RESOLVED:

1.    That the draft savings/income proposals (Appendix 3) and associated draft equalities analyses (Appendix 7) put forward by officers be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in January 2018 for consideration and comment.

2.    That the latest amendments to the draft Capital Programme 2018-2022 which was considered by Cabinet on 16 October 2017 and by scrutiny in November 2017.(Appendix 5) be agreed.

3.    That the proposed amendments to savings previously agreed. (Appendix 2) be agreed.

4.    That the Council Tax Base for 2018/19 set out in paragraph 2.6 and Appendix 1 be agreed.

5.    That the draft service plans (Appendix 6) be agreed.

6.    That the Council participates in the London Business Rates Pilot Pool and signs up to the Memorandum of Understanding and the draft resolutions set out in Appendix 9g be agreed.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report, setting out the process which had been undertaken, examining those savings not yet delivered and identifying new savings, whilst being mindful of over and underspends and the importance of balancing the budget and being conscious of the low levels of reserves.

The Director of Corporate Services highlighted key points in the report for Cabinet’s consideration, and advised that the recent announcement of the National Employers regarding the pay award offer of a 2.7% rise in 2018/19 and 2.8% rise in 2019/20 had added significantly to the Council’s gap.  In addition, there had been no additional funding for local authorities identified in the Government’s recent budget to cover the increase in public sector pay.  However, the council tax base had grown and officers were predicting an increase in collection rates, as out on page 25 of the Cabinet report.  The savings proposals were set out on page 16 of the Cabinet report and would be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission for consideration in January 2018.  The Memorandum of Understanding for the Business Rates retention pool was set out in Appendix 9 of the Cabinet report.  The amount of additional income from the pilot would not be known until the closing of accounts in 2018.  The new gap projection was set out in page 18 of the Cabinet report.  It was noted that the Office of Budget Responsibility was predicting that the Government’s austerity agenda was likely to continue to at least 2025.

The Leader invited Lyla Adwan-Kamara, CEO of the Merton Centre for Independent Living to address the meeting.  Cabinet noted her comments on the Business Plan, and her concerns that there was no new grant provision proposed for social care and over some of the savings proposed.  She highlighted the need for a meaningful debate and looked forward to working with the Council to support local disabled and vulnerable people.

The Leader thanked all those involved in drafting the Business Plan, highlighting the challenging times ahead and stressing the need to continue to work together to map a way forward for local residents.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the draft savings/income proposals (Appendix 3) and associated draft equalities analyses (Appendix 7) put forward by officers be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in January 2018 for consideration and comment.

2.    That the latest amendments to the draft Capital Programme 2018-2022 which was considered by Cabinet on 16 October 2017 and by scrutiny in November 2017.(Appendix 5) be agreed.

3.    That the proposed amendments to savings previously agreed. (Appendix 2) be agreed.

4.    That the Council Tax Base for 2018/19 set out in paragraph 2.6 and Appendix 1 be agreed.

5.    That the draft service plans (Appendix 6) be agreed.

6.    That the Council participates in the London Business Rates Pilot Pool and signs up to the Memorandum of Understanding and the draft resolutions set out in Appendix 9g be agreed.