Agenda item

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

a)    Approved for consultation the 2022-23 Draft Budget, including

i) an estimated net revenue budget of £733.8m (£336.4m excluding Dedicated Schools Grant) as set out in Appendix A.

ii) an average Band D Council tax of £1,613.23 for West Northamptonshire Council, which represents an increase of 2.99%. (1.99% increase in ‘core’ Council Tax and 1% Adult Social Care Precept).

iii) proposed Fees and Charges as detailed in Appendix C

iv)  provisional dedicated schools grant budget of £397.4m as detailed in Appendix D

v) the draft Capital Programme additions as set out in Appendix E

b)    Set the tax base for West Northamptonshire at 139,604 Band D equivalents, as set out in paragraph 6.63

c)    For the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

i) Noted the provisional allocations and planned usage of the DSG for 2022-23 pending the final DSG settlement, and

ii) Following consultation with the Schools Forum, delegated authority to the Executive Director for Children’s Services to determine the DSG 2022-23 schools funding formula, high needs funding arrangements and the Early Years Funding Formula in line with Department for Education guidance.

d)    Endorsed and supported the review of reserves that has taken place as set out in 6.90 to 6.105.

REASONS RESOLVED:

To ensure that the Council complied with its Constitution and all other relevant requirements in setting the budget for West Northamptonshire Council.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

None

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Malcolm Longley presented the report, copies of which had been previously circulated. Cabinet was advised that this was a draft plan and not finalised. Members were reminded that this year four authorities had come together as one with the stabilisation of the area being a main objective. The reserves were currently circa £100 million but would rise and fall as the months passed.

Councillors made the following comments.

• It was queried whether the council was able to balance due only to the amount of vacancies.
• It was noted that the transformative capacity was linked to staffing levels.
• The Overview and Scrutiny committee would need to revisit various areas of this report.
• There were concerns about the rise in Council Tax and how it would affect poorer people, it was queried how this fitted into the councils anti-poverty strategy.
• Strong recommendation needed to be taken to central government with regards a 4 year budget which had been requested consistently.
• The National Insurance increase had been mentioned, how much added social care money would come to the Council through this?
• With regards to staffing, it was questioned whether the current offer given to potential staff was enough? Could this be why staffing levels are so low?
• It was suggested that the public supported keeping the Council’s money local.
• It was noted that there had been an increase in the parking charges at the country parks, with some parks requesting payment for the entire day and not hourly.
• West Northamptonshire had a rapidly aging population, it was important to help keep people in their own homes for as long as possible for their own mental health.
• Daventry had increased residents parking permits but Northampton had not, harmonisation these charges would be appreciated.

Councillor Adam Brown made the following comments.

·         There would be central Government funding for homelessness.

·         Residents would see tangible results from the council tax rise.

·         It was advised that without raising funds it would not be possible to raise wages and fund services.

·         Members were informed that there was a constant dialogue with central Government about the county’s needs.

Councillor Phil Larratt noted the differences in the costs of parking at country parks and that once all of the services had come together costings would be looked at.