Agenda item

Mr John Betts, Interim Corporate Director Finance, was in attendance for this item.

(1)    The Chairman advised that Members would be invited to ask technical questions for clarification during this item, but debate of budget policy would be reserved for Item 6. 

(2)    Mr Oakford proposed, and Mr Gough seconded the motion that:

“Pursuant to section 25 of the Local Government Act, County Council is asked to consider and note this report and agree to have due regard to the contents when making decisions about the proposed budget.”

(3)    The Interim Corporate Director Finance, as the Section 151 Officer, provided an overview of the Section 25 Assurance Statement. Mr Betts said, as outlined in the report, that the uncertainties of the economic environment meant there were significant risks in the authority delivering a balanced budget.  He explained that, provided all the measures set out in the draft budget and medium-term plan were implemented, the Council would continue to demonstrate financial sustainability over the short term, and a positive opinion could be given under Section 25 on the robustness of the estimate and the level of reserves.

(4)    Following a technical question from a Member Mr Betts confirmed that the Section 25 Assurance Statement covered all the budget proposals, including amendments, that were under consideration at the meeting.

(5)    The Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 2 to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (66)

Mr Baldock, Mr Baker, Mr Barrington-King, Mr Bartlett, Mrs Bell, Mrs Binks, Mr Bond, Mr Brady, Mr Brazier, Mr Campkin, Mr Cannon, Miss Carey, Mrs Chandler, Mr Chard, Mrs Cole, Ms Constantine, Mr Crow-Brown, Mr Dance, Ms Dawkins, Mr Dendor, Mrs Game, Mr Gough, Ms Grehan, Ms Hamilton, Mr Harman, Ms Hawkins, Mr Hill, Mr Hills, Mrs Hohler, Mr Holden, Mr Hood, Mr Hook, Mr Jeffrey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kite, Mr Lehmann, Mr Love, Mr Manion, Mr Marsh, Mr McInroy, Ms Meade, Mr Meade, Mr Murphy, Mr Oakford, Mrs Parfitt-Reid, Mr Passmore, Mrs Prendergast, Mr Rayner, Mr Richardson, Mr Ridgers, Mr Robey, Mr D Ross, Mr Sandhu, Mr Shonk, Mr Simkins, Mr Sole, Mr Stepto, Mr Streatfeild, Dr Sullivan, Mr Sweetland, Mr Thomas, Mr Watkins, Mr Webb, Mr Whiting, Mr Wright, Ms Wright

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

Motion carried.

(6)    RESOLVED that pursuant to section 25 of the Local Government Act, County Council noted the report and agreed to have due regard to the contents when making decisions about the proposed budget.