a) Budget Report 2023/24 including MTFS
b) Capital Strategy and Capital Programme
c) Reserves Strategy update
d) Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24
Minutes:
The Commissioner introduced his report which set out the proposed budget and precept proposals for the Police and Crime element of his portfolio for 2023/24. He reported that the proposed budget/precept showed a total net revenue budget requirement of £242.902millionfor 2023/04. The report also included details of the Home Office Police Grant for Staffordshire which had been set at £129.860 million, an increase of £.450 million on the previous year. Other sources of funding were from the Police Pension Grant £1.825million; uplift ring-fenced grant £4,100 million; Council Tax freeze grant £3.541million; and Revenue Support Grant of £8.423million.
The Commissioner was proposing to part fund the balance from Council Tax funding of £93,883,136 with an increase of 4.83% per annum (an increase of £12 per annum) increasing the Council tax to £260.57 p.a. per Band D property.
The Police Officer pay award was set nationally and the MTFS included an amount based on Home Office guidance and forecasting. It was reported that if the settlement was higher than anticipated next year, any gap in funding would hopefully be funded by Government.
The Commissioner stated that he was confident that the proposed budget was adequate to deliver the services Staffordshire needed. It allowed for an additional 60 Officers in 2023/34.
Savings made during 2022/23 had been achieved and had enabled investment in technology to reduce car crime and provision of automated number plate recognition software.
The Commissioner was confident that the budget balanced what the public wanted to see in terms of value for money and improvements and also gave the Chief Constable sufficient funds to address the HMICFRS inspection report findings and invest in technology and personnel. The Commissioners office would continue to invest in prevention; diversionary activities for young people and supporting victims.
The Panel received a presentation from the Chief Finance Officer, which was considered along with the report which included the following:
1. Budget Report 2023/24 including MTFS
2. Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24
3. Reserves Strategy update
4. Capital Strategy and Capital Programme
The Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24 set out proposals for the management of the Commissioner’s cash flows, borrowing and investments and their associated risks.
The Reserves Strategy update paper considered the overall level of reserves held at 31 March 2022 and the forecast position at 31 March 2023 and into the medium term.
The Capital Strategy and Capital Programme (Including Minimum Revenue Provision Policy) set out the long-term capital investment and investment decisions.
The Panel were asked to note the statement made by the Commissioner’s CFO on the robustness of the budget and adequacy of the proposed financial reserves as required by Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 as contained within section 9 of the main report.
A summary of the results of the public and stakeholder engagement survey which had been carried out by the Commissioner was included in the papers.
The Panel was reminded that the new Firearms Facility would in the main, be used by Staffordshire officers and the investment would not rely on generating external revenue. Work had taken place to see if there was a possibility of sharing facilities but this had not proven feasible.
The following information was also gained through questioning:
The Panel acknowledged the challenging situation facing the Commissioner but felt that this was a high increase in precept and the public needed to be assured that this would lead to visible results in the communities. The Commissioner agreed and suggested a briefing to the 21 February Panel meeting containing a summary of where the investments have been made following last years precept increase, thus demonstrating past delivery. Some examples provided were:
· New officers
· Contact team
· Operating model
· Investment in technology for officers
The Panel adjourned to consider their response to the Commissioners budget and precept proposals. Upon reconvening the Panel:
Resolved:
1. In relation to the Budget and Precept setting:
b) That the budget investment required to deliver a further growth of 60 FTE police officers in 2023/24, taking police officer headcount to 2,000 be noted and supported.
c) That the proposed budget and Precept increase of 4.83% (£12.00 per annum, per household (Band D)) be supported and the Commissioner be notified accordingly.
d) That the Council Tax base increased to 360,299 band D equivalent properties, equivalent to an increase of 1.46% be noted along with the council tax collection fund surplus of £1.270m.
e) That the use of £0.361m of revenue reserves to balance the 2023/24 budget (in addition to use of other earmarked reserves to support identified purposes) be noted.
f) That the MTFS summary financials and MTFS assumptions as contained in the report be noted.
g) That the Support the delegation to the Director of Finance for the Staffordshire Commissioners Office and the Chief Finance Officer of Staffordshire Police to make any necessary adjustments to the budget as a result of late changes to central government funding (including changes due to the final funding settlement being announced) via an appropriation to or from the general fund reserve be noted.
h) That the proposed four-year Capital Investment Programme totalling £48.264m and the Capital Strategy and Capital Programme Paper be noted.
i) That the outcome of the Staffordshire Commissioner’s budget consultation within the Commissioners foreword which included a survey regarding the proposed level of precept for 2023/24 be noted.
2. Future work programme items:
3. Information following the Panel meeting
Supporting documents: