The Director of Finance will submit a report (Document “Z”) which sets out:

•           the update on budget decisions and Council Tax including new      proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and    Trade Unions for 2019/20 and 2020/21

•           revised outlook to 2021/22, to allow further development of spending          proposals to keep the Council effective and financially sustainable

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 detailed budget             changes for 2019/20 and 2020/21 set out at Appendix D and any          revisions to previous decisions as set out in Appendix F.

(2)       Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested             parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed detailed budget             changes for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix E.

(3)       Approve for consultation as required with the public, interested             parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed recurrent spending      included in the financial estimates as set out in Appendix C.

(4)       Approve for consultation the proposed new capital schemes as            set out in section 8 of this report.

(5)       Note the proposed use of reserves as set out in Appendix G.

(6)       Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in           Appendix H.

(7)       Approve the implementation of the retail relief scheme for            properties with a rateable value below £51,000 for the two year   period 2019/20 to 2021/22 as set out in Appendix I.

(8)       Authorise the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Leader         of the Council, to proceed with a pooled 75% business rate pilot if      the application is approved by MHCLG; and

(9)       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 2020/21.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Tom Caselton – 01274 434472)

The Director of Finance submitted a report (Document “Z”) which set out:

•           the update on budget decisions and Council Tax including new      proposals for consultation with the public, interested parties,         staff and        Trade Unions for 2019/20 and 2020/21

•           revised outlook to 2021/22, to allow further development of spending          proposals to keep the Council effective and financially sustainable

The Leader in presenting and tabling the Labour group’s update to the four year plan on the Budget and Council Tax proposals for 2019/20 and 2020/21, stated that recent Government announcements had indicated an end to Austerity, however this was not the case.  The cumulative year on year impact of Austerity had had a profound human cost and services had been severely affected.

She added that she had not entered politics to make cuts, however Local Government had faced the brunt of the Government’s Austerity measures, and the shortfall in adult and children social care funding was significant and mirrored the national picture, and in recognition the Local Government Association was lobbying Government vociferously on this issue.

In addition Central Government funding to Local Authorities  had been cut and by 2020 the Rate Support Grant would be down to zero.  That Ministers were being lobbied in order to get a fairer funding formula for Bradford.  Despite the difficult fiscal climate and the continued impact of Austerity, Bradford was still managing its finances well and good progress was being made in service delivery.  Bradford had taken a proactive approach with an ambitious business/economic strategy, and growing the economy was the only viable way of creating jobs for the district and improving the lot of Bradford folk.  In the sphere of Adult Social Care, Bradford had spearheaded the concept of independent living;  Bradford had also seen a significant increase in the number of new homes being built, the majority being erected on brownfield sites;  visitor numbers to the district were up and the success of the literature festivals in Bradford and Ilkley were alluded to; Illuminate and the Saltaire festivals were events worthy of note;  school attainment levels were continuing on a upward trajectory and further improvements would be seen as initiatives to drive up improvements came to fruition.

Portfolio Holders alluded to successes in service delivery in their respective areas and commented on the priorities for the forthcoming year.  The funding crisis within Adult and Children Social Care was particulary highlighted as an on going issue going forward, although the Council had earmarked additional resources in these areas.  Investment was also seen as a major driver to boost the Bradford economy and create jobs.

The Leader acknowledged that increasing spending in Adult and Children Social Care impacted on the spend in other service areas.  The Leader added that that this budget consultation would continue till the end of January 2019, and that she wanted people to participate in the budget consultation process and make their views known.

Resolved –

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

(1)       Approve for consultation as required with the public,         interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed detailed    budget changes for 2019/20 and 2020/21 set out at Appendix D             and any revisions to previous decisions as set out in Appendix F          to Document “Z”.

(2)       Approve for consultation as required with the public,         interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed        detailed         budget changes for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix E to Document    “Z”.

(3)       Approve for consultation as required with the public,         interested parties, staff and Trade Unions the proposed recurrent             spending included in the financial estimates as set out in             Appendix C to Document “Z”.

(4)       Approve for consultation the proposed new capital schemes as            set out in section 8 of Document “Z”.

(5)       Note the proposed use of reserves as set out in Appendix G to Document “Z”.

(6)       Approve the consultation mechanisms and processes set out in           Appendix H to Document “Z”.

(7)       Approve the implementation of the retail relief scheme for            properties with a rateable value below £51,000 for the two             year period 2019/20 to 2021/22 as set out in Appendix I to             Document “Z”.

(8)       Authorise the Director of Finance, in consultation with the           Leader of the Council, to proceed with a pooled 75% business rate      pilot if the application is approved by MHCLG.

(9)       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 2020/21.

ACTION:       Director of Finance / Strategic Directors

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate