Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To approve the Council’s budget
proposals for consultation
RESOLVED that the Executive:
i. Agrees the draft budget proposals for 2024/25 as the basis for consultation with the Overview & Scrutiny Commission and other interested parties or individuals.
ii. Agrees the Treasury Management Strategy and associated documents at Annexe E of the report and request that the Governance and Audit Committee review each of the key elements.
iii. Agrees that the 2024/25 Schools Budget be set at the eventual level of the Dedicated School Grant income plus any accumulated DSG balances.
iv. Authorises the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning to agree the allocation of the sums available for schools and Early Years funding as set out in recommendation 2.3 of the report, having regard to the decisions and recommendations of the Schools Forum and to agree detailed budgets for services centrally managed by the Council.
v. Notes that a separate report is included on the agenda for this Executive
meeting regarding the Council’s participation in the Department for Education’s Safety Valve programme, that is likely to significantly affect the Council’s medium to long-term financial prospects and may impact on the draft budget proposals for 2024/25 included in this report.
vi. Agrees that the Council Tax Base be set at 49,694 (Band D equivalents) for 2024/25 as outlined in Annexe H of the report.
vii. Approves the virements relating to the 2023/24 budget as set out in Annexes F and G of the report and recommends those that are over £0.100m for approval by Council.
viii. Approves the write-off of £54,150 for a commercial property debt that is no longer recoverable (see paragraph 12.1) of the report.
The recommendations are designed to allow the Executive to consult on its draft
budget proposals for 2024/25 as required by the Local Government Act 2003.
The range of options being considered is included in the report and its Annexes.
None
Reason Key: Expenditure >£400,000 & Affects more than 1 ward.;
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Financial Impact: Council’s annual budget proposals.
Declarations: None
Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No
Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director: Resources
Other reasons / organisations consulted
Targeted consultation exercises will be
undertaken with business rate payers, the Schools Forum, Parish
Councils and voluntary organisations. In addition, this report and
all the supporting information will be publicly available to any
individual or group who wish to comment on any proposal included
within it. Internal consultation is via officers, members and more
specifically the Overview & Scrutiny Commission and its
panels.
Consultees
Officers, members, business ratepayers, the
Schools Forum, parish and town councils, and the general
public.
Contact: Arthur Parker, Chief Accountant Email: arthur.parker@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 352158.
Report author: Arthur Parker
Publication date: 12/12/2023
Date of decision: 12/12/2023
Decided at meeting: 12/12/2023 - Executive
Effective from: 21/12/2023
Accompanying Documents: