Agenda item

a)     Corporate Plan 2019/23

       To adopt the Corporate Plan;

b)     Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy

To approve the recommendations from Cabinet

c)      Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21

To approve the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

EX26     CORPORATE PLAN 2019-2023

The Leader reported that Horsham District had been recognised as one of the best places to live in the UK and that the Council intended to enhance that reputation.

The Corporate Plan provided a focus for the Council’s activities, and explained how it would prioritise resources and continue to deliver high quality, easily accessible and value for money services to the people living and working in the District over the next five years.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Corporate Plan be adopted.

Reasons for Recommendations

To ensure that Corporate Priorities for Council period are clear and form the basis of service plans, budget and activity across the Council.

EX/52    Budget 2020/21 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy

to 2023/24

The Leader stated that the report sets out details of the proposed 2020/21 revenue and capital budgets following the receipt of the provisional financial settlement from Government on 20 December 2019. The net budget requirement for 2020/21 at £11.2m was £0.77m higher than in 2019/20. This was largely due to the loss of £0.87m of recycling credits received from West Sussex County Council from 1 April 2020. The Council was able to set a budget that would generate a surplus. In the year, the Council would be delivering a £13.3m capital programme.

The report also reviewed the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020-24 approved by Council in December 2019 in the light of any updated information. The outlooks remained uncertain due to limited detail available on Government’s proposed significant changes to the future of business rates and the Fair Funding Review.

The current projection was for the Council to have a budget surplus in 2020/21 and near-balanced budgets over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. This was despite a continued reduction in Government funding although we anticipate any effect to be dampened over the period, rather than a step change in 2021. The near-balanced budgets were dependent on delivering a programme of digital transformation.

RESOLVED

That:

i)             The level of Council Tax for 2020/21 be increased from £149.53 by £2.99 (2.0%) to £152.52 at Band D.

(ii)        The net revenue budget set out in Appendix A for 2020/21 of £11.201m be approved.

(iii)       The Special Expenses of £309,500 set out in Appendix D and a Band D charge of £25.85 be agreed in respect of the unparished area for 2020/21. 

(iv)       The capital programme for 2020/21 set out in Appendix E be approved and that the indicative capital budgets in the programme for future years be noted.

(v)        The projected future near-balanced budgets on the revenue account in 2021/22 to 2023/24 be noted and the Medium Term Financial Strategy continue to be reviewed and refined to ensure that decisions be taken to deliver these balanced budgets in these three years.

(vi)       The Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendix F be approved.

(vii)      The Capital Strategy and prudential indicators and limits for 2019/20 to 2022/23 set out in Appendix G be approved.

(viii)     To note the statement on the robustness of the level of reserves in Appendix I.

(ix)       That the increases to fees and charges set out in Appendix J be approved.

(xi)       That the Council remain in the West Sussex business rates pool for 2020/21.

Reasons for Recommendations

To meet the Council’s statutory requirement to approve the budget and the prudential indicators before the start of a new financial year.