Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Leisure and Culture detailing proposals for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2012/13 to 2014/15, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB Decision No: 11/12 7285)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Leisure and Culture; Cabinet agreed the following:-

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

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

(iv)  To 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)  To note the Executive’s proposals put forward for consultation in Appendix 4.

(vi)  To 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)  To note the medium term financial forecast for 2012/13 to 2014/15 contained in Appendix 5.

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

(ix)  To 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)  To confirm an ongoing external recruitment freeze to all non essential posts.

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