Agenda item

To consider amendments from any political group or individual Members on the initial draft of the executive proposed budget.

Please note a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee meeting which took place on 25 January 2024 will follow.

Any amendments that may be received will be circulated as soon as they are available.

It was noted that though the item was principally for the scrutiny of budget amendments put forward by opposition members; the first report under this item in Agenda Supplement 2 was an update on the administration’s Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy, as was agreed by Cabinet on 6 February. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement was announced on 5 February, and it included additional funding for Wiltshire over and above that included in the provisional settlement. A verbal update was provided on the implications of this at Cabinet and had now been provided in writing.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Clewer outlined that the funding was proposed to be used as follows:

·       £0.100m contribution to Air Quality monitoring in 2024/25.

·       £0.025m contribution towards volunteer recruitment by Libraries for residents in remote areas.

·       £0.603m funding for rural play areas to enable them to continue to be used by the local community that will lead to their transfer to the local town or parish council.

·       £3.798m funding for additional investment in SEND and children’s services early help and prevention support.

A budget proposal was agreed by Cabinet on 6 February 2024 for discussion at Full Council on 20 February 2024, following its consideration by the Committee at its meeting on 25 January 2024.

On 7 February 2024 proposed amendments to that budget were received from Cllrs Ian Thorn and Gavin Grant.

The amendments were presented as detailed in the Agenda Supplement.

Amendment A – Area Boards

The proposal sought a £0.003m increase in social welfare funding to each of the 18 Area Boards, and the establishment of a central fund of £0.036m that Area Boards can bid for extra social welfare funding.

Comments from statutory officers including the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer were set out in the agenda supplement with further clarifications set out in the appended Committee report.

Amendment B – Blue Badge Holders

The proposal sought to remove the income budget introduced in 2022/23 as a result of the saving included in the budget to introduce parking charges for Blue Badge holders of £0.040m.

Comments from statutory officers including the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer were set out in the agenda supplement with further clarifications set out in the appended Committee report.

Amendment C – VisitWiltshire

The proposal sought a provision of funding of £0.075m to enable partnership working with VisitWiltshire or an equivalent body in both 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Comments from statutory officers including the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer were set out in the agenda supplement with further clarifications set out in the appended Committee report.

The Committee discussed the proposed amendments as detailed fully in the report appended to these minutes, seeking details on the robustness of funding proposals, risks and impacts on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, and confidence in growth assumptions. Other areas explored were the vulnerability and impact on residents/communities.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agreed:

1.    To note the update provided on the administration Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy as was agreed by Cabinet on 6th February.

2.    To thank Cllrs Grant and Thorn for submitting their budget amendment proposals to the Committee and to note that they have been scrutinised.

3.    To ask Full Council to take note of the comments of the Committee, which will be presented in a report.

4.    To seek further information regarding the benefits to the county of third-party tourism organisations.

The Chairman called the meeting to a break at 14.54 and resumed at 15.00.