The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AJ”) sets out

·        initial draft budget and Council Tax proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2017/18 and 2018/19

·        indicative budget plans to 2020/21, to allow the further development of spending proposals to keep the Council effective and financially sustainable.

Recommended -

(1)       That Executive, having considered the Council’s public sector equality duty as set out in Document “AJ”:

·        Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and trade unions the proposed detailed budget changes for 2017/18 and 2018/19 set out at Appendix C to Document AJ, and any revisions to previous decisions set out in Appendix E and Appendix F to Document AJ

·        Approve the proposed non-recurrent spending included in the financial estimates

·        Approve for consultation the proposed spending totals for each outcome for 2017/18 and 2018/19, as the basis for a balanced budget

·        Approve the proposed use of reserves

·        Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in Appendix G to Document “AJ” 

·        Approve the proposed indicative spending totals for each outcome for 2019/20 and 2020/21 to inform future planning and engagement with stakeholders, the budgets for 2019/20 and 2020/21 to be subject to detailed formal consultation, however, in future budget rounds 

·        Authorise Strategic Directors to engage with stakeholders to develop draft plans and options for the reforms and changes required to deliver a balanced budget in 2019/20 and 2020/21 as set out in Section 12.

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)       

(Stuart McKinnon-Evans - 01274 432800)

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AJ”) set out

·         initial draft budget and Council Tax proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2017/18 and 2018/19

·         indicative budget plans to 2020/21, to allow the further development of spending proposals to keep the Council effective and financially sustainable.

The report identified £13.9m on new savings for 2017/18 in addition to the £24m agreed in Budget 2016.  They would bring a further layer of risk and change in the organisation, on top of changes that were already being implemented.  A detailed commentary on the financial context was contained in Appendix B to Document “AJ”.  The Director of Finance emphasised the impact of demographic changes affecting Children’s and Adult Services.  He added that workforce reductions of 118 full time equivalent posts in 2017/18 and 107 in 2018/19 would be consulted on with Trade Unions.  The Local Government financial settlement would be received in December 2016. 

The Leader circulated a commentary on the draft budget and Council Tax proposals and highlighted the impact of the austerity policy on Bradford District and the need to maintain a focus on the Council’s priorities.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder emphasised the growing number of adults and young people in the district and the need to support those who were most vulnerable.  She referred to the need to work differently to deliver services in the face of cuts in funding and growth in demand year on year. She added that there was a need to radically revise how public health outcomes were delivered by working with partner organisations that were also facing reductions in funding.  She concluded that there would be an emphasis on prevention and supporting people to focus on what they were able to do. 

The Environment, Sport and Culture Portfolio Holder highlighted the proposed changes to services and noted the reliance on the voluntary and community sector to help deliver services.  She added that different delivery models and ways of generating income were being investigated.  She stressed that the Council would continue to sweep streets and empty dins.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder stressed that education continued to be a priority and that the authority would protect the contribution to improving attainment levels in the face of a cut of £7m in Education Services Grant (ESG).  He anticipated that the authority would lose funding under the new Schools National Funding Formula to be announced in December.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder stated that the budget proposals reflected the authority’s priorities.  He added that the maintenance budget for highways would be protected and the focus on reducing the number killed or seriously injured on roads would be maintained.  He stressed that increasing income and making the budget sustainable in the long term would be a priority.  He concluded that major infrastructure projects would be supported. 

The Neighbourhoods and Community Safety Portfolio Holder noted that the authority would work with the voluntary and community sector to achieve common goals.

The Leader emphasised the need to increase revenue, income and business rates to ensure that more was available to spend on services.  She added that the voluntary sector was important in ensuring that the community remained prosperous and healthy.  She noted the inspiring work had been evidenced in the business community.  She emphasised that all young people in the district were the authority’s priority and that the authority would work with Multi Academy Trusts and all schools to ensure the best start for them.  She confirmed that the authority would work with Health Trusts on the better use of budgets for social care.  She concluded that Bradford was a big city, bigger than Liverpool, Newcastle and Bristol with the youngest population in the UK.  She stressed that for the North to succeed Bradford had to succeed.  Work would continue to make sure the Government’s commitments for the North were fulfilled.  She requested that the Government make investment in infrastructure and schools to be an active partner with the authority to ensure prosperity for the District.  She launched the budget consultation process with the public and other interested parties, staff and Trade Unions.  .

Resolved -

(1)       That Executive, having considered the Council’s public sector equality duty as set out in Document “AJ”:

(a)  Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested parties, staff and trade unions the proposed detailed budget changes for 2017/18 and 2018/19 set out at Appendix C to Document AJ, and any revisions to previous decisions set out in Appendix E and Appendix F to Document AJ

(b)  Approve the proposed non-recurrent spending included in the financial estimates

(c)  Approve for consultation the proposed spending totals for each outcome for 2017/18 and 2018/19, as the basis for a balanced budget

(d)  Approve the proposed use of reserves

(e)  Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in Appendix G to Document “AJ” 

(f)   Approve the proposed indicative spending totals for each outcome for 2019/20 and 2020/21 to inform future planning and engagement with stakeholders, the budgets for 2019/20 and 2020/21 to be subject to detailed formal consultation, however, in future budget rounds 

(g)  Authorise Strategic Directors to engage with stakeholders to develop draft plans and options for the reforms and changes required to deliver a balanced budget in 2019/20 and 2020/21 as set out in Section 12.

ACTION:        Director of Finance

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)