Decision details

The Council's Final 2018/19 Budget, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Council Tax Proposal

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Cabinet will be asked to agree the:

  • Council’s  Medium Term Financial Strategy
  • General Fund Budget
  • Capital Programme
  • Treasury Management Strategy

 

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

1.     Noted the forecast outturn on service directorates at period 9 and the actions being taken by SLT to manage expenditure within approved budgets set out in section 5 of the report.

 

2.     Approved the income generation and savings proposals as set out in Appendix A of the report.

 

3.     Considered the advice of the Chief Finance Officer as set out in Appendix F of the report when recommending the Council budget.

 

4.     Approved the following budgets for 2018/19:

 

  • The Council’s General Fund budget as set out in Appendix D of the report.
  • The Delegated Schools’ draft budget set out in section 4 of the report
  • The Capital Programme as set out in section 9 and Appendix G of the report.

 

5.     Delegated to the Chief Financial Officer the implementation of the 2018/19 capital and revenue proposals once approved by Council unless further reports or Cabinet Member authorities are required.

 

6.     Agreed that the Chief Financial Officer be authorised to allocate funding from the Capital Contingency included within the draft Capital Programme.

 

7.     Agreed that the relevant Cabinet Member, together with the Cabinet Member for Financial Management, ICT (Client) & Transformation be delegated authority to commence tender processes and accept tenders for capital schemes included within the approved programme under the block programme allocations or delegation arrangements set out in this report.

 

8.     Agreed that to facilitate the usage of unringfenced resources, the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Service Directors will review any such new funds allocated to Havering; make proposals for their use; and obtain approval by the Cabinet Member for Financial Management, ICT (Client) & Transformation.

 

9.     Delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Service Directors the authority to make any necessary changes to service and the associated budgets relating to any subsequent specific grant funding announcements, where delays may otherwise adversely impact on service delivery and/or budgetary control, subject to consultation with Cabinet Members as appropriate.

 

10.Approved the schedule of proposed Fees and Charges set out in Appendix J of the report, with any recommended changes in year being implemented under Cabinet Member delegation.

 

11.Agreed that if there are any changes to the GLA precept and/or levies, the Chief Financial Officer authorised to amend the recommended resolutions accordingly and report these to the next Council meeting as required.

12.Will recommend to Council for consideration and approval:

 

  • The General Fund budget for 2018/19
  • The Council Tax for Band D properties and for other Bands of properties, all as set out in Appendix D, as revised and circulated for the Greater London Authority (GLA) Council Tax.
  • The Delegated Schools’ budget for 2018/19, as set out in section 4 of the report.
  • The Capital Programme for 2018/19 as set out in section 9 and supported by Annexes 1, 2 and 3 of Appendix G.
  • That it passes a resolution as set out in section 11.3 of the report to enable Council Tax discounts to be given at the 2017/18 level.

 

Report author: Toyin Bamidele

Publication date: 08/02/2018

Date of decision: 07/02/2018

Decided at meeting: 07/02/2018 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: