To receive Report No.22/2023 from Councillor Karen Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

The draft Revenue and Capital Budget for 2023/24 was approved by Cabinet for a three-week public consultation on Thursday, 12 January. The Committee is invited to provide comments and views regarding the draft budget before the final budget is considered by Cabinet on 14 February and recommended for approval by Council on 27 February. 

Report No.22/2023 was received from Councillor Karen Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

The draft Revenue and Capital Budget for 2023/24 had been approved by Cabinet for a three-week public consultation on Thursday, 12 January 2023. The Committee was invited to provide comments and views regarding the draft budget before the final budget was considered by Cabinet on 14 February 2023 and recommended for approval by Council on 27 February 2023.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       It was noted that Rutland County Council was in a better financial situation than some other local authorities due to its strong financial management but difficult decisions would have to be made to ensure that the Council remained financially viable. 

·       An extra £6.1 million would be needed by the Council in 2023/2024 to deliver the same services it had delivered in 2022/2023.

·       An example of the cost rises that the Council now faced included the cost of an adult care bed which had risen from £535 per week to £800 - £900 per week.

·       Government funding would not cover the extra costs the Council now faced and local authorities were expected to raise the Council Tax, making savings and use financial reserves.

·       Savings of £1.8 million had already been implemented and further savings of £4 million had been identified over the four year period.

·       It was noted that, if the Council Tax rate was not raised, Rutland County Council would lose £1.5 million in the year 2023/24 and every year thereafter which would threaten the Council’s financial independence.

·       Members were informed that the Council’s £20k Local Council Tax Support scheme would continue to support those Rutland residents who demonstrated financial hardship and that there would be an extra £33k available for additional Council Tax support payments for those in greatest need.

·       It was noted that the reduction of PAN (Published Admission Number) at Casterton College Rutland would not result in a cost pressure.

·       The Portfolio Holder Portfolio Holder for Communities, Environment and Climate Change informed the Committee that he was very confident with the numbers stated in the budget relating to the Catmose Leisure Centre.

·       The monies regarding the Homes for Ukraine scheme had been incorporated into the budget for 2023/24.  It was not known if the scheme would continue after this date but it was confirmed that these Rutland residents had been incorporated into the future budgetary figures.

·       The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning, Highways and Transport confirmed that she would send Councillor Begy the details regarding the post removed within the Development Control team.

ACTION: Councillor Powell

·       It was confirmed that the recruitment to the post of Climate Change Officer had been postponed but that climate change remained a priority for the Council.

·       Members were informed that the waste procurement process was still underway and discussions were ongoing with different bidders.

·       The budget for the People Directorate would be uplifted to include the increased demand pressures.  This would enable the reduction in the separate demand contingency funding.

·       The Committee requested that the report to Council (27^th March 2023) on the Levelling Up Fund be clarified to enable full understanding of the government’s requirements regarding the capital funding.

ACTION: Saverio Della Rocca

·       The increase of £300k to the Local Plan Reserve would be to cover any costs related to the production of a second local plan.

·       The draw on reserves had been less than expected but any areas of change/overspend would be highlighted in the final budget report.

·       Additional due diligence was being done on the use of a new school admissions IT system but initial findings showed that a saving could be made.

·       The Committee requested that the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Care kept members up to date on any increase in risks/costs regarding Community Support Services and ASC Demand (Table 2 - P10 and P14).

ACTION: Councillor Harvey

·       The Strategic Director of Resources confirmed that he would send details to councillors regarding what saving could be made by closing the Council’s post room a few days a week and what impact, if any, this would have on services.

ACTION: Saverio Della Rocca

·       There were no other comments.

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Councillor Fox left the meeting at 8.17 p.m.

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