Decision details

DELIVERING THE CO-OPERATIVE VISION WITHIN A FOUR YEAR SUSTAINABLE BALANCED BUDGET

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

The Chief Executive submitted a report on the indicative four year balanced budget for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19 to fulfil the Council’s statutory responsibility of setting a robust and realistic annual budget.

 

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and drew attention to the 69 per cent reduction in formula grant from the government over the four year period from 2014/15 to 2018/19. He reported that with the transformation change programme, a plan would be in place to transform, with partners, in order to deliver services.

 

Cabinet Members reported that –

 

(a)

vital services were being protected and that it was hoped that transformation would also provide opportunities to improve the quality of services;

(b)

there were continuing challenges for adult social care; 

(c)

with the massive cuts, the Council had to work differently;

(d)

the Plymouth Energy Company had levered in nearly £5m of funding and was working with communities to provide insulation and save energy;

(e)

a weekly brown bin collection was being maintained;

(f)

the Council was not proposing to cut services, road maintenance and infrastructure or street lighting and had made further investment in roads and street lighting.

 

David Northey (Head of Corporate Strategy) attended the meeting for this item.

 

Alternative options considered and the reasons for the decision –

 

As set out in the report.

 

Agreed that -

 

(1)

the proposed revenue target budget requirement for 2015/16 of £191m, and capital forecast of £210.15m is presented for full public scrutiny in January 2015;

(2)

members and officers continue to bring forward further solutions in order to close the existing £1.2m budget gap in 2015/16;

(3)

the proposed indicative revenue forecasts for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 are also presented for full public scrutiny in January 2015;

(4)

Cabinet consider findings from consultation, feedback from budget scrutiny and any material changes announced in the final settlement for Plymouth City Council in early February 2015.

 

Publication date: 12/12/2014

Date of decision: 09/12/2014

Decided at meeting: 09/12/2014 - Cabinet

Effective from: 20/12/2014

Accompanying Documents: