Agenda item

The Council considered a report, presented by the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, which sought approval of the Revenue Budget proposals for 2022/23 to 2024/25.

The Mayor reported that despite ongoing uncertainty around Government funding and the continued response to the Covid pandemic, the budget proposals set a balanced budget whilst protecting the most vulnerable across the Borough and provided resources to improve opportunities; the Council now had 28% less to spend on services in real terms than it did in 2010/11, which created challenges and represented a £335 reduction per resident.  The overall gross Revenue Budget proposed for the Council in 2022/23 was £526.1m.

The Mayor pointed out that this budget provided sufficient resources to enable front line services to continue to deliver at their current service levels, despite increased service pressures and rising inflation.   The Council had allocated an additional £750,000 for additional apprenticeships within the Council which would target hard to fill roles.  Also, as Coronavirus had not gone away, the budget proposals ensured specific resources were available for Covid infection control and prevention measures during the next financial year.

Members noted that some difficult decisions had been made to balance the budget and meet an overall recurrent budget gap of £13.1m in 2022/23.  Savings had been necessary, but wherever possible, these minimised the impact on service delivery and would be delivered through new ways of working, deployment of technology and generating additional income without negatively impacting on critical services.  Overall, the budget proposals met the £21.7m budget gap over the 3 years.  In light of the pressures and future risks, a Council Tax increase of 1.99% was being proposed alongside a further 2.5% increase for Adult Social Care, and that the Adult Social Care precept was specifically being used to contribute towards the additional Adult Social Care funding pressures.  Overall, this would increase Band A Council Tax by 83p per week and Band D by £1.25 per week.  To offset the impact of this and to help support those residents who were struggling, the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme remained in place and was supplemented by the introduction of a hardship support payment of up to £300 per household per annum.  In addition, the Local Assistance Scheme funds would be increased by £450,000, to provide a safety net for periods of hardship experienced by families who were most in need.

The Mayor pointed out that Doncaster would still continue to have the lowest Council Tax in South Yorkshire and one of the lowest overall in comparison to other Councils of similar size in the country.  However, with still no certainty from Government about funding beyond the next year, it was hard to plan ahead, but as the Council was a financially well managed, the Mayor stated that she would do whatever she could to mitigate the impacts of uncertainty as she remained firmly focused on supporting Doncaster’s priorities outlined in the Corporate Plan and the 10 year Borough Strategy.

In conclusion, the Mayor thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee for its response to the draft budget proposals, which she had fully considered and responded to.

Following the presentation of the Revenue Budget proposals, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

For - 39

The Chair of Council, Councillor Richard A Jones, the Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Ian Pearson, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Bob Anderson, Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, James Church, Gemma Cobby, Phil Cole, Linda Curran, Susan Durant, Sue Farmer, Sean Gibbons, Julie Grace, John Healy, Leanne Hempshall, Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, Debbie Hutchinson, Barry Johnson, Majid Khan, Sue Knowles, Sophie Liu, Tracy Moran, John Mounsey, Emma Muddiman-Rawlings, Tim Needham, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Andy Pickering, Rob Reid, Andrea Robinson, Glynis Smith, Sarah Smith and Austen White.

Against - 0

Abstain - 8

Councillors Laura Bluff, Nigel Cannings, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Martin Greenhalgh, Thomas Noon, Cynthia Ransome and Gary Stapleton.

On being put to the meeting, the recommendations contained within the report were declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget for 2022/23 to 2024/25, as detailed within the report, be approved including:-

(1)      the Medium-term Financial Strategy including all proposals in the report, as detailed within Appendix A of the report;

(2)      a Gross Revenue Expenditure Budget of £526.1m and a Net Revenue Expenditure Budget of £219.4m, as detailed within Appendix A;

(3)      Council Tax increasing by 4.49% to £1,511.03 for a Band D property (£1,007.35 for a Band A) for 2022/23. This includes:-

(i)        1.99% Council Tax increase, equating to an increase of £28.78 for Band D per annum, 55p per week (£19.18 for Band A per annum, 37p per week); and

(ii)       2.5% Government Adult Social Care precept, equating to an increase of £36.15 for Band D per annum, 70p per week (£24.10 for Band A per annum, 46p per week).

(4)      the Revenue Budget proposals for 2022/23, as detailed within Appendix B (pressures £19.0m) and Appendices C and D (savings £12.1m) of the report;

(5)      the 2022/23 Grants to 3rd Sector Organisations, as detailed within paragraph 58 and Appendix F of the report;

(6)      the fees and charges proposed for 2022/23 at Appendix G of the report; and

(7)      the Chief Financial Officer’s positive assurance statements be noted, as detailed within paragraphs 68 to 70 of the report.