Issue - meetings

The Director of Finance and Business Improvement introduced his report, summarising the following points:

·  Appendices A and B demonstrated the budget proposals;

·  There have been savings within this Committee, which have been used to offset shortfalls arising from the ongoing appointment of a Climate Change Officer (Communities, Housing and Environment Committee) and savings originally envisioned with planning and parking fees that were not achievable (Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee); and

·  Appendix C detailed the results of the Budget Survey that had been carried out, highlighting that residents were prioritising investment in infrastructure, in the Street Scene and Flood Defences.

In response to a question concerning funding for the Local Plan, the Director of Finance and Business Improvement responded that there has been an annual allocation of £200k from the Revenue Budget towards funding the Local Plan and that this will continue. The funds allocated were used, amongst other things, for the public examinations in relation to the Local Plan. The £500k funding when the current Local Plan was created was not ongoing and originated from the New Homes Bonus.

The Director of Finance and Business Improvement also highlighted that local government funding position for 2021/22 was unknown, and as such the figures presented in the report for 2012/22 onwards were subject to change.

RESOLVED:  That

1.  The revenue budget proposals for services within the remit of this Committee, as set out in Appendix A, be agreed; and

2.  The revenue budget proposals for services within the remit of the other Service Committees, as set out in Appendix B, be noted.