Minutes:
Annex 1
ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED BY THE CONSERATIVE GROUP TO THE 2022/23 BUDGET
(1) Proposed adjustments to the revenue budget
£m
Lancashire Levelling Up Investment Fund (22/23 only) 5.000
Platinum Jubilee Addition to Members Grants (22/23 only) 0.042
Increased support for Active Travel (22/23 only) 0.100
Additional Funds for Emergency Welfare Support (22/23 only) 0.100
New Best Start in Life Scheme (22/23 only and funded from 0.100
Public Health Grant Reserve)
Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation Initiative 0.100
(22/23 only and funded from Public Health Grant Reserve)
Local Nature and Biodiversity Grant Scheme 0.058
Total cost of proposed amendments: 5.500
(2) Proposed additions to the capital programme
£m
Highways Responsive Maintenance (22/23 only) 2.000
Additional capacity of SEND Sufficiency Strategy 0.400
Conservation Area Enhancements Scheme 0.300
Total Additions to Capital Programme: 2.700
(3) Proposed amendments to the funding of the Capital Programme
£m
Transfer from Transitional Reserve -2.700
Total amendments to the funding of the Capital
Programme: -2.700
|
Revenue Budget 2022/23 |
Net Budget |
|
|
£m |
|
Adult Services |
418.950 |
|
Chief Executive Services |
15.470 |
|
Children's Social Care |
171.440 |
|
Corporate Services |
23.200 |
|
Education and Skills |
58.230 |
|
Finance Services |
18.760 |
|
Growth, Environment and Planning |
11.290 |
|
Waste Management |
71.730 |
|
Highways and Transport |
75.700 |
|
Public Health and Wellbeing |
2.590 |
|
Strategy and Performance |
33.650 |
|
Organisational Development and Change |
1.980 |
|
Digital Services |
33.510 |
|
Sub-Total |
936.500 |
|
Financing Charges |
30.450 |
|
Use of one off resources |
-18.840 |
|
Revenue budget 2022/23 |
948.110 |
County Councillor Phillippa Williamson,
Leader of the County Council,
17th February 2022
View of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources (S151)
The proposals have been validated as being deliverable financially in 2022/23.
In validating the proposals, I have been mindful that:
The transitional reserve is currently forecast to be £211.750m at 31st March 2022. The additional call on the reserve arising from this amendment will be £8m in 2022/23. The transitional reserve is sufficient to support the structural deficit for 2022/23 – 2024/25 with a revised forecast level of £100.67m at 31st March 2025.
In the intervening period the council will need to take steps to address the structural deficit to ensure it can maintain a sustainable financial position.
Annex 2
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LABOUR GROUP TO THE 2022/23 BUDGET
Even though there appears to be a budget underspend of £23.46m for 2021/22 due to COVID there has been a supressed need building up over the last 2 years across all services from children's services to fixing roads. It is difficult to predict has service requirements will develop. Our staff have done a fantastic job and will be working hard to meet the needs of our communities.
With the increased inflation especially hitting energy cost and cost of living its important that we minimise LCC costs. However, we will have to increase council tax, which will not keep pace with inflation so our ability to deliver will be affected. We do have uncommitted £204.450m in LCC transitional reserves. It is our intention to use these reserves to support communities across Lancashire as well as work with partners on joint funding projects.
(4) Proposed amendments to the revenue budget
|
|
2022/23 £m |
|
Developing a business bank for small and medium businesses. We do not have the internal skills to launch such scheme. However, we do have skills regarding working with Lancashire Businesses and investment opportunities. We would be looking to work with other authorities and government agencies as well as the banking sector to consider the benefits and pitfalls of developing a Lancashire Bank for small and medium size business. Part funding.
|
0.200
|
|
Promotion of night-time and cultural economy. This business area has been hit harder than most during the pandemic. Through Marketing Lancashire, we will carry out advertising and information surrounding this economy in a safe and sustainable manner. From transitional reserves.
|
0.300 |
|
Community Speed Watch - Excessive or inappropriate speed, whether real or perceived, is an issue for many communities and Community Speed Management is a coherent and systematic approach to help communities address this. Community involvement is important to the delivery of Community Speed Management and the Road Safety Engineering team within Transport & Planning will help the formation of local Community Speed Management groups and support them in delivering community-led actions.
The Process This is based on a step-by-step approach; steps 1 to 3 are delivered by community groups.
1. ‘Road Safe’ - A community-based ‘pledge’ that seeks to inform residents about the issue of speeding and other inappropriate driving behaviour and invites them to sign up to a pledge not to exceed speed limits. Whenever action is requested, communities will be directed towards the ‘pledge’ approach as an initial step. 2. Speed Indicator Device (SID) deployment - An informal speed management device operated by volunteers in accordance with a defined process and initiated by an identified community group. 3. Community Speed Watch - An informal speed management process involving the use of speed guns at the roadside. Volunteers are trained and supported by either the Police, PCSOs or Safety Wardens. Vehicle details of those exceeding the relevant speed limit are recorded with drivers receiving warning letters.
