Issue - meetings

Members considered the budget strategy for the 2021-22 council budget, whose main purpose was to set out the approach and principles the council would apply to develop and deliver a balanced budget for 2021-22. Cabinet acknowledged that the council was already under financial pressure before the pandemic.

Excluding the impact of Covid-19 the forecast budget gap for 2021-22 would be approximately £1m. Permanent budget savings or solutions would be required to address this structural deficit and deliver a balanced budget for 2021-22.It was hoped that this budget strategy would enable the council to respond effectively to changing circumstances while maintaining a focus on the council’s financial sustainability.

Cabinet discussed an outline of the key issues which would need to be considered as part of development the 2021-22 budget. This included the key points and proposed timetable of key dates between now and the budget setting Council meeting in early February 2021. The budget strategy would enable the Council to respond effectively to changing circumstances while maintaining a focus on the Council’s financial sustainability. The strategy applied to the General Fund budget only as a separate budget strategy would be developed for the Housing Revenue Account. An inclusive consultative process for building the budget had started with the holding of Member budget briefing sessions.

Councillor Yates proposed, Councillor Everitt seconded and Cabinet approved the 2021-22 Budget Strategy.