Agenda item

1.     That the projections set out in Appendix A to report CAB3318 which delivers a balanced budget for 2022/23 be noted and the proposal that £1.0m of Transitional Reserve be used if required to address the forecast deficit for 2023/24 be supported.

2.     That the Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved, as set out in sections 17-22 of report CAB3318.

3.     That one off provision of £200k be included in the 2021/22 budget, funded by the forecast surplus for the year, to provide additional short term capacity and support for teams experiencing additional demands on core services.

4.     That “one off” provision of £1m be approved to provide funding for additional project delivery resources to support regeneration work in the district, with £400k funded from the forecast surplus for 2021/22 and the remaining £600k from the Transitional reserve.

5.     Approve a contribution of £75k, (subject to agreement of grant terms and conditions and funded from the Grants reserve), to the Hampshire Cultural Trust towards the development of an Anglo-Saxon experience attraction in the city in 2022, in recognition of the positive impact this initiative will have in supporting high street recovery and visitor numbers to the city.

6.     That the proposal to spend £300k of the Tranche 5 Covid grant fund to upgrade the Council’s IT desktop infrastructure to support “agile/flexible working” proposals be approved.

7.     That a detailed report be prepared on the basis of an average 3% increase in fees and charges (other than parking and garden waste subscriptions) and brought to the next Cabinet meeting for determination.

8.     That a £10 discount to garden waste subscriptions for residents in receipt of Council tax reduction be approved.

9.     That a detailed budget be prepared for consideration by Council in February 2022 based on the above assumptions, final spending review announcements and including the following options:

a.    That there will be no increases to off-street parking charges Winchester’s central AQMA parking zone.  Detailed proposals for the central Air Quality Management zone will be brought forward at a later date;

b.    That no increase is made to Green Waste collection subscriptions for the 2021/22 financial year;

c.    That other fees and charges be subject to recommendation 7 above;

d.    That, subject to referendum limits, Council tax be subject to an overall combined town and district £5 increase for 2022/23 (approx. 2.97%) and that Cabinet indicate whether consideration should be given to a lower district charge.

Cabinet noted that the Leader had declared a pecuniary interest in respect of this report due to being a trustee on the Hampshire Cultural Trust.  Cabinet therefore did not consider recommendation 5 or any related matters in the report until Councillor Thompson had left the room.

Councillor Cutler introduced the report and highlighted key elements of its contents.   He proposed a number of changes to the recommendations in the report (amended recommendations subsequently agreed as set out in the resolution below).

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Godfrey addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

He welcomed some of the proposed amendments but considered that the proposed £10 discount for garden waste subscriptions was insufficient to assist residents on lower incomes and requested a review be undertaken without delay.  He acknowledged there was a great deal of uncertainty facing the council, but considered that the medium term financial strategy was inadequate in terms of forecasting and planning.  He questioned how the council’s predicted financial shortfall could be addressed if no actions were proposed.

Councillor Cutler and other Cabinet Members responded to the comments made including emphasising that the transition reserve had been created to assist with dealing with the difficulties created due to ongoing uncertainties, including regarding the level of government settlement.

Cabinet then considered the recommendations, with the exception of recommendation 5, and agreed as set out below for the reasons contained in the report and outlined above

Councillor Thompson left the room at this point in the meeting.

Councillor Cutler (in the chair) introduced the amended recommendation 5 which proposed a contribution to the Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) towards the development of an Anglo-Saxon experience in the city in 2022.  During debate, Cabinet Members emphasised that it offered an exciting opportunity to attract more visitors to the city and consequently help with footfall and consumer spending.

Cabinet considered recommendation 5 and agreed as set out below for the reasons contained in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.        That the projections set out in Appendix A to the report which delivers a balanced budget for 2022/23 be noted and the proposal that £1.0m of Transitional Reserve be used if required to address the forecast deficit for 2023/24 be supported.

2.        That the Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved, as set out in sections 17-22 of the report.

3.        That one off provision of £200k be included in the 2021/22 budget, funded by the forecast surplus for the year, to provide additional short term capacity and support for teams experiencing additional demands on core services.

4.        That “one off” provision of £1m be approved to provide funding for additional project delivery resources to support regeneration work in the district, with £400k funded from the forecast surplus for 2021/22 and the remaining £600k from the Transitional reserve.

5.        Approve a contribution of £75k, (subject to agreement of grant terms and conditions and funded from the Grants reserve), to the Hampshire Cultural Trust towards the development of an Anglo-Saxon experience attraction in the city in 2022, in recognition of the positive impact this initiative will have in supporting high street recovery and visitor numbers to the city.

6.        That the proposal to spend £300k of the Tranche 5 Covid grant fund to upgrade the Council’s IT desktop infrastructure to support “agile/flexible working” proposals be approved.

7.        That a detailed report be prepared on the basis of an average 3% increase in fees and charges (other than parking and garden waste subscriptions) and brought to the next Cabinet meeting for determination.

8.        That a £10 discount to garden waste subscriptions for residents in receipt of Council tax reduction be approved.

9.        That a detailed budget be prepared for consideration by Council in February 2022 based on the above assumptions, final spending review announcements and including the following options:

a.        That there will be no increases to off-street parking charges Winchester’s central AQMA parking zone.  Detailed proposals for the central Air Quality Management zone will be brought forward at a later date;

b.        That no increase is made to Green Waste collection subscriptions for the 2021/22 financial year;

c.         That other fees and charges be subject to recommendation 7 above;

d.        That, subject to referendum limits, Council tax be subject to an overall combined town and district £5 increase for 2022/23 (approx. 2.97%) and that Cabinet indicate whether consideration should be given to a lower district charge.

Note: Councillor Thompson returned to the meeting following consideration of recommendation 5 above and resumed in the chair.