Member Day in June and the Formal Cabinet in July and follow a similar process as last year.

7.2	The proposed Council meeting in December could be excluded and the savings considered in the 2020/21 Budget Report.

Katharine Eberhart

Director of Finance and Support Services

Contact	Katharine Eberhart, 033 022 22087

Appendices

A – 2020/21 Budget Timeline

Background Papers

None