Agenda item

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2017-18 and MTFS (Section 3)

1.    That the 2017-18 net Council cash limits as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 3.1.3 of the report) and the MTFS at Appendix A of the report, which includes the revenue savings in Appendix B of the report, be agreed.

2.    That the requirement to report on the number of maintained schools that have completed the Schools Value Financial Standard (SVFS) by 31^st March to the Department for Education by 31^st May each year (paragraph 3.2.17 of the report) be noted.

3.    That the fees and charges policy and the schedule of 2017-18 fees and charges be agreed, and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children and Families,  to agree new childcare charges following consultation in the summer term (paragraphs 3.2.18-21 of the report and Appendices C1 and C2 of the report) be agreed.

4.    That the Council’s policy on the level of General Fund balances and the estimated use of the Council’s earmarked reserves be agreed.  That the redundancy reserve is estimated to be fully spent by the end of 2016-17, and that, from 2017-18, redundancy costs are to be funded within departmental budgets (paragraphs 3.2.23-26 and Table 3 of the report) be agreed.

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4)

5.    That the balanced HRA 2017-18 budget within the HRA MTFS at Appendix D1 of the report and the 2017-18 HRA savings at Appendix D2 of the report be agreed.

6.    That the 2017-18 HRA rents and other fees and charges (Tables 5-8 and Appendix D3 of the report) be agreed.

The Capital Programme 2017-18 to 2019-20 (Section 5)

7.    That the 2017-18 capital programme be agreed and the provisional programme for 2018-19 to 2019-20 be noted (paragraph 5.1, Table 9 and Appendix E of the report).

8.    That the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources applies capital resources to fund the capital programme in the most cost-effective way   (paragraph 5.2 of the report) be agreed.

Treasury Management Strategy (Section 6)

9.     That the Treasury Management Strategy that will initially be considered by Audit Committee on 24^th January 2017 and then included for agreement within the final budget report to Executive on 9^th February 2017 and Council on 23^rd February 2017 be noted.

Council Tax 2017-18, including Statutory Calculations (Section 7)

10.  That the proposal to exempt all care leavers under the age of 25 from council tax, to be considered in a separate report to the 9^th February Executive be noted.  The discount, if agreed, would be available from 1^st April 2017 and cost £28k a year.  That the cost would be shared with the GLA, via the Collection Fund  (paragraphs 7.1 to 7.2 of the report) be noted.

11.  That the General Fund budget has been prepared on the basis that the basic amount of council tax in Islington will increase by 1.99% in 2017-18, with, in addition, the application of the maximum social care precept of 3.00% (paragraph 7.3 of the report) be noted.

12.  That the detailed, statutory council tax calculations and the recommendations for the final 2017-18 council tax level, including the Greater London Authority (GLA) and social care precepts, will be included in the budget report to Executive on 9^th February 2017 and Council on 23^rd February 2017 (paragraphs 7.4 and 7.5 of the report) be noted.

Matters to Consider in Setting the Budget (Section 8)

13.       That the Section 151 Officer’s and the Monitoring Officer’s comments in their
            determination of the revenue and capital budgets for 2017-18 and the basis for the
            level of council tax, including the Section 151 Officer’s report in relation to his
            responsibilities under Section 25 (2) of the Local Government Act 2003 be noted.

14.        That the Resident Impact Assessment (RIA) on the 2017-18 budget (Appendix F of  
      the report) be noted.

Reasons for decision – to allow Councillors to set a balanced budget.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.