Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillors S. Boulton, T. Kingsbury and F. Thomson each declared a non-pecuniary interest in items on the Agenda as Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

To consider the following item:-

The following item was considered:-

To consider the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting on 17 January 2023 on the budget proposals for 2023/24.

The Extracted Minutes from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been included.

Please see link below for the Budget papers submitted to Cabinet on 10 January 2023:

https://democracy.welhat.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=151&MId=1443&Ver=4  

(1)   That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources and Planning and the Executive Member for Leisure and Community, and that the delegation be built into the Council report to enable responsive changes to be made to the fees and charges as required during the year.

(2)   Cabinet recommended the budget proposals 2023/24 to Full Council.

Cabinet considered the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting on 17 January 2023 on the budget proposals for 2023/24.

The draft budget was previously considered at Cabinet on 10 January 2023, following its review through the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Budget Task and Finish Panel.

The budget was fully scrutinised by the Task and Finish panel who received an overview of the savings proposals, the growth proposals, and the fees and charges.

The panel acknowledged the challenges faced by the council in relation to the cost of living crisis, the limits on council tax and the medium term uncertainties around government funding. No changes were proposed by the panel, which was supported by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In relation to the crematorium, this is a new service and a review fees and charges may be required during the year, particularly for those items which are resale items the council source from external providers.

Additionally, the parish precepts item will also be updated based upon the parish precept demands the council have received, although this will not change the net position for the council.

It was noted there was an error in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee minutes in relation to the vote on the budget item as there was 11 For and 1 Abstention and not 1 Against.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

(1)   That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources and Planning and the Executive Member for Leisure and Community, and that the delegation be built into the Council report to enable responsive changes to be made to the fees and charges as required during the year.

(2)   Cabinet recommended the budget proposals 2023/24 to Full Council.