Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Council Chamber, Worthing Town Hall

Contact: Neil Terry
Senior Democratic Services Lead
01903 221073  Email: neil.terry@worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

W EX/1/21-22

Declarations of Interest

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda.  Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. 

 

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

W EX/2/21-22

Public Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public.

 

Questions should be submitted by noon on Thursday 27 January 2022 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk    

 

(Note: Public Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes.)

Minutes:

There were no questions received from the public.   

W EX/3/21-22

Items Raised Under Urgency Provisions

To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items raised.

W EX/4/21-22

Budget Estimates 2022/23 and Setting of 2022/23 Council Tax pdf icon PDF 457 KB

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 4.

Minutes:

The Executive had before it a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, attached to the signed record of these decisions as item 4.

 

The report was the final budget report of the year, the culmination of the annual budgeting exercise, and asked members to consider:

 

·       The final revenue estimates for 2022/23 including any adjustments arising from settlement;

 

·       An updated outline 5-year forecast; and

 

·       The provisional level of Council Tax for 2022/23, prior to its submission to the Council for approval on the 22nd February 2022. This would be subject to any proposals to change the draft revenue budget following the consideration of the budget by the Executive.

 

The report outlined the medium term financial challenge through to 2026/27, discussed the continued impact that the pandemic was having on the Council’s finances over the next year, and set out performance in the key strategic areas of commercialisation, digital transformation and strategic asset investment. This had been updated to include the latest information regarding the impact of the pandemic on the Council financial position. The current budget strategy was having a significant effect on how the Council would be funded in the future with increasing income generated from commercial income and rents. Following the delay to the fairer funding review, the challenge still remained significant for 2023/24, however the delivery of the budget strategy would ensure that this was met.

 

These budgets reflected the Councils’ ambitions set out in Platforms for our Places: Going Further and ‘And Then’, and agreed savings proposals contributing to the financial sustainability of the Councils. The report also updated members about the impact of the draft 2022/23 settlement.

 

The major points raised within the report included:

 

·       A full update on the impact of settlement. The Council should prepare itself for a continuation of the reduction in Government resources for 2023/24 and beyond;

 

·       Highlighted the proposed funding for initiatives to support the Councils’ ambitions set out in Platforms for our Places: Going Further and And Then;

 

·       The proposals to invest in services outlined in Appendix 2;

 

·       The Executive was asked to consider whether to increase Council Tax by 2.0% or by a lower amount.

 

The budget was analysed by Executive Member portfolio. In addition, the draft estimates for 2022/23 had been prepared, in accordance with the requirements of the Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (except in relation to pension costs adjustments that did not impact either on the Budget Requirement or the Council Tax Requirement).

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had already been informed that the referendum criteria for this year was an increase of £10.00 per Band D property which would be equivalent to an increase of 4.65%.  The proposed 2022/23 budget was due to be considered by the Sussex Police and Crime Panel (PCP) on 28th January 2022. If the proposals were vetoed by the PCP, revised proposals would be considered by the Panel on the 14th February 2022 at which point the Commissioner would be in a position  ...  view the full minutes text for item W EX/4/21-22