Agenda item

Indicative Budget Timeline and Scrutiny Process 2024/25

Meeting of Corporate Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday 10th October, 2023 7.00 pm (Item 24.)

Presented By:Mark Dickenson - Assistant Director of Finance and Strategy

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Finance and Strategy presented the report which set out the 2024/25 budget setting process and scrutiny arrangements. The report provided an overview of the budget timeline for the 2024/25 budget process, which included an update on the proposed arrangements for scrutiny.

The Council was required to set a balanced General Fund Budget and the levels of Council Tax for 2024/25 at its meeting in February 2024. It would also set a balanced HRA Budget and rent levels, along with a Capital Programme for both the General Fund and HRA.

The following indicative timetable for the setting of the budget was proposed and would be subject to amendment in light of government announcements and other potential changes:

Key Dates	Activity
During Year	Budget Monitoring reports produced which will be presented to Executive and Corporate Scrutiny.
30 October 2023 to 20 November 2023	Phase 1 Scrutiny - Committee to have dedicated session with Service Directors and separately the Children’s Trust to understand the current in year position for the budgets, which will inform the requirement for 2024/25.
7 November 2023	Children’s Trust - Business and Budget Plan proposals discussed at Operational Commissioning Group
21 November 2023	Children’s Trust - Business and Budget Plan proposals discussed at Strategic Commissioning Group
22 November 2023	Autumn Statement will outline the government’s plans for spending, taxation and borrowing for 2024/25.
30 November 2023	Children’s Trust - Final date for draft budget proposals to be agreed
4 December 2023	Children’s Trust - Phase 2 Scrutiny session – to review the Children’s Trust 2024/25 budget
w/c 18 December 2023	Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement expected
21 December 2023	Draft Budget 2024/25 report presented to Executive. Consultation on the budget will commence following the meeting and subject to Executive approval. Draft Schools Budget (Dedicated Schools Grant) to Schools Forum. Children’s Trust – Corporate Scrutiny Committee feedback to December Executive
8 January 2024 to 19 January 2024	Phase 2 Scrutiny – Committee to scrutinise the Council’s Budget Proposals with sessions for each Directorate. To include presentation to Corporate Scrutiny on the overarching draft budget proposals. HRA rent increase consultation to tenants’ forums / representatives.
15 January 2024	Children’s Trust - Latest date that the Council is required to seek approval of the contract sum
18 January 2024	Budget Update to Executive following the Local Government Finance Settlement, if it is not announced before the December draft budget report.
23 January 2024	Corporate Scrutiny Committee to consider report on the feedback from the Scrutiny Task and Finish Groups.
26 January 2024	Budget consultation ends (proposed date)
8 February 2024	Updated Budget reports, including feedback from Scrutiny, presented to Executive for approval and recommendation on to Council
22 February 2024	Setting of the Budget - Suite of Budget Reports presented to Council for approval

Phase 1 of scrutiny would look at the in-year position and the detail of the current budgets and activity as well as general pressures and opportunities. This would include any updates with regard to government funding arrangements and any other proposals. Phase 2 would take place once the 2024/25 draft budgets proposals had been reported to the Executive, which was expected to be on 21 December 2023. The Scrutiny process would complete in January 2024 to feed into the updated budget report to Executive on 8 February 2024.

During discussion on the report the following key points were made

· In response to a question from Members, officers confirmed that the draft Children’s Trust budget proposals had been received.

· Members questioned how vulnerable residents would be affected due to the budget savings requirements. The Assistant Director of Finance and Strategy advised that key services would be provided to residents. An Equalities Impact Assessment would be developed throughout the process to assess the impact on residents.

RESOLVED to note:

(i) the proposed timeline for the setting of the budget.

(ii) the proposed budget setting and scrutiny arrangements for the Children’s Trust.

(iii) the overall indicative timeline for the budget setting for the Council.

(iv) the proposal for the scrutiny of the Council’s budgets.

Supporting documents: