The Cabinet considered a report and appendix by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Finance that formed part of the financial planning process providing Members with the information on which to consider the Council’s Budget for 2012/13.  The appendix to the report set out the draft revenue estimates for 2012/13.  A decision was required to enable recommendations to be made to the Council concerning the budget and Council Tax for 2012/13.

Councillor J Green in moving the Cabinet’s Budget Proposal for 2012/13 (seconded by Councillor L Rennie) reported as follows:

“The budget presented to cabinet this evening is designed to enable the new Council Administration to take the urgent action required to address the crisis of confidence local people have in this Authority.

It will enable us to tackle the urgent concerns regarding the Council’s ability to protect our most vulnerable residents and put us on the path to providing high quality services that are designed and delivered according to the wishes and needs of our communities.

Given the time we have had available we have accepted the budgetary assumptions made by the previous Administration (after all they have had nine months to examine the books). However we absolutely reject the Labour administrations decision to axe in excess of £1 million From the Day Services budget for 2013/14.

We will act to put right the injustices identified in the Anna Klonowski report. We will pay back in full all those who were overcharged back to 1997. We will reinstate Martin Morton if that is what he wishes, and we will ensure all who need to be held accountable for those dreadful failings are dealt with.

We believe the Council exists to serve local people not to tell them what we think is best for them and we have placed this principle at the heart of this budget.

Residents across Wirral are making careful decisions about their household budgets and monthly outgoings. To support them the Government has announced funding that has enabled us to freeze their Council Tax. In addition, when consulted, local people said that a cut in Council Tax was a clear priority for them. Therefore today we are announcing:

A rebate equivalent to a 3% cut in the Council Tax. With a commitment to work in future years to make this permanent

An extension of the current council tax relief scheme for the over 75s scheme to over 70s households

And for all households who pay via direct debit, provide the opportunity to spread their payments across twelve rather than ten months.

Combined with this year’s freeze and rebate over 70s households in Band B with a Direct Debit will pay £36.94 less each month.

As a result of sticking to our fundamental principle that people rather than Council’s know how to spend their own money best it has allowed us to inject an additional £4 million into local businesses and Wirral’s economy as residents have more money to spend locally.  We will continue to strive to rebalance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 317