Agenda and minutes

The following declarations of disclosable and pecuniary interests were made in respect of all items on the agenda

Councillor Dr Barnard was a Trustee of Involve, the Berkshire Maestros and Keep Mobile and was a member of Bracknell Town and Warfield Parish Councils.

Councillor Bettison was a member of Sandhurst Town Council, a member of Localis and the Chairman of the IESE Board.

Councillor Birch was the Council representative for Involve, a Director of Bracknell Forest Homes,  a member of Sandhurst Town Council and his wife was a member of the South Hill Park Joint Management Committee.

Councillor Brunel-Walker was a member of Bracknell Town Council

Councillor Mrs Hayes was a member of Winkfield Parish Council.

Councillor Heydon was on the Board of Downshire Homes, a member of IESE and a member of Bracknell Town Council.

Councillor McCracken was a member of the South Hill Park Joint Management Board, a member of Bracknell Town Council and his wife was a member of South Hill Park

Councillor Turrell was a member of the South Hill Park Joint management Board and was a member of Bracknell Town Council.

The Chief Executive declared an interest as he was the Chief Executive of Downshire Homes.

The Borough Treasurer declared an interest as he was a Director of Downshire Homes.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 9 February 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive on 9 February 2016 together with the accompanying decision records be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To recommend the 2016/17 Capital Programme to Council.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

      i.        Recommends to the Council

     ii.        Agrees that capital schemes that require external funding can only proceed once the Council is certain of receiving the grant.

    iii.        Reviews the indicative programme for 2017/18 and 2018/19 in the light of resources available and spending priorities in December 2016.

To recommend the 2016/17 Revenue Budget to Council.

RESOLVED that the Executive, in recommending to Council a budget and Council Tax level for 2016/17:

      i.        Confirms the original budget proposals, subject to the revisions in section 8.3 of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report and those decisions to be taken elsewhere on this agenda on the capital programme;

     ii.        Agrees the provision for inflation of £0.765m (section 8.2 of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report );

    iii.        Agrees the additional budget proposals as set out in Annexe A and Annexe D and in sections 6.2, 6.3, 7.3 and 7.4 of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report ;

   iv.        Agrees that the Council should fund the Schools budgets at the level set out in section 9.1 of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report subject to any amendments made by the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning following the receipt of definitive funding allocations for Early Years and High Needs pupils;

    v.        Includes a general contingency of £1.000m, use of which is to be authorised by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Borough Treasurer in accordance with the delegations included in the Council’s constitution (section 10.6 of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report);

   vi.        Subject to the above recommendations, confirms the draft budget proposals;

  vii.        Approves the Net Revenue Budget before allowance for loss of interest from any use of balances as set out in Annexe G of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

 viii.        Agrees a £5.161m contribution from revenue balances (before loss of interest on use of balances) to support revenue expenditure;

   ix.        Recommends that the Council Tax requirement, excluding Parish and Town Council precepts, be set as £49.795m;

    x.        Recommends a 3.99% increase in the Council Tax for the Council’s services and that each Valuation Band is set as follows:

   xi.        Recommends that the Council approves the following indicators, limits, strategies and policies included in Annexe E of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report:

·         The Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2016/17 to 2018/19 contained within Annexe E(i) of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

·         The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy contained within Annexe E(ii) of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

·         The Treasury Management Strategy Statement, and the Treasury Prudential Indicators contained in Annexe E(iii) of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

·         The Authorised Limit Prudential Indicator in Annexe E(iii) of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

·         The Investment Strategy 2016/17 to 2018/19 and Treasury Management Limits on Activity contained in Annexe E(iv) of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report;

  xii.        Approves the virements relating to the 2015/16 budget as set out in Annexe H of the Borough Treasurer and Chief Executive’s report and recommends those that are over £0.100m for approval by Council.

To consider a report seeking approval to consult on a range of further savings proposals that will contribute towards the delivery of a sustainable revenue budget for 2016/17 and beyond.

RESOLVED that the Executive agree:

      i.        the further savings proposals set out in the Chief Executive and Borough Treasurer’s report as the basis for consultation with the Overview & Scrutiny Commission and other interested parties or individuals.

     ii.        That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Culture and Communities and the Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Services and Public Protection to agree the annual grant to South Hill Park within the financial limits specified in the Chief Executive and Borough Treasurer’s report.