Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, Councillor Alisha Lewis

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the budget setting timetable at Appendix 2 and outlined in section 5 of this report is approved;

2.    the outline budget strategy outlined in section 6 is approved;

3.    the £734k overspend reported to Cabinet in September 2024 and large amount of work which will be required to close this gap and deliver the required savings and efficiencies in 2024/25 is noted;

4.    the intention for this council to remain in the Gloucestershire Business Rates Pool in 2025-26 as outlined in section 7 is noted;

5.    the Section 151 Officer, Deputy Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets are requested to consider suggestions from the Budget Scrutiny Working Group in preparing the interim budget proposals for 2025-26.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets introduced her report, which she said marked the start pf the budget strategy process for 2024-25.  Warning of the sizeable overspend to manage, the immense pressures on local government with more people requiring services and costs rising and with no additional government funding in prospect, she gave assurance that the finance team and Members would work together on decisions to close the gap and protect CBC’s financial future. 

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In view of the tough choices and compromises to be made, she invited everyone to feed into the budget process through the public consultation which will run from mid-December to mid-January, and said suggestions would be welcome.  In the new year, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will go through the proposals with a fine toothcomb, and the final budget will be taken to full Council in February, where Members will decide whether to approve it.

She thanked everyone for their time and effort, and looked forward to a well-balanced and robust budget.

The Leader reiterated the importance of the consultation process and encouraged everyone to contribute, saying that  the council remained committed to its clear and consistent priorities over the las two years

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the budget setting timetable at Appendix 2 and outlined in section 5 of this report is approved;

2.    the outline budget strategy outlined in section 6 is approved;

3.    the £734k overspend reported to Cabinet in September 2024 and large amount of work which will be required to close this gap and deliver the required savings and efficiencies in 2024/25 is noted;

4.    the intention for this council to remain in the Gloucestershire Business Rates Pool in 2025-26 as outlined in section 7 is noted;

5.    the Section 151 Officer, Deputy Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets are requested to consider suggestions from the Budget Scrutiny Working Group in preparing the interim budget proposals for 2025-26.