Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E J Poll.

There were no declarations of interests at this point in the meeting.

There were no announcements.

(To receive a verbal update on Fairer Funding for Lincolnshire)

The Leader advised that the campaign for Fairer Funding for Lincolnshire was now well underway and had received extensive support.

The continuation of the promotion of the Fairer Funding for Lincolnshire campaign was discussed.

It was highlighted that the Government had committed to conducting a Fair Funding Review for Local government and it was anticipated that the consultation for the review would be launched as part of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.  Depending upon how the Government were to proceed, it had the potential to radically alter the funding profile for the Greater Lincolnshire local authorities.  It was anticipated that any changes would be implemented in 2020, which would see a revised local government funding formula. 

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 5 December 2017 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Finance and Public Protection, which seeks approval of the budget proposals, as described in the report, as its preferred option for the purposes of further consultation)

(1)  That the budget proposals, as described in the report, be agreed as the preferred option for the purposes of further consultation.

(2)  That the Leader of the Council be delegated authority to review the Council's participation in a business rates pooling arrangement with the seven Lincolnshire District Council's in light of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and notify the Government four weeks after the notification of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director of Finance and Public Protection, which sought approval of the budget proposals for 2018/19 and 2019/20, as detailed within the report, as the preferred option for the purposes of further consultation.   Additional information was tabled at the meeting, which included the comments of the two Budget Briefing Workshops.

The County Finance Officer introduced the report to the Executive and in doing so, advised Members that the report described the basis on which the proposals had been developed and their impact on services.  The Executive was also asked to delegate authority to the Leader to review the Council's participation in a business rates pooling arrangement with the seven Lincolnshire District Councils, in light of the Provisional Local Government Settlement and advise the Government four weeks after the notification of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.  

The report set out a two-year financial plan for revenue and capital budgets to take the Council to the end of the four year funding deal from the Government.   It was noted that this was the first time in four years the Council had been able to develop budget plans for more than the next financial year.  The Council continued to face significant reductions in Government funding, growing cost pressures from demand-led services, such as adult and children's social care, waste disposal and the Council's obligation to pay staff and some contractors the National Living Wage.  Uncertainty around Government funding beyond the four year funding deal (which runs from 2016/17 to 2019/20) meant the Council did not consider it practicable, at present, to develop sustainable long-term financial plans into the next decade.

All areas of service expenditure had been reviewed to identify those cost pressures which had to be funded and savings which could be made, through efficiencies and by changing the level of services provided.  The Council remained aware of its high priority areas, but no service had been exempted from helping the Council to deliver its savings target.  The high priority areas were detailed on pages 12 and 13 of the report.

On an annual basis the County Council had the opportunity to review the level of Council Tax.  It was noted that the Government set thresholds, above which a local authority would be required to hold a referendum for Council Tax increases.  For 2018/19 and 2019/20 it was anticipated that this threshold would be a 2.00% increase for general Council Tax, plus a further 2.00% for authorities with adult social care responsibilities to deal with pressures in this area, including demographic pressures and the impact of the national living wage.  It was advised that a Council Tax increase of 3.95% (1.95% plus a further 2.00% for the 'social care precept') was proposed in each of the two years.  It was anticipated that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement might alter the adult social care precept to a care precept, which could include children's services.

It was advised that the County Council had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.