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Maidstone Borough Council

Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Tuesday 4 August 2009

Budget Strategy 2010-11 Onwards

Report of: Acting Overview and Scrutiny Manager

1.      Introduction

1.1     The Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny has within its terms of reference the scrutiny of the Council’s budget.

1.2     The report of Management Team was considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 July 2009; the relevant Record of Decision is attached to this agenda for information.  Overview and Scrutiny is being asked to consider the Budget Strategy and Cabinet’s decision with a view to making recommendations to be fed into the final budget strategy proposal later this year.

2.      Budget Strategy 2010-11 Onwards

2.1     The following additional documents have been provided to the Committee to assist in the scrutiny of the budget strategy:

2.2     The Head of Finance, Paul Riley, will attend the meeting of the Committee to give a presentation on the Budget Strategy; Mr Riley and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, on behalf of the Leader of the Council, will then discuss the Budget Strategy with the Committee.

3.      Recommendation

3.1     Potential areas for discussion include, but are not limited to:

·         The Medium Term Financial Strategy – is this suitably robust?;

·         Potential areas for savings;

·         The impact of the recession;

·         Public consultation; and

·         Potential Council Tax increases for 2010/11.

3.2     The Committee is recommended to consider the Budget Strategy 2010/11 Onwards and make recommendations to Cabinet to be fed into the final budget strategy later this year.