Agenda item

To consider the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2021/22.

RESOLVED to recommend the budget strategies and reports for 2021/22 as set out in Appendices A to H of the report and the associated Annexes for approval by Council.

Councillor Hargreaves summarised the report regarding the Medium Term Financial Strategy and budget 2021-22, highlighting areas of note from appendices A to I. He said this had been a particularly difficult year to produce the budget and thanked the Director – Finance and Corporate Services and the Assistant Director – Finance for their work. He proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Councillor Reeve seconded the proposal.

In response to a question regarding agency workers, Councillor Hargreaves said agency costs were attributed to existing departmental budgets, although it depended on the number of agency staff and whether there were staff vacancies.

Councillor Lees praised the Ward Initiative Fund, which enabled councillors to provide £2000 to good causes in their respective wards, and said it was a fantastic achievement to continue such grants in the current economic climate.

In response to a question relating to the Capital Strategy, Councillor Hargreaves said the budget committed to the building of over 100 council houses in the district.

In response to a question regarding the Walden Place redevelopment scheme, the Assistant Director – Finances said any slippage into 2021-2022 would not be shown in the papers before Members.

Councillor Evans said the good work on the budget should be communicated to the wider public, and such information should be produced in a way to make it accessible to all.

The recommendations were approved unanimously.

RESOLVED to recommend the budget strategies and reports for 2021/22 as set out in Appendices A to H of the report and the associated Annexes for approval by Council.