Agenda item

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive which presents the Council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2017 – 2020 for the purposes of approval, and which also invites the Board to consider whether to accept the Government’s 4-year funding offer.

Further to Minute No. 42, 27^th July 2016, the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the Council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2017 – 2020 for the purposes of approval. The report also invited the Board to consider whether or not to accept the Government’s 4-year funding offer.

Members welcomed the early consideration of such matters. With regard to considering the Government’s 4 year funding offer, it was requested that should the offer be accepted, then this should be with a caveat that the level of funding currently offered is a minimum level of funding, and that in accepting the 4 year funding offer, this should not preclude the Council from receiving any further provision of funding during the 4 year period.

In addition, it was also requested that representations be made on behalf of the Council to Government with respect to the fact that the level of financial settlement received by Leeds was comparatively less than other Core Cities.

In considering the submitted report, Members considered the ongoinjg review in respect of Locality Services, whilst emphasis was placed upon the increasing importance of working effectively with the Council’s partners across all sectors and working effectively at a local level.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the draft 2017 – 2020 Medium Term Financial Strategy and

Efficiency Plan be approved;

(b)  That it be noted that further proposals will be brought forward to address the current shortfall;

(c)  That the Government’s 4-year funding offer be accepted, on the basis that this represents a minimum level of government funding;

(d)  That representations be made on behalf of Leeds City Council to Government with respect to the fact that the level of financial settlement received by Leeds is comparatively less than other Core Cities;

(e)  That the recommendation to approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency Plan, and the consideration of whether to accept the 4-year funding offer, be exempted from the Call In process, for those reasons as detailed within paragraph 4.5.2 of the submitted report (detailed below);

(f)  That it be noted that the Deputy Chief Executive will be responsible for the implementation of the resolutions above.

(During the consideration of this item, Councillor A Carter left the meeting and was replaced by Councillor J Procter for the remainder of the meeting)

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from Call In by the decision taker if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with resolution (e) above, resolutions (a) and (c) contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, given that the size of the financial challenge facing the Council has meant that the outcomes of the work from service and policy reviews could not be brought to Executive Board sooner, and also due to the fact that the deadline for accepting the Government’s 4-year funding offer is the 14thOctober 2016. As such, it is deemed that any delay to the implementation of these matters would prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests).