Decision details

To consider the report of the Head of Finance setting out the General Fund Revenue Budget development for 2012/13 to 2014/15.

(i)  Note the Executive’s Policy Priorities contained in Appendix 1.

(ii)  Approve the consultation proposals and methodology set out in Paragraphs 4 and 5 and Appendix 2 of this report and that delegated authority be given to the Senior Manager – Communications,following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Resources to fine tune and implement the consultation proposals and methodology.

(iii)  Note the high level forecast for the General Fund for 2012/13 and the underlying assumptions contained in Appendix 3.

(iv)  Note that the Executive’s budget proposals for consultation are based on the assumption that they will recommend a Council Tax freeze to Full Council.

(v)  Note the Executive’s proposals put forward for consultation in Appendix 4.

(vi)  Delegate authority to the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Solicitor to the Council to explore the proposed changes to the current Discretionary Severance Policy (i.e. redundancy policy) in consultation with staff and the Trade Unions in the light of the financial position of the Council and the priority being placed on protecting jobs and services.

(vii)  Note the medium term financial forecast for 2012/13 to 2014/15 contained in Appendix 5.

(viii)  Approve the updated budget setting timetable contained in Appendix 6.

(ix)  Delegate authority to the CFO, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Resources to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals contained in this report.

(x)  Confirm an ongoing external recruitment freeze to all non essential posts.

(xi)  Agree to put in place a moratorium on all non essential expenditure for the remainder of the financial year.

1. The production of a financial forecast and an outline timetable are a requirement of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules. 
2. This year the Executive is presenting a statement on its policy priorities, together with a draft budget that will be used as the basis for consultation for stakeholders within the City.

The proposals presented in this report represent the Executive’s draft budget for 2012/13 that is being published for consultation.  Clearly there are a huge number of variables and alternative options that could be implemented as part of the budget and these are political in nature and will be decided as part of the Budget Setting Council in February 2012.