Agenda item

The Wiltshire Council Financial Plan Update 2018/19 has already been published and can be accessed on the following link:

https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1160&MId=12011&Ver=4

Please copy into your browser if necessary. If you have any trouble in accessing these documents, please contact Will Oulton, Senior Democratic Services Officer, 01225 713935.

The following additional documents will be made available with the Cabinet papers, once they have been published:

·         Report of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee

·         Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee 5 February 2018

The Leader introduced the Financial Plan, stating that she was pleased to see that the Councillors Briefing and Scrutiny meetings had been well attended, and that she did not want to add further the information presented at those meetings.

Councillor Philip Whitehead presented the report which provided an assessment to full Council to set a budget for 2018/19, that takes into account the impact on Council Tax, Social Care Levy, rents, fees and charges, the capital investment programme, schools overall budgets, as well as council reserves. The report also sets out an indicative Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to highlight expenditure and income from 2018-19 to 2021/22.

In presenting the report, Councillor Whitehead: thanked officers for their assistance in putting the proposals together; outlined the process already undertaken; and highlighted how the information was presented.

Councillor Graham Wright, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, thanked officers for producing the report of the previous days scrutiny meeting so promptly, and stated there had been good opportunities to ask questions.

The Leader noted that the Council had yet to receive confirmation of the final financial settlement from central government, but that it was hoped that this information would be available on the 7 February 2018.

There being no further comments, the Cabinet;

Resolved

To recommend to Council to:

a.    Endorses the update of the Financial Plan for 2018/19.

b.    Approve the investment and savings proposals summarised at Sections 7 and 9 respectively of this report and at Appendix 1C, to provide a net revenue budget for 2018/19 of £327.746 million.

c.    To vote separately:

i.      Set the Council’s total net expenditure budget for 2018/19 at £327.746 million.

ii.     Set the Social Care Levy increases in line with Council’s February 2017 decision, at 3%; and a Council Tax at 2.99%.

iii.   Approve the capital programme proposed at Appendix 1E of this report.

iv.   Set the changes in fees and charges set out in detail at Section 8 of and at Appendix 1G of this report.

v.     Set a 1% reduction for social dwelling rents.

vi.   Set the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2018/19 as set out at Appendix 1F of this report.

vii.That all other service charges related to the HRA be increased by 4% (CPI September 2017 plus 1%), including garage rents. Except for sheltered housing schemes, as these have been reviewed individually this year and will be increased by a reasonable amount each year to move to a full cost recovery position.

d.    Endorse the Medium Term Financial Strategy and receive annual updates on delivery against the strategy in setting future annual budgets.

Reason for Decision:

Reason for Decision:

To enable Council to:

• Set its revenue, capital, housing revenue accounts, fees and charges, levels of reserves and resultant Council Tax and Social Care Levy for 2018/19, as well as to issue Council Tax and rent bills.
• Provide the Council with a strong business and financial plan for sustainable delivery for 2018/19.
• Provide the Council with a Medium Term Financial Strategy and Plan that drives long term financial sustainability and delivery of its Business Plan.