RESOLVED

1.            That the new draft growth proposals (Appendix 7), and the new draft savings/income proposals (Appendix 5a) and associated draft equalities impact assessments (Appendix 6) put forward by officers be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

2.            That the growth and savings and the associated draft equalities analyses for the savings noted in October (Member’s Information Pack) be agreed.

3.            That the latest amendments to the draft Capital Programme 2020-2024 which was considered by Cabinet on 14 October 2019 and by scrutiny in November 2019 (Appendix 9) be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

4.            That the proposed amendments to savings, including the draft equalities impact assessments previously agreed. (Appendices 5b and 5c) be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

5.            That the proposed Council Tax Base for 2020/21 set out in paragraph 2.9 and Appendix 1 be agreed.

6.            That the draft service plans (Appendix 8) be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

7.            That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services in discussion with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance for Merton to enter into a London Business Rates Pool for 2020/21.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report, which had been delayed due to the General Election in December which had pushed back the announcement of the Government’s financial settlement.  He thanked the Scrutiny Members for accommodating a delay in their meetings to scrutinise the draft savings.  He advised that in order to deliver a balanced budget, savings of £3.4m would be required and recommended the package for approval, subject to comments by Scrutiny.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that although the financial settlement had been better than expected, it was only for one year and work would shortly start on making representations for settlements for future years.  She drew Cabinet’s attention to the increase in the Council tax base, the surplus on the pension fund, the impact of the change to the London Business Rates pool and the impact of London Living Wage on the Council’s contracts.  The figures in the report would be updated when confirmation had been received.

The Chair welcomed the pension surplus and highlighted that the growth proposed was for services for those in need.  He acknowledged that despite maintaining council tax discounts, opening a new library and maintaining school performance, there were still challenges ahead which he hoped Scrutiny would take on board as part of their discussions.

RESOLVED

1.            That the new draft growth proposals (Appendix 7), and the new draft savings/income proposals (Appendix 5a) and associated draft equalities impact assessments (Appendix 6) put forward by officers be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

2.            That the growth and savings and the associated draft equalities analyses for the savings noted in October (Member’s Information Pack) be agreed.

3.            That the latest amendments to the draft Capital Programme 2020-2024 which was considered by Cabinet on 14 October 2019 and by scrutiny in November 2019 (Appendix 9) be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

4.            That the proposed amendments to savings, including the draft equalities impact assessments previously agreed. (Appendices 5b and 5c) be agreed and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

5.            That the proposed Council Tax Base for 2020/21 set out in paragraph 2.9 and Appendix 1 be agreed.

6.            That the draft service plans (Appendix 8) be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny panels and Commission in February 2020 for consideration and comment as part of the Member’s Information Pack.

7.            That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services in discussion with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance for Merton to enter into a London Business Rates Pool for 2020/21.