Agenda item

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

a)   That the latest assumed MTFS and balanced 2021/22 budget, including the underlying principles and assumptions (Paragraphs 3.1-3.30, Table 1 and Appendix A) be approved and recommended to Council.

b)   That the unprecedented level of uncertainty in the estimates due to COVID-19 and the wider local government funding outlook (Paragraphs 3.31-3.41 of the report) be noted.

c)    That the latest draft 2021/22 net budgets by directorate (Paragraph 3.5, Table 2 and Appendix A of the report) be approved and recommend to Council.

d)   That the 2021/22 savings (Paragraphs 3.42-3.45, Table 6 and Appendices B1-B2 of the report), be approved and recommended to Council, subject to consideration of individual consultations before implementation in some cases.

e)   That the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) settlement for 2021/22 and related funding assumptions (Paragraphs 3.46-3.55 of the report) be noted.

f)     That the fees and charges policy and the GF fees and charges for 2021/22 (Paragraphs 3.56-3.63 and Appendices C1-C5 of the report) be approved.

g)   That the policy on GF contingency and reserves, including the target level of GF balances, and the movements to/from earmarked reserves assumed as part of the 2021/22 revenue budget (Paragraphs 3.64-3.72 and Table 7 of the report) be approved and recommended to Council.

h)   That the Section 151 Officer be delegated responsibility for any technical adjustments required to be made to the 2021/22 budget (in line with the council’s Financial Regulations) be approved and recommended to Council.

i)     That centrally held demographic growth funding be allocated to service budgets if and when the need materialises and approved by the Section 151 Officer. (Paragraph 3.9 of the report) be approved and recommended to Council.

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4)

j)     That the balanced HRA 2021/22 budget be approved and recommend to Council, and the latest estimates over the 3-year MTFS period be noted (Paragraphs 4.1-4.3, Table 8 and Appendix D1 of the report).

k)    That the HRA rents and other HRA fees and charges for 2021/22 (Paragraphs 4.4-4.30, Tables 9-12 and Appendix D2 of the report) be approved.

Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management (Section 5)

l)     That the draft 2021/22 to 2023/24 capital programme, including investment in projects related to the council’s net zero carbon priority, be approved and recommend to Council, and the latest indicative capital programme for 2024/25 to 2030/21 be noted (Paragraph 5.1-5.5, Table 13 and Appendix E of the report).

m)  That the estimated funding of the 2021/22 to 2023/24 capital programme be noted, and authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer, where necessary, to apply capital resources to fund the capital programme in the most cost-effective way for the council be agreed and recommended to Council (Paragraphs 5.6-5.7 and Table 14 of the report).

n)   That the final version of the budget report to the Executive on 11 February 2021 and Full Council on 25 February 2021 will include the Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Investment Strategy, be noted (Paragraph 5.8 of the report).

Council Tax and Retained Business Rates (Section 6)

o)   That the detailed, statutory council tax calculations and the recommendations for the final 2021/22 council tax, including the GLA precept, will be included for agreement in the final budget report to the Executive on 11 February 2021 and Full Council on 25 February 2021 be noted (Paragraphs 6.1-6.2 of the report).

p)   That authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to finalise the council’s 2021/22 NNDR1 (detailed business rates) estimate ahead of the 31 January 2021 statutory deadline be agreed (Paragraph 6.3 of the report).

q)   That if applicable, any matters relating to the London Business Rates Retention (Non-Pilot) Pool in 2021/22 will be included for agreement in the final budget report to the Executive on 11 February 2021 and Council on 25 February 2021 be noted (Paragraphs 6.5-6.6 of the report).

r)    That the significant funding risk for the council in relation to Material Changes in Circumstances business rates appeals due to COVID-19 (Paragraphs 6.7-6.9 of the report) be noted.

Matters to Consider in Setting the Budget (Section 7)

s)    That the Section 151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the estimates included in the budget and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves would be considered when making decisions about the budget and the level of council tax, as required under Section 25(2) of the Local Government Act 2003 be agreed (Paragraphs 7.1-7.9 of the report).

t)     That the Monitoring Officer comments be noted (Paragraphs 7.10-7.14 of the report).

u)   That the Equality Impact Assessment (Paragraphs 7.15-7.17 and Appendix F of the report) be noted and to fully take account of it in approving the overall budget and related proposals.

v)    That the council is inviting business rate payers or representatives of business rate payers in Islington to comment on the draft 2021/22 budget proposals in this report, as required under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 be noted (Paragraphs 7.18-7.20 of the report).

Reasons for decision – to allow members to set the budget

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none