To approve the Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Plan Budget for 2020/2021 including the setting of fees and charges for Council services, the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Capital Strategy.

The Cabinet recommends to Council the following:

Revenue Budget 2020/21

i)          That the proposals identified for efficiencies, service change and income generation in 2020/21 be approved.

ii)         That the net revenue expenditure of £115.868m resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £72.328m for 2020/21 (a 3.99% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved.

iii)        That the Dedicated Schools Grant be used in accordance with the Schools Financial Regulations and that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to make amendments as required when the final figures are confirmed and this delegation is included in the next revision of the Council’s constitution.

iv)        That the proposed Fees and Charges for 2020/21 be approved.

v)         That, in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves (as set out in the report) be noted.

vi)        That it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept of £0.336m for 2020/21 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes.

Capital Plan 2020/21

i)          That the Capital Plan for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

Review of Reserves

i)          That, in support of the 2020/21 budget setting process, Council note the Council’s reserves position.

Capital Strategy

i)          That the Capital Strategy 2020/21 be approved.

The Council has a statutory obligation to set a budget each financial year and must take account of all factors when setting the budget.

The Cabinet’s response to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board were set out in the submitted report.

None.

The recommendations of the Cabinet will be considered at the adjourned meeting of Council to be held on 13 February 2020.

The Cabinet considered a report that outlined the draft revenue and capital budgets and implications of the draft service change, income generations and savings proposals.  The proposals had been subject to detailed public consultation and examination by the Overview and Scrutiny Board (through its Priorities and Resources Review Panel).

The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator outlined the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Board which provided details of the review of the Cabinet’s proposals for the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2020/2021.  The report had been compiled in light of the findings and conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  The Board had taken into account the views expressed my members of the public and stakeholder representatives.

The Cabinet also gave consideration to the reports on the Review of Reserves and draft Capital Strategy.

Councillor Cowell proposed and Councillor Law seconded a motion which was agreed by the Cabinet as set out above.

None.