Issue - meetings

PROVISIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT SETTLEMENT 2006/07 & 2007/08;

BUDGET REQUIREMENT AND RESERVES;

RENT INCREASE PROPOSALS 2006/07 -

Report number FIN254 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources.

                                                                                                                   (attached)

DECISION:

(1)    To note the impact of the provisional Local Government Settlement for 2006/07 and 2007/08;

(2)    To set a target General Fund budget requirement of £13.959m for 2006/07 with resultant Council Tax of £105.84 and to consider preparing indicative figures for 2007/08.  These figures to be reviewed later in the budget process;

(3)    To ensure the Scale of Charges are reviewed as part of the Gateway Budget Review;

(4)    To agree in principle the rent proposals as set out in report FIN254 subject to consultation on the proposals taking place with the Tenant Compact;

(5)    To request further feedback on budget consultation from the Budget Working Party and public feedback from SKToday and the Local Area Assembly meetings in January, in time for its consideration of budget plans in February.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)     Report number FIN254 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources which comments upon the provisional Local Government Settlement for 2006/07 and indicative settlement for 2007/08; the budget requirement and reserves; housing rents for 2006/07; and the scale of charges for individual services;

(2)     Advice from the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources on the relative position of South Kesteven’s settlement compared to the national position and an explanation of the formulae changes for grant distribution;

(3)     Noting that whilst the East Midlands faired well from the 2006/07 settlement, South Kesteven’s grant is the second lowest in Lincolnshire.