The Cabinet recommends to Council the following:

Revenue Budget 2020/21

i)          That the proposals identified for efficiencies, service change and income generation in 2020/21 be approved.

ii)         That the net revenue expenditure of £115.868m resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £72.328m for 2020/21 (a 3.99% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved.

iii)        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 and this delegation is included in the next revision of the Council’s constitution.

iv)        That the proposed Fees and Charges for 2020/21 be approved.

v)         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.

vi)        That it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept of £0.336m for 2020/21 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes.

Capital Plan 2020/21

i)          That the Capital Plan for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

Review of Reserves

i)          That, in support of the 2020/21 budget setting process, Council note the Council’s reserves position.

Capital Strategy

i)          That the Capital Strategy 2020/21 be approved.

(i)      that all Members and the Overview and Scrutiny Board consider the draft revenue and capital budgets and implications of the draft service change, income generations and savings proposals.  The Overview and Scrutiny Board (through its Priorities and Resources Review Panel) will consider certain specific issues arising from these savings proposals and report back to the Cabinet by 24 January 2020 on the outcomes of its deliberations and stakeholder representations;

(ii)     the draft proposals for service change income generation and efficiencies are based upon the expected reduction in government grant;

(iii)    that detailed consultation be undertaken with service users who may be affected by specific proposals and that Equality Impact Assessments continue to be developed as required.  (The results from this consultation will be considered by the Cabinet with the Cabinet’s final proposals being published on 4 February 2020.);

(iv)    that the Chief Finance Officer be given authority to amend these budget proposals for any technical adjustments necessary between services and within the overall envelope of funding in agreement with the Leader of the Council; and

(v)     that the Chief Finance Officer report to the adjourned meeting of the Council on 13 February 2020 on the implications for 2020/2021 as a result of these proposals currently being considered and in light of the final settlement which is expected in late January or early February.