To approve the Council’s Revenue Budget and Capital Investment Plan Budget for 2017/2018 including the setting of fees and charges for Council services, the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Capital Strategy and Transformation Projects.

That it be recommended to Council:

1.       That the proposals identified for service change, income generation and efficiencies in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 be approved.

2.       That the net revenue expenditure of £109.642m resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £60.075m for 2017/2018, a 3.99% increase which includes a 2% increase in Council Tax specifically for adult social care be approved.

3.       That, in relation to 3.2 above, the Council’s commitment (by a statement signed by the Chief Financial Officer) to allocate the additional funding of £1.155m raised by the 2% increase in Council Tax to adult social care be confirmed.

4.       That the Dedicated Schools Grant be used in accordance with the Schools Financial Regulations and that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to make amendments as required when the final figures are confirmed.

5.       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 considered and noted.

6.       That is be noted that Brixham Town Council has yet to set its budget for 2017/2018 and this precept, when known, will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes.

7.       That the Capital Plan for 2017/2018 be approved.

The Council has a statutory obligation to set a budget each year.  The approval of the 2017/2018 revenue budget and 2017/2018 Capital Plan will assist the Council in delivering its key objectives and meet it statutory obligations.

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

None

The recommendations of the Mayor will be considered at the adjourned meeting of Council to be held on 9 February 2017.

Further to the Mayor’s provisional budget proposals issued on 3 November 2016 for consultation, the submitted report outlines the basis of the Mayor’s budget proposals for 2017/2018.

In addition to the Mayor’s budget proposals for 2017/2018, the following reports are also available:

o   Proposed Budget Digest (including the proposals for service change, income generation and savings)

o   Equality Impact Assessments

o   Proposed Fees and Charges

o   Treasury Management Strategy

o   Capital Plan

o   Corporate Asset Management Plan

o   Capital Strategy

Due to the scale of the reductions faced by the Council, extensive consultation had been undertaken on the budget proposals.  The report had been compiled taking into account the findings and conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Board which had considered the proposals put forward by the Mayor as part of the budget consultation process.

None