Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Browne and Councillor Attwood. 

            The minutes of the meetings of 13th December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 6th January. 

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1   Relevant Background Information

1.1  Members will recall that the following process has been agreed for the setting of the district rate and agreeing the estimates for 2014/15.

1.2        At the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 13 December 2013, Members approved the following recommendations in relation to the 2014/15 revenue estimates:

1.     That Officers should prepare the departmental cash limits report based on a zero district rate.

2.     That the calculations should be based on a zero growth in the Estimated Penny Product.

1.3  The purpose of this report is to present the cash limits for Departmental committees and the estimates for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for 2014/15. An outline of the key priority actions for 2014/15 for each committee has also been included as appendices to the report. Departmental plans will be presented to standing committees in March 2014.

2          Key Issues

            Cash Limits for Departmental Committees and the Estimates for SP&R Committee

2.1        One of the key tasks for Members is to agree the estimates for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and to set the cash limits for the standing committees.

2.2        The table below summarises the revenue estimates for Belfast City Council for 2014/15 based on a zero district rate increase. It should be noted that all departments have a reduced cash limit from the 2013/14 position.

            Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011

2.3        Under the Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011, the Director of Finance and Resources is required to provide assurance to Members on the robustness of the revenue estimates and the adequacy of the council’s reserve position as part of the rate setting process.

2.4        The departmental estimates have been subject to scrutiny and challenge by the Finance and Performance Section to ensure that they have been developed in compliance with the corporate guidelines issued in August 2013, taking into account the key financial risks and confirming that the planned efficiencies of £2m have been identified and removed from the estimates for 2014/15.

2.5        On this basis the Director of Finance and Resources is satisfied that the estimates presented should provide adequate financial resources to support service delivery and the council’s key actions for 2014/15 and that reasonable consideration of the financial risks to the council have been made in the preparation of the estimates.

2.6        The council’s general reserves position is forecast to be at least £13m by the end of 2013/14. This is above the minimum requirement of £10m, as set out in the council’s reserve strategy. Given the uncertainty surrounding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            The Committee was advised that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment had issued a consultation document on the future arrangements for consumer representation in Northern Ireland and had requested responses by 17th January. 

            The Committee agreed that the Consultation document be referred to the Political Parties on the Council for consideration and response.