The Cabinet recommends to Council the following:

Revenue Budget 2022/23:

1)         That for 2022/23 net revenue expenditure of £120.8mresulting in a Council Tax requirement of £78.1m for 2022/23 (a 2.99% increase in Council Tax, of which 1% is for Adult Social Care) be approved;

2)         That the proposed Fees and Charges for 2022/23 be approved;

3)         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;

4)         That it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2022/23 of £379,600 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5)         That to ensure the continuation of the integrated health and adult social care arrangements with the CCG and the ICO for a further two financial years, after the end of the current agreement in March 2023, that Council allocate funding of £55.4m for 2023/24 and £56.5m for 2024/25.

Capital Plan 2022/2023:

1)         That the Capital Plan for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

Capital Strategy 2022/2023:

1)         That the Capital Strategy 2022/23 be approved.

Review of Reserves 2022/2023:

1)        That, in support of the 2022/23 budget setting process, Council notes the Council’s reserves position.

(i)         that all Members and the Overview and Scrutiny Board consider the draft revenue and capital budgets and implications of the draft proposals for investment in services, efficiencies and income generation.  The Overview and Scrutiny Board (through its Priorities and Resources Review Panel) will consider certain specific issues arising from these savings proposals and publish its recommendations by 27 January 2022 on the outcomes of its deliberations and stakeholder representations for the Cabinet to consider;

(ii)       the draft proposals for investment in services, efficiencies and income generation are based upon the provisional Local Government Finance settlement as announced by central government on 16 December 2021 and the ongoing impact of Covid-19;

(iii)      that public consultation be undertaken on the proposals. (The results from this consultation will be considered by the Cabinet with the Cabinet’s final proposals being published on 22 February 2022.);

(iv)      that the Chief Finance Officer be given authority to amend these budget proposals for any technical adjustments necessary between services and within the overall envelope of funding in agreement with the Leader of the Council; and

(v)       that the Chief Finance Officer report to the meeting of the Council on 3 March 2022 on the implications for 2022/2023 as a result of these proposals currently being considered and in light of the final settlement which is expected in late January or early February 2022.