BUDGET FAIR 2014 Cllr David Bellotti

Cabinet Member for Community Resources

Bath and North East Somerset –

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Background

» 3 Year Financial Plan – Approved Feb 13 » Covers 2013/14 through to 2015/2016 » Identified over £27M of Savings / New Income to be delivered » Good progress has been made against this plan » Some things have changed – some variations are needed » The Budget 2015/2016 will seek to address these variations Bath and North East Somerset –

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The Budget Priorities

Approved by the Council in February 2013 and remain: » Protecting Frontline Services » No Increase In Council Tax » Investing in Homes and Jobs for Local People Bath and North East Somerset –

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Delivering the Current Plan

» The approved Medium Term Plan contains significant challenges.

» Already delivered £11M of Savings / New Income in 2013/14 » A further £11M is being delivered in the current year 2014/15.

» The final year 2015/2016 will require over £10M to be delivered to balance the budget for the 3yrs » Delivery our existing plans (revenue and capital) are key to meeting the current financial challenge.

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Focus on Delivery:

KEY CAPITAL PROJECTS – EXAMPLES OF DELIVERY UNDERWAY

Bath and North East Somerset –

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Growth / Enterprise Area

BWR » 258 units complete (55 Affordable) and 105 under construction » Energy Centre complete and Gas Holders decommissioned » Midland Road Bridge replacement proceeding Southgate » Final stage complete – Railway Station / Brunel Square Bath and North East Somerset –

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Regeneration

Keynsham » One Stop Shop opened 20 th October » Offices fully completed staff moves underway » Retail units fit-out underway first opening early November » All on-time and on budget Radstock (NRR) » Construction of new link road underway Bath and North East Somerset –

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Highways and Infrastructure

Kelston Road » Access road complete and piling work progressing well » Expect road to re-open prior to Xmas.

Rossiter Road » Scheme commenced July 2014 » Highways maintenance works running concurrently » Completion Feb 2015 Bath and North East Somerset –

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Cycling and Walking

Batheaston Footbridge » Key pedestrian / cycling route – opened July 2014 » Further tree-planting during Autumn 2014 Two Tunnels » Main phase completed in 2013 » New Greenway Path opened September 2014 » Further links under development Bath and North East Somerset –

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Schools

Whole range of school improvements and new building complete & underway including: » St Kenya » Wellsway Sports Centre » St Marks 6 th Form » Weston All Saints » Castle Primary » Paulton Infants » St Saviours Primary » Free School Meals for Infants Bath and North East Somerset –

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Other Key Projects Underway

» London Road Regeneration » Victoria Bridge Structure & Improvements » Bath Flood Mitigation » Bath Transport Package » Gypsy & Travellers Site » River Corridor » Odd Down Playing Fields » Digital BANES » Play Park Improvements Bath and North East Somerset –

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2015/16 Budget:

VARIATIONS

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2014/2015 Variation Budget

» Approx £9M is required to balance the Budget including funding for Care Act, Capital and Non Deliverable Savings - Proposals include: » Increased Business Rates Income » Improving Council Tax Base » Pension Deficit Refinancing » Increased Income » Use of the Better Care Fund » Using One-Off Reserves » No new proposals relating to Frontline Services Bath and North East Somerset –

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New Investments

Limited and Essential New Capital Investment proposals will include: » Economic Development Fund Projects » Innovation Quay – Enabling Infrastructure » A36 Lower Bristol Road Bus Lane » IT including Adult Social Care Database » Passenger Transport Vehicles » River Corridor including ROSPA Safety Works » Saltford Station – continued feasibility work Bath and North East Somerset –

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Tackling Poverty

The Council will play its part by: » Maintaining the Social Fund at £250K for 15/16 » Remove some lower pay bands to help low paid » Ensuring Zero Hours Contracts are not used directly by the Council » Work with partners to help residents with pay day loans.

» Support our local food banks » Continue to develop our Connecting Families programme » Work to reduce adult and youth unemployment Bath and North East Somerset –

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“Think Local” Procurement

» Launched in October 2013 » Measures to promote use and engagement of local suppliers » £25K limit introduced to target local suppliers » Council spend increased from 35% to over 38% in first year » Proposing to increase limit from £25K to £50K

FY 12/13 35%

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2016/17 And Beyond

» National and Local Elections May 2015 » Significant savings will need be found over period of next parliament to address the Budget deficit » Political priorities nationally » 2016/17 looks particularly challenging » New commitments have to be paid for Bath and North East Somerset –

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SUMMARY

» Focus on Delivery » Variation Budget for 2015/16 Only » Further £9M of Variations Identified » Balanced Budget Proposal » No further savings from Frontline Services » Proposes No Increase in Council Tax » All Subject To – Government Financial Settlement in December 2014 (or January 2015) » Outlook 2016/17 and beyond is challenging Bath and North East Somerset –

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Questions and Comments

Bath and North East Somerset –

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