Agenda item

Cabinet:

1.            Agreed the Government’s offer of a four year financial settlement covering the period from 2016/17 to 2019/20 be accepted in order to provide greater financial certainty over the coming period.

2.            Agreed to continue to lobby the Government for a fairer funding settlement which better reflected the needs of its residents

3.            Agreed to take the opportunity to continue to stress to Government the iniquity of the grant formula.

4.            Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the approval of a four year efficiency plan for the purpose of accepting the offer.

Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of the Council, introduced the report

Members were informed that the purpose of the report was to consider the Government’s offer of a four year financial settlement covering the period to 2019/20.  The Council’s budget strategy (including the 2016/17 financial settlement) was approved by Council on 25 February 2016.

The Council would need to respond to the Government by 14 October 2016 indicating its acceptance or rejection as appropriate.

Full Council at its meeting on 14 September 2016 considered the matter and agreed to accept the offer of the four year settlement.  The Leader provided a verbal update on the Full Council’s position.

Reasons for the decision:

The decision to accept the 4 year settlement provides certainty of grant allocation. It also gives a greater ability to plan for future years and any further savings are limited to those caused by exceptional circumstances.

Other options considered:

Decline the 4 year settlement offer.

Cabinet:

1.         Agreed the Government’s offer of a four year financial settlement covering the period from 2016/17 to 2019/20 be accepted in order to provide greater financial certainty over the coming period.

2.         Agreed to continue to lobby the Government for a fairer funding settlement which better reflected the needs of its residents

3.         Agreed to take the opportunity to continue to stress to Government the iniquity of the grant formula.

4.         Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the approval of a four year efficiency plan for the purpose of accepting the offer.