Hampshire County Council Amended Decision Sheet

Cabinet

Item 4

15 December 2003

2004/05 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and Budget Guidelines

Report of the County Treasurer

1

That a written response to the provisional settlement be submitted as set out in the report and that representations be made to the County Councils Network and the Local Government Association, and that copies of the response be sent to all Hampshire MPs

2

That the 2004/05 budget strategy, as updated by the Cabinet in previous meetings, and as set out in this report, be endorsed

3

That service budgets be prepared in consultation with executive members within budget guidelines, as set out in Table 10 of this report, for consideration by policy review committees

4

That executive members approve service budgets within the budget guidelines for submission to the Leader and Cabinet in February 2004

5

That the Secretary of State for Education be notified by 31 December 2003 of the County Council's intention to passport fully the increase in the Schools budget for 2004/05 but not to `over passport' the increase by an extra burden on the council tax payer (having had to do so in 2003/04 to replace lost Government funding)

6

That the Education Executive member consult the Schools Forum and the Secretary of State to use whatever flexibility is available within the headroom remaining above the minimum per pupil guarantee in the passported Schools budget and the constraints on central spending; to meet the additional costs of special education needs and excluded pupils; and to maximise the full use of the targeted transitional grant for schools

7

That the Social Care Executive member uses the FSS cash increase and additional specific grants which provides £15.2m (5.7%) more than inflation to meet priority pressures on elderly and children's services, to retain two star status, and report back on the anticipated improved performance and outcomes from this additional investment

8

That all executive members identify efficiency improvements required to absorb pressures and costs within the budget guidelines

9

That all executive members meet all their inescapable budget pressures and legislative requirements within the budget guideline cash limits for their services, with proposals for redeployment of resources to offset any new spending priorities

10

That all executive members report back on their annual review of charges and maximisation of income

11

That having regard to the extensive consultations already carried out and the additional grant announcement which reduces the council tax rise previously consulted on, no action to be taken with regard to the commissioning of a further MORI telephone survey, the reconvening of the community workshop, or meeting again other groups previously consulted.

12

That executive members be asked to prepare proposals for a locally resourced four year capital programme within the current programme limits, adjusted for inflation, and to consider the integration of revenue and capital budgets within the guidelines set for the new prudential code on capital

13

That in addition, executive members be asked to submit capital schemes supported by Government grants and scheme-specific borrowing approvals for 2004/05 and those expected to be supported in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08

14

That executive members should submit possible capital projects which might be suitable for private finance initiative revenue support from 2004/05 to 2007/08, subject to further reports on the outline business case for each scheme and the Government support available

15

That the Leader and Cabinet in February recommend the budget and capital programme to the County Council, to include

· agreement of the budgets within the budget guidelines set

· consideration of executive members' responses to the budget guidelines

· assessment of the results of final budget consultation with: partners (headteachers, governors, parent teachers organisations, the voluntary sector, trades unions); business interests; residents' associations and council tax payers; and local strategic partnerships

· review of the outcome from the telephone survey

· recommendation of spending and council tax decisions, within the flexibility available within the provisional projections, and subject to the final local government finance settlement and the update of budget and council tax figures

· agreement of the draft capital programme submissions and outline feasibility of possible private finance initiative (PFI) schemes supported by Government revenue grant.