To approve the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2015/2016 including the setting of fees and charges for Council services.

(a)      That it be recommended to Council:

(i)       that the revenue budget for 2015/16 (paragraph 4.15 to the submitted report) and the associated fees and charges be approved;

(ii)       that a contingency of £1.4m be created to mitigate against any unforeseen or emerging budget pressures that may arise within Social Care and other services;

(iii)      that due to the timing of and deliverability of savings within Adult Social Care, the £1.566m saving for joint working, shared commissioning, new income and efficiencies is deferred for one year and delivered in 2016/17;

(iv)      in response to the government announcement as to the amount they expect local authorities to receive for Welfare Assistance (Crisis Support Fund) the Council makes budget provision of £0.4m for the continuation of this scheme in 2015/16 and future years;

(v)      that the final notified Dedicated Schools Grant be used in accordance with the nationally laid down Schools Financial Regulations (paragraph 6.5 to the submitted report) and that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to make amendments as required when the final figures are confirmed;

(vi)      that the Members’ Allowances Scheme be implemented in 2015/2016 in accordance with the decision of the Council at its meeting on 1 February 2012 in line with the announced annual local government pay percentage increase (paragraph 6.1 (b) to the submitted report);

(vii)     that the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Mayor and Executive Lead Member for Finance be authorised to approve or earmark expenditure from the Comprehensive Spending Review Reserve;

(viii)    that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, to consider and note the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves (sections 7 to 9 to the submitted report);

(ix)     that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Mayor and Executive Lead Member for Finance, be authorised to make adjustments to and introduce new fees and charges within the budget during 2015/16 if it is in the best interest for the Council;

(x)      that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Mayor, Executive Lead Member for Finance and appropriate officers, be authorised to determine the allocation and expenditure of any new grant monies, unallocated grants, underspends or other additional income that may be received during the year 2015/16;

(xi)     that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to make adjustments to the budgets for any technical changes;

(xii)     that the Chief Finance Officer prepare the appropriate documentation for the Council to approvethe setting of Council Tax at the meeting on 26 February 2015 and all other returns to be made by the appropriate date;

(xiii)    that Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan be approved and endorsed as set out at http://www.torbay.gov.uk/draft-amp.doc and http://www.torbay.gov.uk/summarycapitalstrategy.doc;

(xiv)    that the latest updated Medium Term Resource Plan be noted, as set out at http://www.torbay.gov.uk/mtrp-v5.doc;

(xv)    that it be noted that Torbay has continued to be part of the Devonwide Pool as part of the Business Rates Retention scheme;

(xvi)    that the completed NNDR1 form be noted which forms part of the Council’s overall income to fund the 2015/16 budget (as set out at http://www.torbay.gov.uk/signedcopyofnndr1-201516.pdf);

(xvii)   the collection fund surplus as set out in section 4 of the submitted report which forms part of the Council’s overall income to fund the 2015/16 budget be noted.

(xviii)  that the additional £0.261m Revenue Support grant announced on 4 February 2015 be allocated to a contingency for social care.

(b)      that due to the size of the reductions required to deliver a balanced budget and their impact, Council accept all the risks in preparing this budget both in terms of the impact upon service delivery and the potential for budget pressures which may require remedial action during the year.  These risks have been identified in detail in this report and associated budget proposals prepared by officers for their respective Business Units.

The Council has a statutory obligation to set a budget each year.  The approval of the 2015/16 budget will assist the Council in delivering its key objectives and meet its statutory obligations.

For the Mayor to respond to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Alternative options were set out in the report and not discussed at the meeting.

The recommendations of the Mayor will be considered at the adjourned meeting of Council to be held on 12 February 2015.

The Mayor’s provisional budget proposals were published on 4 December 2014.  The process was different to previous years due to the fact Council had already approved Budget Savings proposals at its meetings in February 2014 and October 2014.

The Council has been through a detailed consultation on the budget savings proposals.  Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board examined the proposals in detail and stakeholders and residents have had the opportunity to make representations on the proposals.  The Mayor considered all of the responses received and the final saving proposals were drawn up after consideration of the various reports presented to Members.

The approved budget savings proposals from October (and February 2014) form the basis of the 2015/16 budget and will support the Council in delivering its key aims and objectives.

The prospective budget for 2015/16 has been developed on key principles that reflect the priorities of the Council of securing a cleaner Torbay and more prosperous economy, whilst, as far as possible, protecting Children’s and Adult Services.

In addition to the Revenue Budget proposals for 2015/16, the report encompasses the Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan.

At the Council meeting on 5 February 2015, the Mayor made a statement on the budget for 2015/16 and responded to the Priorities and Resources Panel, as outlined in paragraph 5 of the submitted report.

None