Agenda item

The purpose of the report is for this Committee to consider and recommend its revenue budget for inclusion in the 2023/24 revenue budget, which will be submitted to the Policy and Finance Committee on 9 February 2023. The Policy and Finance Committee will consider the overall revenue budget for 2023/24 so that it can make recommendations to a Special Meeting of the Council on 1 March 2023 on the budget to be set and level of Council Tax for the District for 2023/24.

[30 Minutes]

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Interim Group Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer presented the report to the Committee. She explained that the budgets from this Committee plus any growth bids would be considered at Policy and Finance Committee as part of the overall budget on 9 February 2023, before going on to Full Council on 1 March 2023 for approval. She highlighted that the budget had been prepared against a backdrop of a significant budget gap for 2023-24. Only the essential growth bids for 2023-24 had been put forward for the Committee to approve. She went through the growth bids listed in Appendix B, and then the main year on year changes, which were Combined Cleansing Contract; and Foreshores – cost of beach patrol service; Establishment; Grounds maintenance Contract Consumer Price Index inflation. The Committees Capital programme totalling £1.655m for 2023-24 was detailed in Appendix C, and was comprised of £1.4m Disabled Facilities Grants, which were all grant funded; and £255k for Play Areas.

          Members then took part in a question-and-answer session and the following points were made:

• Clarification was sought on some of the figures. This was provided by the Interim Group Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer
• There was concern that the Disabled Grant had not risen, and it was not expected this would rise over the course of the next five years, despite inflation rapidly rising. It was suggested that a letter from the Council be written to lobby for a rise in this grant. The Chair offered support for this, and it was agreed this could be discussed after the meeting.
• Disappointment was expressed by some Members that there was nothing regarding beach access in the budget.
• Questions were asked regarding spending on the Sunken Gardens, whether any underspend would be rolled over, and if so could this be spent on additional elements to the project? The Interim Group Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer would look at the detail on this and supply a written reply to Members. The Chair explained that suggestions for additional projects could be brought to the Council by any Member and would be looked at on a case-by-case basis. 
• Clarification was requested on the costs of operation of the car parks. The Interim Group Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer explained that the costs in the report were the direct costs to the Committee, however there were other corporate costs involved.

   The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Bicknell and seconded by Councillor Chace.

          The Committee

RESOLVED that

1)      the 2023/24 Revenue Budget as illustrated in Appendix A of this report be agreed;

2)      the list of uncommitted growth items as illustrated in Appendix B of this report be agreed;

3)  the 2023/24 Capital Programme as illustrated in Appendix C of

this report be agreed; and

RECOMMEND TO POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE that

4) the Revenue Budget for this Committee be included in the overall General Fund Budget when the Policy and Finance Committee considers the overall budgets at its meeting on 9 February 2023.