Issue - meetings

Members considered a report setting out proposals on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2020/21 – 2023/24; the 2020/21 – 2023/24 Capital Programme and the 2020/21 schedule of charges. 

Councillor Williamson presented the report.  He gave a summary of the general context and explained briefly the areas over which the Council any control.  He referred to the funding gap of £1.037m which had been identified initially and the work done in addressing budget savings.  The budget was based on the assumption that the Council would increase Council Tax by £5 for Band D properties, and referred Members to further initiatives to overcome the budget gap, in addition to income generated by Millstream, including the Financial Sustainability strategy which had been agreed, with the Financial Sustainability Committee having been set up in 2019.  The Committee had acquired its first property last month and the lease was already bringing in income for the Council. 

Councillor Williamson said a budget gap of £190K still remained and further savings and income generating ideas were set out in Appendix B to the report.  He referred to the resilience afforded by the Council’s reserves, and the investment in capital projects such as Hertford Theatre, the two leisure centres, and Old River Lane.  Members would monitor these projects carefully.  He thanked the Head of Strategic Finance and Property, and all services in formulating the plans for next year and beyond.  These were testing times, and it was thanks to officers that the plans were robust.  He commended the budget to Members, and proposed a motion to support the recommendations as detailed.

Councillor Pope seconded the motion. 

Councillor Corpe said as a Member of the Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee, he had considered the report at the Committee’s meeting on 14 January 2020.  Whilst he considered it to be a comprehensive and prudent budget, he had raised an objection at that meeting, which he repeated now.  He proposed an amendment that the saving proposals be amended by deleting the saving option relating to the “Citizens Advice Services / Community Voluntary Services (CVS) - £20k reduction over 2 years”; and at the penultimate row of the proposed savings table, which stated  “Additional savings to be identified”, to substitute in the column for 2020/21, a figure of (25) in place of (15), and, in the column 2021/22, to insert the figure (10). 

Councillor Corpe said it would be a false economy to pursue this saving option, as it could increase use of Council services such as Housing and Benefits by those currently relying on the CAS / CVS for advice.  There could also be European Union citizens applying for settled status who would need advice from these services.  By phasing in the savings differently, maximum freedom to explore options would be provided. 

Councillor Goldspink seconded the amendment.  She requested a recorded vote. 

Councillor Goldspink said this saving proposal was short-sighted, and the CAS/CVS should be permitted to focus on their primary function and not have to worry about fundraising. 

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 327