The Council Finances 2012-13 to 2013-14

Cllr Steve ElingDeputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic

Resources Stuart Kellas

Director of Strategic ResourcesMelanie Dudley

Director of Improvement and Efficiency

express briefing @ 8

Council agreed budget 6 March 2012• Council tax remains frozen for second

year running• Housing rents will not increase in

2012/13• Council spends £895m gross on

services, met from £618m fees, specific grants and charges, £176m formula grant and £101m council tax

Budget 2012/13 – 2014/15• Business plans developed covering three years• Targeted saving of 10%, 5% and 5% in years

2012/13, 2013/14, and 2014/15 respectively• Flexibility over 3 years• Encouraged to bring forward restructures in order

that employees have some form of stability• Business plans produced on gross basis to

encourage consideration of income maximisation as well as expenditure reduction

Issues to be addressed over the 3 years:• Localisation of council tax benefit (April 2013)• Local business rates (April 2013)• Return of Public Health to Council control

(April 2013)• Social care funding review outcomes

(Spring/Summer 2013)• Updated public expenditure details (Oct/Nov

2012)

Next Steps• The full report is available on CMIS and on

Sandwell Trends express briefings page, www.sandwelltrends.info/themedpages/ExpressBriefings (please note that the URL is case sensitive)

• Next Express Briefing @ 8 on Government’s Budget and implications for Sandwell 25 April 2012