Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance which presented the detailed Tranche 2 budget reduction proposals for the financial year 2016/17.  The proposal included five of the Tranche 1 budget reduction proposals noted at the 4^th November 2015 Council meeting for which the consultation process had concluded and a formal decision could be made.  This was prior to the receipt of the Local Government Finance Settlement and other information which would impact on budget decisions.  Further detailed budget proposals would be presented to Council on 24 February 2016. 

These proposals built upon the work that had already been undertaken in previous financial years to address budget challenges and ensured continued financial stability for the Council.

Councillor McCann spoke in support of the Budget Proposals.

Councillor Akhtar spoke in support of the Budget Proposals.

Councillor Bates spoke on the Budget Proposals.

Councillor Sykes spoke in support of the Budget Proposals.

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Budget Proposals.

Councillor Dean spoke in support of the Budget Proposals.

Councillor McMahon exercised his right of reply and spoke in support of the Budget Proposals. 

On being put to the vote FIFTY-FIVE VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR of the MOTION with ONE VOTE AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS.  The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

1.  The Tranche 1 budget reduction proposals of £2.036m, for which all consultation stages had been completed as set out in Appendix 2 and detailed at Appendix 3, be approved.

2.  The Tranche 2 budget reduction proposals of £2.957m, for which all consultation stages had been completed as set out in Appendix 5 and detailed at Appendix 6, be approved.

3.  The Tranche 2 budget proposals of £1.094m for which the conclusion of consultation was yet to be concluded as set out in Appendix 7 and detailed at Appendix 8, be noted.

4.  The Tranche 1 budget reduction proposals of £1.343m for which not all the consultation stages had yet concluded and would be considered in the January / February cycle of budget meetings be noted.

5.  Consideration was given to the information contained within the Equality Impact Assessments included at Appendices 3, 6 and 8 which supported the Tranche 1 and 2 proposals for approval and Tranche 2 for noting.

6.  The budget reduction target may need to be revised dependent on the future Government funding and policy announcements which included the Provisional and Final Local Government Finance Settlements for 2016/17.