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Lewes and Eastbourne
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Issue - meetings

General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23, Capital Programme

Meeting: 03/02/2022 - Lewes District Council Cabinet (Item 50)

50 General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23 and Capital Programme pdf icon PDF 660 KB

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Zoe Nicholson

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

 

(1) The General Fund budget for 2021/22 (Revised) and 2022/23 (original).

 

(2) An increase in the Council Tax for Lewes District Council of £5 (per annum) resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £202.08 (per annum) for 2022/23.

 

(3) The revised General Fund capital programme 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 3.

 

(4) That Cabinet endorses the continuation of the Flexible use of Capital Receipts and refers on to Council for approval.

 

(5) To note the section 151 Officer’s sign off as outlined in the report.

 

(6) To earmarks £350k from the GF reserves to create a Hardship fund to support households with their energy and cost of living pressures

 

(7) To give delegated authority to Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet member for finance and assets to make the necessary changes to the report following the final financial settlement announcement.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer, asking it to recommend to Full Council, the updated General Fund budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy, together with the updated Capital Programme position.

 

The proposals set out in the report would limit the rise in council tax to just 9p a week. The limited rise being proposed would directly fund the frontline services that residents and local businesses rely on.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 27 January 2022, considered the report and was supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Linington, Leader of the Opposition, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion.

To reflect the announcement of the energy price cap rising by 54% and concerns over a fall in living standards, the Cabinet unanimously agreed to the addition of two additional recommendations, and these were detailed below (recommendations 6 and 7). The proposed new Hardship Fund scheme would be shared with the Opposition Group, in advance of the matter being considered by Full Council.

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

 

(1) The General Fund budget for 2021/22 (Revised) and 2022/23 (original).

 

(2) An increase in the Council Tax for Lewes District Council of £5 (per annum) resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £202.08 (per annum) for 2022/23.

 

(3) The revised General Fund capital programme 2022/23 as set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

 

(4) That Cabinet endorses the continuation of the Flexible use of Capital Receipts and refers on to Council for approval.

 

(5) To note the Section 151 Officer’s sign off as outlined in the report.

 

(6) To earmark £350k from the GF reserves to create a Hardship fund to support households with their energy and cost of living pressures

 

(7) To give delegated authority to Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets to make the necessary changes to the report following the final financial settlement announcement.

 

Reason for decisions:

 

The Cabinet has to recommend to Full Council the setting of a revenue budget and associated council tax for the forthcoming financial year by law.