Issue - meetings

The Report of the Head of Finance.

The Finance Team Manager presented the report and provided the options available in order to produce a balanced budget, highlighting the need for members to choose the appropriate balance between increasing council tax, reducing costs and rephasing asset preventative maintenance.

A member suggested that the Council approach private companies in order to sell advertising space around the town, which could be a viable route to increase income.

A debate was had around the potential to increase council tax, however it was highlighted by officers that this did depend on what other special expense areas charged due to the statutory limits of the council tax referendum principles.

It was suggested that the finance sub group should meet and include all members in order to share the detailed breakdown information which officers had been asked to provide. It was felt that this would allow more potential and time to look at finance in much finer detail. It was proposed that this could take the form of a briefing over Teams, proceeded by a formal meeting.

Members proposed to defer making a recommendation, however it was highlighted that this would leave insufficient time to bring those recommendations to Cabinet. Officers suggested that a further, formal meeting would be required in order to agree upon recommendations before these would be presented to Cabinet on 31 January. It was suggested that the working party form part of the consultation process, which would allow the finance team time to circulate the extra information which the working party had requested, and still allow time to hold another formal meeting prior to 31 January Cabinet, before the working party recommend the budget to Council in February.

It was agreed that the finance team would hold a briefing for members in which they would be able to ask questions, followed by a formal meeting to discuss the report again. Officers agreed to collaborate in order to arrange a date for the additional meeting following the briefing.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor A Black and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. Any comments and feedback in the recommended level of council tax increase/savings to be achieved be deferred to allow officers time to provide the working party with a more detailed breakdown of the finances of the special expenses

2. Once members have received and been briefed on the more detailed breakdown, a further meeting of the working party be held to provide any comments and feedback to Cabinet at its meeting on 31 January 2023 as part of the budget consultation process.