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Decision details

General Fund and HRA Budget 2020/21

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To recommend to full Council

 

1.     A 1.99% increase in the Council Tax for Croydon Services (a level of increase Central Government has assumed in all Councils’ spending power calculation).

 

2.     A 2.00% increase in the Adult Social Care precept (a charge Central Government has assumed all councils’ will levy in its spending power calculations).

 

3.     The GLA increase of 3.6%.

With reference to the principles for 2020/21 determined by the Secretary of State under Section52ZC (1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) confirm that in accordance with s.52ZB (1) the Council Tax and GLA precept referred to above are not excessive in terms of the most recently issued principles and as such to note that no referendum is required.  This is detailed further in section 3.8 of the report.

 

4.     The calculation of budget requirement and council tax as set out in Appendix D and E.  Including the GLA increase this will result in a total increase of 3.92% in the overall council tax bill for Croydon.

 

5.     The revenue budget assumptions as detailed in the report and the associated appendices.

 

6.     The programme of revenue savings, income and growth by department for 2020/21 (Appendix A).

 

7.     The Council’s detailed budget book for 2020/21 (Appendix B).

 

8.     The draft Capital Programme as set out in section 11, table 18 and 19 of the report, except where noted for specific programmes are subject to separate Cabinet reports.

 

9.     To increase the Asset Investment Fund by £100 million to £300 million.

 

10.To note there are no proposed amendments to the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2020/21.

 

11.The adoption of the Pay Policy statement at Appendix H.

 

RESOLVED: To agree

 

1.     A rent increase for all Council tenants for 2020/21, in line with the Government’s social rent policy which has legislated to increase social rents by CPI + 1%, which is equal to 2.7%

 

2.     No increase to Garage and Parking space rents.

 

3.     2% increase to the service charges for caretaking, grounds maintenance and bulk refuse collection as detailed in section 12 of the report.

 

RESOLVED: To note

 

1.     That in respect of the Council’s public sector equalities duties where the setting of the capital, revenue and HRA budget result in new policies or policy change the relevant service department will carry out an equality impact assessment to secure delivery of that duty including such consultation as may be required.

 

2.     The progress being made towards balancing the Council’s financial position for 2019/20 as at Quarter 3 and the current projected outturn forecast of £2.371m as set out in the report at item 5b on the agenda.

 

3.     The response to the provisional local government settlement which is attached at Appendix F of the report.

 

4.     That pre-decision scrutiny of the proposed budget 2020/21 took place at the Scrutiny and Overview Committee on the 10th February 2020. The Scrutiny and Overview Committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee and provide an update on the bedding in of the Council’s new financial monitoring systems in September 2020.

 

5.     The statement on reserves and balances and robustness of estimates from the statutory Section 151 Officer.

 

Report author: Jacqueline Harris Baker

Publication date: 03/03/2020

Date of decision: 24/02/2020

Decided at meeting: 24/02/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 04/03/2020

Accompanying Documents: