To approve the Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Plan Budget for 2022/2023 including the setting of fees and charges for Council services and Capital Strategy.

There are currently a number of unknown elements in respect of Government’s financial settlement including the outcomes of the spending review, expected 27 October 2021.  Therefore, the Council will prepare its budget following the Government’s local government finance settlement announced in December 2021.  The Cabinet will launch its draft budget for 4 weeks consultation at its Cabinet meeting on 11 January 2022, with the final recommendations being considered by Cabinet in February 2022 and considered by Council in March 2022.  As the budget proposals will be later for 2022/23 and not be submitted before 8 February 2022, Standing Orders F2.7 to 2.11 will not apply (whereby the Council provides any objections to the Cabinet to review before determining the budget).

The Cabinet recommends to Council the following:

Revenue Budget 2022/23:

1)         That for 2022/23 net revenue expenditure of £120.8mresulting in a Council Tax requirement of £78.1m for 2022/23 (a 2.99% increase in Council Tax, of which 1% is for Adult Social Care) be approved;

2)         That the proposed Fees and Charges for 2022/23 be approved;

3)         That, in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, 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 (as set out in the report) be noted;

4)         That it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2022/23 of £379,600 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5)         That to ensure the continuation of the integrated health and adult social care arrangements with the CCG and the ICO for a further two financial years, after the end of the current agreement in March 2023, that Council allocate funding of £55.4m for 2023/24 and £56.5m for 2024/25.

Capital Plan 2022/2023:

1)         That the Capital Plan for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

Capital Strategy 2022/2023:

1)         That the Capital Strategy 2022/23 be approved.

Review of Reserves 2022/2023:

1)        That, in support of the 2022/23 budget setting process, Council notes the Council’s reserves position.

The Council has a statutory obligation to set a budget each financial year and must take account of all factors when setting the budget.  The Cabinet’s response to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board were set out in the submitted report.

None.

The recommendations of the Cabinet will be considered at the meeting of Council being held on 3 March 2022.

The Cabinet considered a report that outlined the draft revenue and capital budgets and implications of the draft proposals for service change, income generation and efficiencies.  The proposals had been subject to detailed public consultation and examination by the Overview and Scrutiny Board (through its Priorities and Resources Review Panel).

The Cabinet thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their comprehensive review of the Cabinet’s proposals for the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2022/2023.  The report had been compiled in light of the findings and conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  The Board had taken into account the views expressed by members of the public and stakeholder representatives.

The Cabinet also gave consideration to the reports on the Review of Reserves and draft Capital Strategy.

Councillor Cowell proposed and Councillor Steve Darling seconded a motion which was agreed by the Cabinet as set out above.

None.