(1) That the following guidelines for the Council’s General Fund Budget in 2015/16 be recommended to the Council for adoption:
(a) the revised revenue estimates for 2014/15, which were anticipated to increase the General Fund balance by £7,000;
(b) an increase in the target for the 2015/16 Continuing Services Budget (CSB) from £13.15million to £13.35million (including growth items);
(c) an increase in the target for the 2015/16 District Development Fund (DDF) net spend from £204,000 to £1.123million;
(d) no change in the District Council Tax for a Band ‘D’ property to keep the charge at £148.77;
(e) the estimated reduction in General Fund balances in 2015/16 of £30,000;
(f) the four-year Capital Programme 2015/16 – 2018/19;
(g) the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014/15 – 2018/19; and
(h) the Council’s policy on General Fund Revenue Balances to remain that they be allowed to fall no lower than 25% of the Net Budget Requirement;
(2) That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2015/16, including the revised revenue estimates for 2014/15, be recommended to the Council for approval;
(3) That the Council be requested to approve the proposed rent increases proposed for 2015/16 to give an overall average increase of 2.2%;
(4) That the creation of a new earmarked reserve, called the ‘Invest to Save Fund’, in the sum of £500,000 to consider proposals which would reduce the Continuing Services Budget in the long-term be recommended to the Council for approval; and
(5) That the Chief Financial Officer’s report to the Council on the robustness of the estimates for the purposes of the Council’s 2015/16 budgets and the adequacy of the reserves be noted.
(1) That the following be recommended to the Council for approval:
(a) the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2015/16 to 2017/18;
(b) the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Strategy;
(c) the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators for 2015/16 to 2017/18;
(d) the average interest earned for the year on investments as the rate of interest to be applied to any inter-fund balances; and
(e) the Treasury Management Policy Statement.