EXE

103

Budget Strategy Consultation 2007/08 and beyond (Agenda Item 12(1))

Councillor Bell and the Director of Finance and Resources presented a report.

A non-Executive Member referred to the need for the Council to introduce better financial systems. The Director of Finance and Resources referred to the cost of such a measure and emphasised that, advantageous though it might be, the expenditure would have to be justified: short term improvements in the Council’s systems were in hand. Non-Executive Members raised other points including: the implications of the increasing Pension Fund deficit, the effects on the Council’s finances of trust schools, expenditure on elections, costs and funding of play areas, costs of projects that overran, Section 106 expenditure.

Resolved:

(1) that the Budget Strategy Consultation Document, contained in the report, be approved and that the Director of Finance and Resources be authorised to make minor editorial changes; and

(2) that the document be referred to all Policy and Scrutiny Panels for their comments and ongoing contribution to the budget process.[J1]