Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors D. Browne, McCarthy, G. Robinson and Stoker.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information and Purpose of Report

1.      Members will recall that the following process has been followed for setting the district rate and agreeing the estimates for 2011/12.

2.   At the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 10 December 2010, it was agreed that the Budget and Transformation Panel should further consider the setting of the district rate for 2011/12 before the Christmas break. The Panel met on 16 December 2010 and it was agreed unanimously to recommend to the Council at its meeting on 5 January a district rate increase of 2.5%, which would be used for Committee reports on Departmental estimates in January. This is the lowest rate increase the council has set in over ten years and is well below the rate of inflation which currently stands at 3.3%.

3.   The purpose of this report is to:

·         Set the cash limits for Department committees for 2011/12;

·         Agree the estimates for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for 2011/12; and,

·         Outline the key priority actions in 2011/12 for each Committee.

Key Issues

A.   District Rate 2011/12

4.   The table below summarises the key elements of the council’s finances for 2011/12 based on a district rate increase of 2.5% (subject to agreement at Council on 5 January) and assuming zero growth in the rate base, which has recently been advised by LPS.

5.   The various elements of expenditure within this table have been presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at the meeting on 22 October and 19 November 2010.  More information on the Departmental Estimates is set out in Section B below.

6.   Further liaison and agreement by Members is still needed in relation to the funding for the additional capital schemes and the city area priorities budget. The additional capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.