Contact: Anne Hibbert, (01962) 847533; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report sets out the proposed Policy and Resources revenue budget for 2008/09, a provisional budget for 2009/10 and 2010/11 and recommends a revised budget for 2007/08.

1.2 The following decisions are sought:

a) To approve for submission to the Leader and Cabinet:

1 The revised budget for 2007/08 totalling £56.4m (as set out in appendices 1 and 2), adjusted for further planned underspendings of £400,000 on the Chief Executive's budget and £80,000 on grants to voluntary organisations to be carried forward to 2008/09

2 The base budget for 2008/09 totalling £54.2m (as set out in Appendix 3), adjusted for the additional carryforwards referred to in 1

3 The proposals for redeployment of resources totalling £828,000 in 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 4)

4 The proposals for efficiency improvements totalling £3.6m (2.9% of turnover) in 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 5)

5 The annual review of income and charges (as set out in Appendix 6)

6 The summarised trading accounts of business units (as set out in Appendix 7)

7 The detailed budget for 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 8)

8 The workforce implications of the proposed budget for 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 10)

9 The provisional budget for 2009/10 of £54.7m and for 2010/11 of £55.1m (as set out in Appendix 11).

b) To approve the reviews to be undertaken by the Chief Executive referred to in the report relating to HR and legal resources, capital receipt generation and corporate efficiency improvements including IT Services.

1 Reason(s)

1.1 Cabinet has requested that service budgets be prepared for approval by Executive members within the provisional budget guidelines set by Cabinet in December 2007 and submitted to the Leader and Cabinet for consideration in February 2008. Proposals need to be submitted to the Cabinet on 8 February 2008 in order to influence decisions on the 2008/09 budget and council tax.

1.2 The budget proposals contained in this report are derived from the departmental service plans which have been developed to support the priorities of the Corporate Strategy.

2 Other options considered and rejected:

2.1 The total of the budget proposals in this report equal the guidelines set by Cabinet. A budget in excess of the guidelines is not affordable and a budget below the guidelines would not enable service objectives to be met.

3 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted - none

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - none

5 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - none

Approved by: Date:

Councillor T K Thornber

Executive Member for Policy and Resources Date: (date of decision)