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) or Community Support Wardens may assist groups to operate SIDs and will assist in operating speed guns.
This system is already operational and proved successful in Cheshire West and Chester Council area.
To be paid for by Lancashire road safety partnership. |
0.000 |
|
Launch Lancashire Good Employment Charter to enable our Business to attract the best and the brightest employees. Working with businesses and business organisation, trades unions, other authorities, universities, colleges, and schools. To identify key indicators of good employment and recognition of those companies that fall into that category.
Call out and oppose the act like “Firing and Rehiring” of staff by unscrupulous employers and applaud those employers who have acted responsibly and stood by their staff during the pandemic. As these acts detract from good employers. |
0.100 |
|
To increase street lighting in areas of crime and disorder on a 50-50 funding base partnership funding with the police. |
0.100 |
|
Welfare Rights – Fuel Price Poverty and cost of living increases. Support Helpline. Supporting people with information and signpost services to reduce their energy cost and financial advice to cope with increasing costs. Recurrent cost. |
0.200 |
|
Create a Lancashire Care Home Charter that will prevent neglect and premature deaths due to older people being transferred from hospital into care homes that have not been tested for COVID-19 or any other transferable illness. |
0.100 |
|
Provide 12 months membership to local authority sports and swimming facilities and other contracted facilities, for all disabled residents and 11 to 16 years olds. Funded from the Public Health Grant Reserve and partnership funding. |
1.200
|
|
Extra invest in health improvement services including, smoking cessations, drug and alcohol addictions services and obesity. Funded from the Public Health Grant Reserve and partnership funding. |
0.500 |
|
Work with an organisation (Royal Mail due to this organisation calling at nearly every home across Lancashire appears an appropriate place to start) to provide training for volunteer postal staff in “isolation awareness” to identify vulnerable people in the community. This will hopefully enable us to identify early problems in the community where individuals feel unable to access support. Funded from the Public Health Grant Reserve. |
0.100 |
|
Promotion of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Scouts, Guides, Cadets, and other organisations across schools that encompass their communities. Carried out by our Youth Service with the organisations and through school, like freshers' days at universities. |
0.200 |
|
Evaluation of Transport for the North Policy in relation to the needs of Lancashire |
0.100 |
|
Smart ticketing system for public transport across Lancashire. Part funding. |
0.100 |
|
Increase signs and lines on our highways |
0.100 |
|
Highways Masterplans to be reviewed based on sustainable transport to incorporate a greater emphasis on pedestrian, cycling and alternative transport solutions. |
0.200 |
|
Drainage maintenance. Work with the borough councils to increase road sweeping in areas of flooding. To prevent gully blockage. Recurrent cost. |
0.120 |
|
Trades Union Facility time to support LCC staff in returning to work in the new normal conditions of service. Recurrent cost. |
0.150 |
|
Home Computers and internet access for school children across Lancashire. Due to increased cost of living and continued need for education via the internet this will provide young people with the systems required whose families cannot afford the cost. |
0.200 |
|
Total cost of proposed amendments |
3.970 |
|
Establish a 2030 Carbon Neutral Scrutiny Committee The committee would consider all operations across the county that carry a carbon factor, energy, transport, recycling, building, non-reusable materials, biodiversity, land use and upcycling. To make recommendations that would reduce the council's carbon footprint.
To challenge the committee to make recommendations as to how long-term capital investment, procurement or reorganisation could repay the council investment and reduce revenue costs in council activities.
|
There is a cost to all committees at the council, but we would expect the initial costs to be incorporated into the present system. This may change as the committee makes progress on its considerations.
|
The additions to the revenue budget to be funded from a combination of the Transitional Reserve (£2.170m) and Public Health Grant Reserve (£1.8m).
(5) Proposed additions to the capital programme
|
|
2022/23 £m |
|
Pothole provision on top of government grant. |
5.000 |
|
Pedestrian and cycle surfaces on top of government grant. Pedestrian and cycling surfaces to be constructed or repaired using recycled tyres and other recycled materials. |
5.000 |
|
Increase the provision of temporary classes to cope with the current shortfall in spaces across the county. |
0.500 |
|
Parish and town councils to bid into a highways and structural fund, along with match grant funding based on external grants (lottery funding) for minor works up to a Lancashire County investment of £50,000 per project. This would be on a 50/50 base. |
1.000 |
|
Carbon Neutral Biodiversity Fund for parish and town councils to develop projects in their own areas with the local community. Examples of projects, tree planting, living walls and butterfly bus shelters to name a few. Apply to LCC to create nature reserves on LCC land. Maximum grant of up to £2,000. |
0.100 |
|
Total |
11.600 |
Provision for Capital projects following the development of Lancashire's Master Plans.
|
|
£m |
|
Following the review of all the current Highways and Transport Master Plans the council will be looking to support the priorities identified to support local communities through improved and sustainable transport links which will reduce the carbon footprint across the county. Money will be available to develop and promote projects.
