Issue - meetings

Councillor Ashton gave a presentation on the overall Council budget and finances for 2019/20.  His presentation referred to the above report, together with:

• General Fund (CAB 3132)
• Medium Term Financial Strategy (CAB3131);
• Capital Investment Strategy (CAB3134); and
• Treasury Management Strategy Statement (CAB3133).

It also included some consideration as of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget (Report CAB3111(HSG) refers).

The presentation was available on the Council’s website from the following page:

https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=176&Ver=4

In summary, Councillor Ashton highlighted the following elements of the proposals. 

• recommendation to freeze the Council Tax levels for 2019/20 (noting that other precepting authorities were recommending increases of differing levels);
• Maintaining and improving Council services and infrastructure to meet its strategic aims;
• taking an entrepreneurial approach to increasing income streams;
• concentrating on improving effectiveness and efficiency of Council services;
• Mitigating the impact of Government grants which were set to reduce to zero or negative;
• Proposed new policies regarding Council Tax on vacant dwellings and for care leavers;
• Strategic Asset Purchases would be required to produce a “double win” of furthering the Council’s strategic aims and a financial return;
• The Council’s accounts had been delivered on time against shorter timescales;
• The Council had a healthy level of reserves and a low level of liabilities

compared to assets.

• The contents of the reports had been considered by The Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meetings on 28 January and 4 February 2019 which had not made at recommendations to be considered by Cabinet.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors Weir and Thompson addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

As Chairman of the Winchester Town Forum, Councillor Weir drew attention to comments that had been made about the Forum’s decision to increase the precept on the Town Account by 3% for 2019/20 and she offered Cabinet Members the opportunity to ask any questions they might have regarding the Forum decision.

Cabinet Members had no questions to ask at this point and the Chairman requested that they contact Councillor Weir directly should any be forthcoming.

Councillor Thompson raised the following points, in summary:

·         expressed concern that the budget proposals did not include any detailed plan to reduce the predicted funding gap; 

·         The Medium Term Financial Strategy included reference to high level options to meet the challenge but did not specify that the options were.  If there were difficult choices to be made it was important that all Councillors were made aware;

·         Support additional policies regarding empty homes but this would not achieve significant increases in income;

·         Where were the ambitions regarding improving the environment or reducing carbon footprint?

·         Believed it was unacceptable to include the proposed funding for the new leisure centre as one line within the budget report without further justification or explanation;

·         Concern about the impact of proposed funding for the leisure centre on other budgets;

·         In response to a request that the Liberal Democrat group offer alternative suggestions for the budget, she emphasised that this was the role of the administration.

Councillor Ashton responded to Cabinet Members’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5