Agenda item

To consider any recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Budget Sub-Group following its review of the Cabinet’s 2022/23 Draft Budget proposals as part of the 2023-2027 Financial Planning and Budget Process.

A report was received which presented the considerations of the Overview, Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee and Budget Scrutiny Sub-group in relation to Cabinet’s draft budget proposals as part of the 2023-2027 Financial Planning and Budget Process.

The Budget Scrutiny sub-group met on 1 December 2022 where the Director of Resources and Senior Officers presented the 2023-2027 Financial Planning and Budget Process: Cabinets Initial Budget proposals. The sub-group reported its views to Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee at its meeting on the 16 January 2023, which were then considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 30 January 2023.

In response to Cabinet’s Initial Budget proposals there were no recommendations for Cabinet to consider. The report received by Cabinet at its meeting on 30 January 2023 outlined considerations of the approach to Budget-setting for 2023/24.

There were no formal recommendations made in relation to Cabinet’s engagement approach or the initial Budget proposals for the General Fund, HRA, the 2023-2027 Investment Plan and the 2023/24 Treasury Management Statement and Annual Investment Strategy, although constructive suggestions were made about how engagement could be further encouraged in future years, which Officers would take into account.

On agreement of the Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee at its meeting on the 16 January 2023, gave delegation to the Budget Scrutiny sub-group to consider and make any further recommendations in relation to Cabinet’s Draft Budget Proposals. The draft proposals were considered at a meeting of the sub-group on 31 January 2023. There were no recommendations made following this meeting.

The appended report from the Sub-group noted the overall agreement to the Budget proposals for the General Fund revenue and Investment Plans, with reference to a Member who expressed a differing view or abstained.

Councillor W Samuel, who was a member of the Budget Scrutiny Sub-group, attended the meeting on behalf of the Chair of the Overview, Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, to present the views of the Committee and the sub-group from its meetings held as part of the 2023-2027 Financial Planning and Budget Process, as set out in the report.

Councillor Samuel thanked all officers for their attendance at the Budget Sub-group meetings and for the support given throughout the scrutiny process.

The Elected Mayor thanked Councillor Janet Hunter, Chair of the Overview, Scrutinyand Policy Development Committeeand members of the Budget Sub-group and all parties involved in the budget setting and engagement process.

Cabinet considered the following decision options:  to either approve the recommendations as set out in section 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations.

Resolved that the considerations of the Overview, Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee and Budget Scrutiny Sub-group in relation to Cabinet’s draft budget proposals as part of the 2023-2027 Financial Planning and Budget Process be noted.

(Reason for decision: The Budget proposals have been worked through with all Cabinet Members and have taken due consideration of the Budget Engagement suggestions. The reasons for recommendations are mainly legal in nature, as stated in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the report.)