Examples Colne-Skipton rail link and electrification to Preston. Poulton to Fleetwood rail link. Fleetwood power generation barrage. Midge Hall Train Station. A56 village bypass, linking M65 to M1. Skelmersdale Rail link and Station Lancaster Train Station HS2 preparation. Preston Train Station HS2 preparation. Burscough curves. Rawtenstall to Manchester train link. Coppull Train Station Eden Project Provisional from the £5.6B Lancashire Deal Bid |
20.000 |
The additions to the capital programme are all to be funded from the Transitional Reserve.
View of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources (S151)
The proposals have been validated as being financially deliverable in 2022/23.
In validating the proposals, I have been mindful that:
The transitional reserve is currently forecast to be £211.750m at 31st March 2022. The additional call on the reserve arising from this amendment will be £33.770m in 2022/23. The transitional reserve is sufficient to support the structural deficit for 2022/23 – 2024/25 with a revised forecast level of £73.960m at 31st March 2025.
In the intervening period the council will need to take steps to address the structural deficit to ensure it can maintain a sustainable financial position.
Annex 3
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP TO THE 2022/23 BUDGET
(6) Proposed amendments to the revenue budget
£m
Increase Council Tax by 1.99% rather than 3.99% within 10.984
the proposed 2022/23 budget
Provide funding for street light energy costs to allow 0.500
more flexible policy on times of dimming in locations
where there are community safety concerns
Youth worker provision - 6 additional permanent youth 0.270
workers and a 7th senior youth worker - £270k
Parking enforcement - 12 street enforcement officers 0.350
(1 in every division)
Flooding - additional planning officer to assist the Flood Risk team 0.043
Flooding - investment in 4 new gully wagons with maintenance 0.480
and two operatives - £480k pa (capital costs £600k)
Total cost of proposed amendments: 12.627
The additions to the revenue budget to be funded from the Transitional Reserve.
Revenue Budget 2022/23 Council Tax Amendment
|
|
£m |
|
Divided by tax base (estimate) |
377,198.67 |
|
Gives Band D council tax for 2022/23 |
£1,485.17 |
|
2021/22 council tax |
£1,456.19 |
|
Percentage increase |
1.99% |
Council Tax (on the basis of a budget requirement of £937.124m and the Council Tax base for each property valuation band:
|
Council Tax Band |
£ |
|
|
|
Band A |
990.11 |
|
|
|
Band B |
1,155.13 |
||
|
Band C |
1,320.15 |
||
|
Band D (basic) |
1,485.17 |
||
|
Band E |
1,815.21 |
||
|
Band F |
2,145.25 |
||
|
Band G |
2,475.28 |
||
|
Band H |
2,970.34 |
||
The share for each district council of the net total raised from the council tax of £560.204m:
|
District |
£m |
|
Burnley |
34.882 |
|
Chorley |
56.597 |
|
Fylde |
46.622 |
|
Hyndburn |
31.263 |
|
Lancaster |
62.466 |
|
Pendle |
35.556 |
|
Preston |
59.064 |
|
Ribble Valley |
36.465 |
|
Rossendale |
30.565 |
|
South Ribble |
54.335 |
|
West Lancashire |
55.946 |
|
Wyre |
56.443 |
|
Total Raised from the Council Tax |
560.204 |
(7) Proposed additions to the capital programme
£m
New high school in North West Preston if no funding streams 26.000
become available from City Deal in the next 12 months - £26m
4 new gully wagons 0.600
Total Additions to Capital Programme: 26.600
The additions to the capital programme are all to be funded from the Transitional Reserve.
View of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources (S151)
The proposals have been validated as being deliverable financially in 2022/23.
In validating the proposals, I have been mindful that:
The transitional reserve is currently forecast to be £211.750m at 31st March 2022. The additional call on the reserve arising from this amendment will be £39.227m in 2022/23. The transitional reserve is sufficient to support the structural deficit for 2022/23 – 2024/25 with a revised forecast level of £42.652m at 31st March 2025.
In the intervening period the council will need to take steps to address the structural deficit to ensure it can maintain a sustainable financial position.
Annex 4
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE GREENS GROUP TO THE 2022/23 BUDGET
(8) Proposed amendments to the revenue budget
£m
Increasing Local Member Grants to £4k per councillor 0.168
Additional Bus Services 1.400
Total cost of proposed amendments: 1.568
The additions to the revenue budget to be funded from the Transitional Reserve.
(9) Proposed additions to the capital programme
£m
Cycling and Walking Schemes 0.500
Total Additions to Capital Programme: 0.500
The additions to the capital programme are to be funded from the Transitional Reserve.
View of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources (S151)
The proposals have been validated as being deliverable financially in 2022/23.
In validating the proposals, I have been mindful that:
The transitional reserve is currently forecast to be £211.750m at 31st March 2022. The additional call on the reserve arising from this amendment will be £2.068m in 2022/23. The transitional reserve is sufficient to support the structural deficit for 2022/23 – 2024/25 with a revised forecast level of £102.466m at 31st March 2025.
In the intervening period the council will need to take steps to address the structural deficit to ensure it can maintain a sustainable financial position.