Town and Parish Forum

January 2015

Cllr Michael Wassell

LeaderBreckland Council

Tonight

• Introduction

• Corporate plan

• Budget consultation

• Community grant funding

Delivering for Breckland 2014/15 and beyond…

• Investment in superfast broadband• Launch of ‘Open for Business’• Introduction of a Place Based model• Local Asset Backed Vehicle

• Sound corporate planning• Strong budget position with low council tax• Continued grant funding for local communities

• Issues and options consultation for the new local plan• Strengthening our partnership with the New Anglia LEP• Providing the right developments in the right place e.g. the new

Attleborough link road

Corporate Plan 2015-19

A Plan setting the Council’s:

• Vision for Breckland• 4 key priorities to deliver• Financial framework• Programme for

transformation

Underpinned by Medium Term Financial Strategy and Partnership Policy

The Vision

Breckland is a place of ambition and opportunity

for all

The Priorities

Supporting Breckland to develop and thrive

The Priorities

Providing the right services, at the right time and in the right way

The Priorities

Developing the local economy to be vibrant with continued growth

The Priorities

Enabling stronger, more independent communities

Financial Framework

• Budget presentation to follow

• Headlines: – High quality service with low taxation

– Increase income through council assets

– Re-design services to make efficiencies

– ‘Open for Business’

Transformation Programme

• ‘Harness’ the digital age: -

– Improve Broadband coverage

– Develop a new website

– Increase the range of services online

– Make greater use of social media

Thank you

Any questions?

Draft Budget 2015-16Draft Budget 2015-16for Consultationfor ConsultationTown and Parish ForumTown and Parish ForumJanuary 2015January 2015

Where are we now?

• Balanced Budget 15/16

• No Dependency on reserves

• No dependency on in year/unidentified savings

• Capital commitments maintained (major investment in Riverside and Affordable Housing)

• Healthy Balance of Reserves

The medium termFinancial Plan

What that meansto our district

• No reduction in Services

• Free Parking Continues

• No Increase in Council Tax

• Parish Support Grant Maintained

• Additional investment in services (planning and Housing)

• Focussed on District Growth

Each £ Breckland spends

Other Band DCouncil Tax levels

Other Band D Council Tax levels in Norfolk 2014-15

Other Band DCouncil Tax levels

Other Band D Council Tax levels in Norfolk 2014-15

Band D PreceptLongham £133.43 11,000Swaffham £132.67 276,050Dereham £130.97 659,598Thetford £108.22 614,244Weasenham All Saints £105.32 6,000Watton £92.77 199,704Weasenham St. Peter £88.50 5,000Attleborough £86.93 275,484Buckenham New £82.07 14,089Cressingham Great £81.50 6,250Weeting with Broomhill £78.51 37,500Whissonsett £72.20 11,000Elmham North £70.24 29,500Breckland £69.03 2,624,104

Revenue budget summary

15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19

£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000

In Year Budget Gap - 308 639 1,406

Remove Cont’n to NHB Reserve From 2016-17 - (308) (377) (377)

Revised In Year Budget Gap - - 262 1,029

Capital spend 14-15 to 18-19

Capital Programme includes Gross Spend (Before Funding):

• £6,448k Riverside

• £4,958k Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG’s)

• £1,239k Asset management programme

• £1,149k Affordable Housing

• £1,108k ICT Refresh, Digital Strategy and other IT related projects

• £989k Footway lighting

• £950k Super Fast Broadband (funded from revenue reserves)

£'000Net Spend 14,953 Available Capital Funding (10,729)

An increase of £214k onFeb 14 budget

Revenue reserves

Opening Balance

Closing Balance

01.04.14 31.03.19£'000 £'000

General Fund 2,908 2,908 Other Earmarked Reserves 12,297 7,437 New Homes Bonus Reserve 0 3,660 Total 15,205 14,005

Last Years Budget 11,993 13,121

Increase 3,212 884

Risks and opportunities

• Future reductions in funding

• Public Sector pay

• Riverside funding options

• Sustainable position (balanced budget across the medium term)

• Investment in Corporate Plan priorities and transformation

Breckland Communities

Steve JamesCommunity Development

2014 Projects

• Held on 26th July 2014 – Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

• Over 1500 people attended

2014 Projects

• Grants up to £500 for community projects which explore, share and conserve the heritage of the First World War in Breckland.

• 12 grants awarded across the District

 

2014 Projects

After the first 6 months:

• 554 volunteer hours

• 378 growers supported

• 31 groups supported

2014 Projects

• Fitness in Later Life launched• 5 courses started with 423 participants

2014 Projects

• 3 x 10 week blocks of 12 courses• Including Yoga, Golf, Indoor Bowls, Badminton

targeted at inactive people• 45 free courses delivered with an average of 10

people per course

.

Pride in Breckland Awards

Participatory Budgeting• £10,000 allocated to each of Breckland’s five

market towns and their surrounding villages.

• Funding available to support both capital and revenue projects which fit with the Pride in Breckland aims of ‘getting active’. 

How to apply for funding

Attleborough: tel: 01953 456194email: enquiries@attleboroughtc.org.uk

Dereham: tel: 07947 615335email: rachelleggett@me.com

Swaffham: tel: 01760 722800email: don@iceni.info

Watton: tel: 01953 880202email: jan@jangodfrey.net

Thetford: tel: 01842 757349email: info@keystonetrust.org.uk

Breckland Community Funding

• Breckland Match Funding• Gifted and Talented Award Scheme• Access Arts

• Further information:• www.breckland.gov.uk/content/breckland-match-funding-0

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