Agenda item

The Cabinet is asked to endorse the County Council Budget for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix A and Annex 1, the Capital Strategy set out in Annex 2(a) and the Treasury Management Statement set out in Annex 2(b), for approval by County Council on 12 February 2021.

Scrutiny Committee Chairman and each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on the County Council Revenue Budget for 2021/22.

The Cabinet will then discuss the report and proposals prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Endorse the County Council Budget for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix A and Annex 1, the Capital Strategy set out in Annex 2(a) and the Treasury Management Statement set out in Annex 2(b), for approval by County Council on 12 February 2021.

The call-in deadline is 2 February 2021.

63.1   Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Finance and Support Services. The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Jeremy Hunt, who outlined the report’s detail regarding possible future financial risks and the council’s ability to deal with those, proposals for a balanced budget, the importance of maintaining healthy reserves and the announcement of additional funding from the Government which enabled the removal or deferral of some savings options. The budget proposed to increase the core council tax rate by 1.99% and the adults’ social care precept by 3%.

63.2   Chairmen of the Performance and Finance, Fire and Rescue Service and Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committees commented on the Revenue Budget report noting that looking to the future was key.

63.3   Cllr Dr James Walsh, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group was concerned about the savings affecting the Early Help service. Cllr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group welcomed the removal of some of the savings proposals but felt this was a reprieve only. Cllr Jones was concerned about cuts to the public health budget, particularly for those residents who don’t qualify for additional support under the Care Act. He made further comments regarding the proposals for Early Years funding and adults’ social care.

63.4   Cabinet Members made the following comments in relation to the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme:

·       Significant capital projects for schools were highlighted within the Capital Programme.

·       A consultation on the removal of the Community Initiative Fund had taken place with all members and was supported in the main.

·       Investment to become carbon neutral and on renewable energy was crucial to fulfil the ambitions of the Climate Change Strategy.

·       The Ash Dieback issue would be addressed, with around 40,000 trees likely to be affected.

·       The Public Health Grant was fixed and would be used in ways to be most effective.

·       Children’s Services continued on its improvement journey with investment in key services.

·       The council maintained its commitments against the backdrop of the pandemic to provide as much support as possible to residents and communities.

63.5   Resolved – that Cabinet endorses the County Council Budget for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix A and Annex 1, the Capital Strategy set out in Annex 2(a) and the Treasury Management Statement set out in Annex 2(b), for approval by County Council on 12 February 2021.