To receive apologies for absence from Members. 

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members/Clerks:-

A Wilkes

G Letman

Councillor C Webster

Councillor N Clarke

Councillor K Watts

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

To be accompanied by a Presentation.

The Chief Executive Officer submitted a report, the purpose of which was to update the Town and Community Council Forum on the MTFS 2020-21 to 2023-24 and to inform Members etc of the MTFS 2019 Budget Consultation process, with the aim of improving engagement with Town and Community Councils.

The report gave some background information, then confirmed that the proposed timeframe for the MTFS 2019 Budget consultation was 9 September 2019 to 3 November 2019.

The next section of the report outlined the methods by which the public consultation would be carried out, which included on-line and in paper format, including through advertisements being placed in places regularly visited by the public.

Public meetings would also take place as well as engagement regarding these with Town/Community Councils, who were a very important consultee.

The Interim Head of Finance and S151 Officer then gave a power point presentation, entitled Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Budget briefing.

She explained that the current Council budget for 2019/20 is allocated as follows:

The net budget is mainly funded by Welsh Government (WG) and council tax payments. The main element of funding was the Revenue Support Grant, received from Welsh Government, but the Council also receives a share of non-domestic / business rates from the WG. These 2 allocations are fixed and constitute 71% of funding, with the balance being met from council tax. A summary and breakdown of the split was shown below:-

                                                £                                    %          

Revenue Support Grant           145,354,407                  53.67  

Non Domestic Rates   46,452,373                    17.15  

Council Tax Income               79,001,854                     29.18  

Total                                       270,808,634                     100%  

The Council is planning on the basis of 3 scenarios, Best, Most Likely and Worst case scenario, in terms of the level of funding it will receive from Welsh Government. The total of Revenue Support Grant and Non Domestic Rates is referred to as Aggregate External Finance

MTFS Scenarios 2020-21 to 2023-24 -%

Change in Aggregate External Finance

Impact of Different Scenarios on Council Funding:

The total amount of Aggregate External Finance that the Council receives in 2019/20 is £191.807m. Below is an indication of the impact on BCBC’s budget of the 3 scenarios in terms of Welsh Government funding. The most likely scenario will mean a reduction in funding of over £2.8m, before any additional pressures are taken into account.

Impact of Different Council Tax Increases

Average Band D Council Tax is currently £1,470.87 for 2019/20. The 3 scenarios in the MTFS also assumed a council tax increase of 4.5% which would generate £3.5 million, partly to offset the reduction in AEF, but also partly to contribute to the additional pressures. The following information reflects the differing amounts of reduced or additional income that could be collected depending on what % increase in council tax the Council approves. If  ...  view the full minutes text for item 187.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 

None.