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 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 and Blackpool Entertainments Company Limited.

Councillor G. Coleman 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 Entertainments Company Limited.

Should issues relating to the financial interests of either company be debated during the meeting, Members noted that their interests would become prejudicial and that they would therefore leave the room for the duration of the debate on that issue.

To discuss and undertake consultation with representatives from the Non Domestic Ratepayers and Trade Unions regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2017/2018.

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 20 February 2017.

Mr Thompson, Director of Resources, presented a summary of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2017/2018. He provided the context for the budget setting process, explaining that the six year Medium Term Financial Sustainability Strategy had been approved by the Executive in September 2016. He reported that the key driver for the Strategy had been to set out the efficiency plan for the next four years and to receive a four year settlement offer from Central Government.

The Committee was advised by Mr Thompson that local government was now six and a half years into a period of public sector austerity and the impact upon jobs in Blackpool had been that there were now fewer members of staff than there had been at the start of the millennium despite the Council now providing more services.

Mr Thompson advised that the Council was required to make £18.7 million of savings in 2017/2018 and in order to do so, a savings programme constituting seven thematic workstreams had been developed, which included:

•          Technical savings

•          Income generation and management

•          Procurement and commissioning

•          Demand management

•          Transformational efficiency measures

•          Structural reform

•          Service reductions and cuts

Mr Thompson advised that the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) had considered the Medium Term Financial Sustainability Strategy and had reported that the Council had a positive approach to its financial management and determination to protect services, including those services that worked towards developing the local economy. The report also highlighted the risks in the Strategy, which included ongoing overspend costs in Children’s Services, not fully achieving the growth and prosperity agenda, and increasing the Business Loans Fund from £10 million to £100 million.

Mr Thompson reported that the Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2017/2018 was not due to be announced until 22 February 2017. He provided the Committee with details of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and of other sources of funding for the Council through various grants, such as the New Homes Bonus Grant, the Adult Social Care Support Grant and the Public Health Grant.

The Committee was advised of the projected revenue outturn for 2016/2017 and noted the huge budgetary pressures in Children’s Services. It was considered that the costs would not be sustainable in the event of numbers of Looked After Children continuing to rise. However, the Committee was advised that the investments made in recent years, including the implementation of the Better Start and Head Start programmes, would result in a reduction in the numbers of Looked After Children.

Members were provided with details of the budget gap for the next financial year and Mr Thompson explained that he considered that it would be the last year of having to achieve very difficult savings targets. It was noted that there would be a requirement for some job losses but that tit was expected that most staff cuts would be met voluntarily.

Mr Thompson advised the Committee of the Capital Programme for 2017/2018 and provided details  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.