Decision details

Councillor A Azad, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Financial Planning and Policy, introduced the report which outlined the draft General Fund Budget for 2018-19.  Councillor Azad explained that the report represented an interim stage in the business planning process of the Council and that the Local Government Finance Settlement would need to be incorporated when further updates were known.  The Executive was informed that there continued to be budgetary pressures due to the negative Revenue Support Grant (RSG).  Councillor Azad highlighted that the strategic investments acquired by the Council had generated sufficient income to offset the 2018/19 cost pressures.  Following a question regarding the number of lease cars and their cost effectiveness for the Council, Officers reported that 67 Council staff had lease cars, the Mayor’s car was a lease car and Neighbourhood Services had three lease cars.  The Executive was advised that Officers could consult with Unison regarding the removal of the option of lease cars to staff.  It was commented that the option of a lease car was advantageous to staff on lower incomes.

Resolved

That  (i)      the draft General Fund Budget for 2018/19 be received; and

          (ii)     Managers, Corporate Management Group and Portfolio Holders be asked to review the draft budget to identify cost reductions from transformational savings and efficiencies, or new income streams including Invest to Save proposals.  The aim will be to achieve these with the minimum impact on citizen outcomes.

Reason:     Consideration of these proposals will enable the preparation of the Council’s budgets for 2018/19 to proceed.