Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member, which set out the draft 2019/20 revenue budget and the draft Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and explained that the 2019/20 Local Government Settlement had been expected to be known by 6 December 2018, but this date had since changed to 13 December 2018.  He reminded Members that the budget would be considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 23 January 2019, prior to the proposals being submitted to Council on 20 February 2019.  The Cabinet Member endorsed the report and proposed the recommendations.

A Member welcomed the options outlined in Paragraph 2.13 of the report, however, he considered these were vague at this point.  The Member also sought clarification on the New Homes Bonus (NHB).  In paragraph 2.6 it was noted that the NHB was likely to cease, but it was included in the Medium Term Financial Plan, and he questioned the consistency.  In response, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the inconsistency, but considered it was sensible to include the NHB in the report, but was aware that it could be dis-continued in the new year.

Another Member welcomed the increased support for Faversham Pools.  He considered grant funding should be increased, for example to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), where grant funding had not increased for many years, and there had been no allowance for increased costs.  He suggested Cabinet made a base budget increase to CAB which would help mitigate the loss of funding from other agencies to CAB.  In response, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the comments regarding losses from other fund providers, and whilst the proposed budget reflected the current level of grant, he would consider the matter further.

Recommendations:

(1)       That the draft 2019/20 revenue budget be endorsed.

(2)       That the Medium Term Financial Plan be endorsed.