Decision details

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital & Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 6.

The Committee received the final budget report of the year which was the culmination of the annual budgeting exercise. The report asked members to consider:

·         the final revenue estimates for 2020/21 including any adjustments arising from settlement;

·         an updated outline 5-year forecast.

The budgets reflected the decisions taken by members to date in relation to agreed savings proposals and any committed growth. The budgets were still to be adjusted for the proposals to invest in services detailed in Appendix 2 which were considered by the Executives last week.

The budget was analysed by Executive member portfolio. In addition, the draft estimates for 2020/21 had been prepared, in accordance with the requirements of the Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (except in relation  to pension cost adjustments that did not impact either on the Budget Requirement or the Council Tax Requirement).

The respective Adur and Worthing 2020/21 Estimates and Council Tax setting reports had already been considered by the Worthing Executive on 3 February 2020 and the Adur Executive on 4 February 2020. Both the estimates for Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council included their respective share of the cost of the Joint Strategic Committee.

It was noted that both Councils had received the final written settlement which was due to be debated by the government in the week beginning 24 February 2020. Officers advised that no changes to the settlement were anticipated.

Decision: 

The Joint Strategic Committee:

1.    noted the proposals to invest in services outlined in Appendix 2 which were considered at the Executive meetings in early February;

2.    agreed to the proposed 2020/21 budget detailed in Appendix 3.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 21 February 2020.