Issue - meetings

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee in July. The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2025/26.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 23 July 2024.

(2)      Consider how additional income or savings can be generated to address the projected Council wide funding gap of £573,000 in 2025/26, rising to £720,000 per annum by 2028/29.

(3)      Note that owing to the Council’s projected budget deficit, any additional new revenue growth items (i.e. service enhancements resulting in increased net expenditure) supported by Policy Committees will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

The report informed the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee in July. The report sought guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2025/26.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Budgetary Process. A Member of the Committee raised that they do not feel involved in the Budgetary process and asked for more background information to be included in the report to show where the Committee Budget is presently at. The Member noted it is a standard item and it would come back to the Committee in the future. The Chair asked for clarification as to how the Member would like to be involved. The Member stated that recommendation two, is asking for consideration from Members as to how additional savings and income could be generated.

b)            Increased Fees and Charges. A Member of the Committee asked if the increased fees and charges to be implemented for 2025/26, would absorb the budget deficit. The Senior Accountant informed the Committee that the budget deficit position stated for 2025/26 is after the impact of the increase in budget for fees and charges has been taken into account.

c)            Staff Costs. A Member of the Committee suggested that Staff cost be looked at by the Strategy and Resources Committee, as it is currently a large cost to the Council. The Member queried if all staff positions are necessary, and why there is such high use of consultants. The Member acknowledge that there might not be savings there, but it was worth considering going forward. The Chair and Vice Chair noted the comments.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 23 July 2024.

(2)      Consider how additional income or savings can be generated to address the projected Council wide funding gap of £573,000 in 2025/26, rising to £720,000 per annum by 2028/29.

(3)      Note that owing to the Council’s projected budget deficit, any additional new revenue growth items (i.e. service enhancements resulting in increased net expenditure) supported by Policy Committees will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.