Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Campbell declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 2 ‘General Fund Revenue Budget 2016/2017’, in relation to the proposed consultation on a reduction of £200,000 from Housing Related Support, as an employee of Bay Housing Association.  Councillor Campbell left the meeting whilst this issue was considered and took no part in the discussion.

Councillors D Coleman declared a prejudicial interest in item 2 ‘General Fund Revenue Budget 2016/2017’, in relation to the proposed consultation on additional income of £100,000 from Blackpool Operating Company Ltd as Council appointed Director of Blackpool Operating Company Ltd.  Councillor D Coleman left the meeting whilst this issue was considered and took no part in the discussion.

Councillor Galley declared a personal interest with regard to item 2 ‘General Fund Revenue Budget 2016/2017’, the nature of the interest being that he was a Board Member of Blackpool Transport Company.

To discuss and undertake consultation with representatives from the Non Domestic Ratepayers and Trade Unions regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2016/2017.

Attendees and Members will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification from officers regarding the draft Budget.

Specific observations and comments can be made that will be passed to the Executive for consideration at its meeting on 22 February 2016.

The Chairman explained the procedure for the consultation meeting, advising that the Committee would first consider the issues for which Members had declared interests, before inviting those Members back into the room to consider the rest of the General Fund Revenue Budget.

Mr Thompson, Director of Resources, advised that it was proposed to budget for an increase in the income from Blackpool Operating Company by £100,000. It was considered that the increase would be reasonable in light of the recent successful financial performance of Blackpool Operating Company.

Mr Thompson also advised that it was expected that there could be a £200,000 budget saving in Housing Related Support as contracts were re-tendered throughout the year.

The Chairman invited comments from Non Domestic Ratepayers and Trade Union Representatives relating to Blackpool Operating Company and Housing Related Support. No comments were made in the relation to these areas.

(Councillor Campbell having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in regards to the savings from Housing Related Support left the room for consideration of that issue and returned to the meeting once the issue had been considered).

(Councillor D Coleman having declared a prejudicial interest in regards to the additional income from Blackpool Operating Company left the room for consideration of that issue and returned to the meeting once the issue had been considered).

Mr Thompson commenced his presentation of the rest of the budget by setting out the context of the budget setting process. He reported that local government in England was now five and a half years into a period of public sector austerity, which would continue until at least 2019/2020.

The Committee was advised that, following approval of the 2016/17 Revenue Budget, the current Medium Term Financial Plan and Strategy would be updated for a six year period covering 2016/17 – 2021/22 and would incorporate the four year Settlement offer.

It was explained to the Committee that the Local Government Finance Settlement set the amount of central government funding available to councils. The Provisional Settlement had been announced on 17 December 2015 and the Final Settlement had been announced on 8 February 2016. Mr Thompson advised that the Settlement Funding Assessment for the Council was split between resources received via the Revenue Support Grant, an assessment of its share of Business Rates collectable plus a top-up element from the Business Rates Retention Scheme.

The Committee was advised of the other sources of funding for the Council, some of which were rolled into the Settlement Funding Assessment and some of which remained separate specific grants. It was reported that the other sources included Council Tax Freeze Compensation, the New Homes Bonus Grant, the Housing Benefit Administration Grant and the Public Health Grant, the allocation for which had been announced on 10 February and had amounted to a similar amount to what had been estimated. Mr Thompson also provided details relating to the Better Care Fund, ringfenced funding relating to the Care Act 2014, the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Education Services Grant, with it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.