The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced the Council’s proposed budget framework for 2022/23 which incorporated the following:
Ø Proposed General Fund revenue budget for 2022/23;
Ø Proposed level of Council Tax for 2022/23;
Ø Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2022/23 to 2025/26;
Ø Draft capital investment programme 2022/23 to 2025/26; and
Ø Update on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Local Funding Formula for Schools.
The Cabinet Member reminded Assembly that the budget framework for 2022/23 was prepared in the context of consistent reductions in the grant provided by the Government and the cumulative impact of austerity measures since 2010. For every £1 the Council received a decade ago, the Council received just 63p today.
In accordance with paragraph 10.3.2 of Part 2, Chapter 3 of the Council Constitution, the budget was put to a recorded vote and wasagreed as follows:
For: Councillors Akwaboah, Ashraf, Aziz, Bankole, Bremner, P Bright, S Bright, Carpenter, Channer, Choudhury, Dulwich, Freeborn, Geddes, Ghani, Haroon, Jamu, Jones, Kangethe, Khan, Martins, Miah, Miles, Nalule, Oluwole, Paddle, Quadri, Rahman, Ramsay, C Rice, I Robinson, P Robinson, E Rodwell, Saleem, Shaukat, Twomey and Worby (36)
Against: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
(Note: Councillor Butt was not present during the vote having left the chamber prior to the vote and returning thereafter.)
The Assembly resolved to:
(i) Approve a base revenue budget for 2022-23 of £181.895m, as detailed in Appendix A to the report;
(ii) Approve the adjusted Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) position for 2022- 23 to 2025-26 allowing for other known pressures and risks at this time, as detailed in Appendix B to the report, including the revised cost of borrowing to accommodate the capital costs associated with the implementation of the MTFS;
(iii) Delegate authority to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, to finalise any contribution required to or from reserves in respect of the 2022-23 budget, pending confirmation of levies and further changes to Government grants prior to 1 April 2022;
(iv) Delegate authority to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, to make arrangements for one-off £150 Council Tax energy rebate payments to be made to all households in Bands A – D and establish a discretionary fund for households in need who would not otherwise be eligible;
(v) Approve the Statutory Budget Determination for 2022-23 as set out at Appendix D to the report, which reflects an increase of 1.99% on the amount of Council Tax levied by the Council, an Adult Social Care precept of 1.00% and the final Council Tax proposed by the Greater London Assembly (8.8% increase), as detailed in Appendix E to the report;
(vi) Note the update on the current projects, issues and risks in relation to Council services, as detailed in sections 8-10 of the report;
(vii) Approve the proposed projects/allocations of funding as set out in paragraphs 9.5 and 9.6 of the report and delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Community Solutions, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, to approve and enter into all necessary contracts, agreements and other documents in order to implement such arrangements;
(viii) Approve the Council’s draft Capital Programme for 2022-23 totalling £522.625m, of which £66.813m are General Fund schemes, as detailed in Appendix F to the report;
(ix) Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy as set out in section 12 of the report;
(x) Note the update on Dedicated Schools Funding and approve the Local Funding Formula factors as set out in section 13 and Appendix G to the report;
(xi) Approve the increased rates for Early Years Education as set out in section 13 of the report; and
(xii) Note the Chief Financial Officer’s Statutory Finance Report as set out in section 15 of the report, which included a recommended minimum level of reserves of £12m.
Cabinet resolved to recommend the Assembly to:
(i) Approve a base revenue budget for 2022-23 of £181.895m, as detailed in Appendix A to the report;
(ii) Approve the adjusted Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) position for 2022-23 to 2025-26 allowing for other known pressures and risks at this time, as detailed in Appendix B to the report, including the revised cost of borrowing to accommodate the capital costs associated with the implementation of the MTFS;
(iii) Delegate authority to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, to finalise any contribution required to or from reserves in respect of the 2022-23 budget, pending confirmation of levies and further changes to Government grants prior to 1 April 2022;
(iv) Delegate authority to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, to make arrangements for one-off £150 Council Tax energy rebate payments to be made to all households in Bands A – D and establish a discretionary fund for households in need who would not otherwise be eligible;
(v) Approve the Statutory Budget Determination for 2022-23 as set out at Appendix D to the report, which reflects an increase of 1.99% on the amount of Council Tax levied by the Council, an Adult Social Care precept of 1.00% and the final Council Tax proposed by the Greater London Assembly (8.8% increase), as detailed in Appendix E to the report;
(vi) Note the update on the current projects, issues and risks in relation to Council services, as detailed in sections 8-10 of the report;
(vii) Approve the proposed projects/allocations of funding as set out in paragraphs 9.5 and 9.6 of the report and delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Community Solutions in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement to approve and enter into all necessary contracts, agreements and other documents in order to implement such arrangements;
(viii) Approve the Council’s draft Capital Programme for 2022-23 totalling £522.625m, of which £66.813m are General Fund schemes, as detailed in Appendix F to the report;
(ix) Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy as set out section 12 of the report;
(x) Note the update on Dedicated Schools Funding and approve the Local Funding Formula factors as set out in section 13 and Appendix Hto the report;
(xi) Approve the increased rates for Early Years Education as set out in section 13 of the report; and
(xii) Note the Chief Financial Officer’s Statutory Finance Report as set out in section 15 of the report, which includes a recommended minimum level of reserves of £12m.