Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, as contained on pages 699 to 960 of the Book of Reports, which presented the updated Medium-Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) for 2024/25 to 2025/26, detailing the latest budget gap of £2.708m (£1.470m in 2024/25 and £1.238m in 2025/26) together with the reserves position as at 31 March 2022 and the forecast position to 2025/26 and Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2025/26, to enable the Council to set a balanced Revenue budget and Capital Programme for the 3 years 2023/24 to 2025/26.            

The Mayor advised that the minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee had been circulated prior to the meeting, together with Conservative Group's budget proposals.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Regeneration moved a Motion that provided details of the Labour Budget Proposals, which was seconded, as follows:

"That recommendations 2.7 to 2.12 be approved, subject to an additional £30,000 of support being provided to West Lancashire Dial-A-Ride, funded from the potential savings in member allowances, which will come into effect from May 2023."

Amendment (1) from the Conservative Spokesperson was moved and seconded as follows:

"That to mark the Coronation of King Charles by the re-dedication of Ormskirk Coronation Park and Skelmersdale Stanley Coronation Park by the installation of two decorative and inscribed stone blocks.

The costs involved, together with the costs of holding 2 dedication ceremonies, to be met from the savings in Councillors allowances arising from the reduction in the number of councillors."

-------------

The meeting was adjourned for 5 minutes

------------

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.5, voting on Amendment (1) was recorded as follows:

FOR:          Councillors: Bailey, Mrs Blake, Blundell, Daniels, Eccles, Gordon, Gresty, Hirrell, Howard, Juckes, Mrs Marshall, Mee, O'Toole,  A Owens, Pope, Turpin, D Westley, Mrs Westley, Whittington and Witter (TWENTY)

AGAINST:  Councillors: Aldridge, Anderson, Burnside, Coughlan, Cummins,  Dowling, Fennell, Fillis, Finch, Fowler, Furey, Gagen, Gregson, Hogan, Molloy, Monaghan, Nixon, O'Neill, D Owen, G Owen, Patel, Pryce-Roberts, Upjohn, West, J Wilkie, K Wilkie and Yates (TWENTY SEVEN)

ABSENTIONS: Councillors Clandon, Mitchell, Rigby and Thompson (FOUR)

Amendment (1) was LOST.

Amendment (2) from the Our West Lancashire Spokesperson was moved and seconded as follows:

"Additional spending

£30,000 to Dial a Ride subject to due diligence and value for money assessment from officers – one year only  

Savings:

£39,000 from the members allowance budget from the reduction from 54 to 45 councillors for 11 months of the financial year – one year only

£20,000 estimated heating cost savings from reduction in operating temperatures from 22 deg C  to 19 deg C (or as close to 19deg C where heating systems do not permit close control) in council’s corporate offices to be introduced by the time heating systems are operational again in autumn 2023

£24,500 by reducing the spend on consultants by 10% compared to 2022/23 levels

£18,500 by increasing trade waste charges by 5%"

During the course of the debate, the £24,500 by reducing the spend on consultants was removed, including the removal of the figure of £20,000 for heating cost savings to allow for further consideration.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance accepted the Our West Lancashire's budget proposals, as amended, with the agreement of the seconder and the meeting.

A vote was taken on the amended Motion, which was recorded as follows:

FOR:            Councillors: Aldridge, Anderson, Burnside, Coughlan, Cummins, Dowling, Fennell, Fillis, Finch, Fowler, Furey, Gagen, Gregson, Hogan, Mitchell, Molloy, Monaghan, Nixon, D Owen, G Owen, A Owens, Patel, Pryce-Roberts, Thompson, Upjohn, West, J Wilkie, K Wilkie and Yates (TWENTY NINE)

AGAINST:    Councillors: Bailey, Mrs Blake, Blundell, Clandon, Daniels, Eccles, Gordon, Gresty, Hirrell, Howard, Juckes, Mrs Marshall, Mee, O'Toole, Pope, Turpin, D Westley, Mrs Westley, Whittington and Witter (TWENTY)

ABSENTIONS: Councillors O'Neill and Rigby (TWO)

RESOLVED:   A.     That the General Revenue Account (GRA) budget for 2023/24 be approved based on the proposals presented in the report, with the inclusion of an additional £30,000 of support being provided to West Lancashire Dial-A-Ride, funded from the potential savings in member allowances, which will come into effect from May 2023, subject to due diligence and value for money assessment from officers – one year only

Savings:

·       £39,000 from the members allowance budget from the reduction from 54 to 45 councillors for 11 months of the financial year – one year only

·       Further consideration of heating cost savings from reduction in operating temperatures from 22 deg C  to 19 deg C (or as close to 19 deg C where heating systems do not permit close control) in council’s corporate offices to be introduced by the time heating systems are operational again in autumn 2023

·       £18,500 by increasing trade waste charges by 5%

B.          That the latest GRA Medium-Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) budget gap for 2024/25 to 2025/26 be noted.

C.         That the latest GRA reserves position as at 31 March 2022 and forecast to 2025/26 be noted and the GRA reserves policy be approved.

D.         That the Capital Strategy along with the Capital Programme of £13.556m for the three years 2023/24 to 2025/26 be approved, that include:

·             New bids of £651k;

·             Additional approvals for UK Shared Prosperity Fund £1.726m.

E.          That the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26, that includes the change of use of HRA right to buy capital receipts, be used in delivering the capital business plan of the HRA from 2024/25.

F.          That delegated authority be given to the Chief Operating Officer and the Corporate Director to take all necessary action to implement the changes resulting from the budget proposals.