In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature if those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

No declarations of interest were made in respect of the items on the agenda for this meeting.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received. Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes out of the total time of 30 minutes. Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice. Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, Deputations or Questions had been received from Members of the public.

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules No 219 and 219A.

No questions had been received from members.

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information and information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under the authority)).

To receive Report No.19/2016 from the Director for Resources.

Members are requested to bring their copy, distributed under separate cover.

·         The above report was presented at Cabinet on 12 January 2016.

·         Cabinet has requested that Scrutiny review and comment on proposals before the Cabinet meeting on 9 February 2016 so as to inform the decision-making process.

·         The report and its proposals and the date which it is presented to Cabinet may be amended following the outcome of the Scrutiny panel.  Scrutiny is therefore asked to consider the report and provide feedback to the Portfolio Holder and Director.

520      REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGET 2016/17 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN

Report No. 19/2016 from the Director for Resources was received.

The Assistant Director for Finance made a short presentation, the purpose of which was to show Members an overview of the Council’s current and future financial position.

Councillor Mathias made a short statement to the panel as a member of the Cabinet.

---oOo---

7.40pm Mr Mathias left the meeting and did not return.

---oOo---

The Director for Resources introduced the report with a brief introduction outlining the Resources Directorates Savings and Pressures.

During the discussion the following points were noted:

i.          In reference to page 7, paragraph 2.8 Members did not want to see the borrowing of money increased. In response to Members concerns Mr S Della Rocca assured the panel that the Council would be borrowing money internally and that this was the preferred option as the cost of borrowing would be outweighed by revenue savings in due course.  Mrs Briggs explained that the Council would be looking at further invest to save proposals in the future;

ii.         Members raised concerns about the current financial position of the Council and why this situation had arisen. Mrs Briggs stated that the Council had been planning ahead and looked at a 5-7 year window. Rutland County Council (RCC) were in a more positive position than some other Local Authorities because of the planning that had been undertaken.  Mr Della Rocca explained that the funding methodology had changed from prior years;

iii.         If RCC did not raise Council Tax rates then the current predicted funding gap would increase;

iv.        Members requested that the public be notified why RCC are in this position and why we are having to raise Council Tax rates. Mrs Briggs informed the panel that a budget consultation was currently underway on the RCC website, displays had been placed in Customer Services and all RCC sites including libraries contained information on this;

v.         Members requested Officers to give consideration to setting up a Local Authority company. Mrs Briggs said that this would be considered but had to be the right opportunity for the Council going forward. Oakham Enterprise park was a good example of this;

vi.        Mrs Mogg explained to the panel that there was not a capital sum for IT equipment as provision was contained within the Revenue budget;

vii.       Members raised concerns in regards to the Pension provision. Mrs Mogg explained that RCC were part of the Local Government scheme and as such ad-hoc amendments could not be made;;

viii.       Members asked if RCC looked at sharing services and resources with other Local Authorities. Mrs Briggs assured the panel that this was continually being looked at across the Authority. The zero budget proposal for the Places Directorate would be able to look at this in more detail;

ix.        Members asked if any savings or reductions had been considered that were not included within the final report. Mrs Mogg stated that there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 520.