The purpose of this Technical Note is to provide Members with details of the Budget timetable and guidance in relation to the submission of amendments to the Council’s Budget meeting on 24th February 2022.
2. Members will be aware that the Council’s Budget meeting is scheduled to take place on 24th February 2022 at 17:00. Preparation of the budgets to be set at that meeting (General Revenue, General Capital, Housing Revenue and Housing Capital) is ongoing and officers continue to engage with the Scottish Government through CoSLA.
3. The Council’s Standing Orders set out the timeline for publication of Council Agendas and also set out the process for submitting an Amendment. The procedure for submitting an Amendment to the Budget differs from other Council business and is detailed in this Technical Note.
4. Standing Order 65 sets out specific provisions in relation to the Council’s Budget –
“BUDGET
65. The Council is required to set a lawful (balanced) budget for each year. Recognising this:
(a) Any motion or amendment which seeks to add to, take from or otherwise alter or amend the annual budgets submitted to Council shall require to take the form of an alternative budget, which shall detail the cost of the proposal(s) being advanced or the savings proposed to be achieved and the consequential impact of that cost or those savings on the annual budget.
(b) Any such amendment must be submitted to the Chief Finance Officer and the Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer by noon on the second last clear day before the meeting takes place.
(c) Upon receipt of any such amendment, the Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer will arrange for it to be circulated to all Members of the Council.
(d) Upon receipt of any such amendment, the Chief Finance Officer shall consider the financial implications thereof in order to ascertain whether the amended budget is lawful. “
5. Members may wish to note the following key points
- Any proposed Amendment(s) must take the form of an alternative Budget.
- Any proposed Amendment(s) must detail the subsequent costs or savings and impact on the overall annual Budget.
- All Amendments must be in writing.
- All Amendments must be submitted to the Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer by noon on Tuesday 22nd February 2022.
- Given remote working, Amendments should be submitted by email.
- All Amendments will be circulated to all Members upon receipt.
6. The final Agenda for the Budget meeting will be published on 17th February and will include a reminder of the deadlines for submission of Amendments. Meantime, should any Member wish to discuss/seek advice in relation to a possible Budget proposal, they should contact Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive in the first instance.