(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

The Director of Legal and Governance stated that Executive Members will be granted dispensations under the Localism Act 2011 in relation to their declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interests relating to employment, sponsorship and land prior to the consideration of the Budget on 20 February 2023.

ACTION: Director of Legal and Governance

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Yusuf Patel / Fatima Butt – 07970 411923 / 07970 411746)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents. 

To note any recommendations to the Executive that may be the subject of report to a future meeting.  (Schedule to be tabled at the meeting). 

(Yusuf Patel / Fatima Butt – 07970 411923 / 07970 411746)

There were no recommendations to the Executive.

(Councillor Hinchcliffe)

The Director of Finance will submit a report (Document “AE”) which sets out the 2024-25 Budget Proposals - Financial Analysis, Initial Financial Outlook and Budget proposals for 2024-25 and beyond.

Recommended –

It is recommended that Executive, having considered the Council’s

Public sector equality duty as set out above:

(1)       Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested           parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed Council Tax and            Social Care precept for 2024-25 set out in section 5.1. to         Document “AE”.

(2)       Note the recurring pressures as set out in Appendix B to            Document “AE”.

(3)       Note the savings previously consulted on as set out in Appendix         C to Document “AE”.

(4)       Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested           parties, staff and Trade Unions the new savings proposals as set     out in             Appendix D to Document “AE”.

(5)       Note the Financing and central budget adjustments Appendix E to      Document “AE”.

(6)       Note the proposed new capital schemes and removals from the           Capital investment plan as set out in section 10 to Document       “AE”.

(7)       Approve a HRA rent increase in accordance with the Government’s    Rent Standard of CPI (6.7% as at September 2023) + 1%, in total         7.7%, for Council housing stock from 1 April 2024

(8)       Approve an increase to HRA service charges forTenants in Extra        Care of CPI (6.7% as at September 2023)  that is 6.7% from 1 April      2024.

(9)       Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in          section 12 to Document “AE”.

(10)     Approve to join the LCR Business Rates pool as outlined in section 5.10 to Document “AE”, noting that thecontinuation of the Pool will be        dependent on none of the member authorities choosing to withdraw within the statutory period after designation.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Andrew Cross – 01274 436823)

The Director of Finance submitted a report (Document “AE”) which set out the 2024-25 Budget Proposals - Financial Analysis, Initial Financial Outlook and Budget proposals for 2024-25 and beyond.

The Leader stated that the Council has had to make cuts in the region of £350m since 2010, as the Government had failed to adequately fund Local Government.  This reduction was now particularly acute in the face of increasing demand for services such as adult and children’s social care as well as, inflationary pressures. The situation was untenable and before the Executive this morning were a set of budget proposals for 2024/2025.

The Chief Executive stated that this was very much a partial budget based on the proviso that we manage to obtain the exceptional financial support that had been requested from Government. Based on the projection there was a projected gap of £120m for 2024/2025; a number of efficiency savings were set out in the report to plug this fiscal gap. 

The Director of Finance set out the budget proposals for 2024/2025 following the Local Government Settlement which were detailed in Document “AE“ and earmarked for consultation with staff, Trade Unions, public and interested parties.  The proposals had been developed in an unprecedented level of financial pressure and in the context of a rise in the demand for adult and children social care services.  The Council was in close dialogue with Government regarding the challenges we faced, and that without financial support the Council would not be able to deliver a balanced budget for 2024/2025.  Further details of the budget proposals were alluded to, the details of which were set out in Document “AE“ and the related appendices.

The public consultation process was also referred to and that the closing date for this consultation will be 17 February 2024, with the final report setting out the details will be presented to Budget Executive meeting.  The consultation process will be expansive and target as many stakeholders as possible.  Equality Impact Assessments had been undertaken on the proposals and the details will also be presented to the Budget Executive.

The Leader in particular highlighted the gap in the funding of adult and children’s social care and the need for Government to bridge this gap was imperative.  The Council valued all Council services, and it was with a heavy heart that these cuts were being proposed, however it was imperative that the Council set a balanced budget.  The Leader alluded to the difference between capital and revenue funding and stressed that capital funding could not be utilised for revenue purposes.

The Deputy Leader echoed the above comments and stressed that many Councils up and down the country faced a similar situation to the one we faced in Bradford and it demonstrated the dire financial situation facing Councils, and that without the necessary funding more and more Councils would be issuing Section 114 notices.

The Children and Families Portfolio Holder stated that the continued  improvements being made in Children’s Social Care had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.