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Business Ratepayers Consultation Event

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Welcome

Caroline WilliamsChief Executive, Norfolk Chamber

of Commerce @nccCaroline

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Agenda• Welcome

Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber  • Budget planning, financial prospects & business rates

2016Simon George, Norfolk County Council

• Re-imagining Norfolk programme & devolution agendaDr Wendy Thomson, Norfolk County Council

• Q&A • Free Networking

• Event Close

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Budget planning, financial prospects & business

rates 2016Simon George, Executive Director

of Finance of Norfolk County Council @NorfolkCC

Norfolk’s Budget 2016-19and Support for Business

Wendy Thomson, Managing Director &Simon George, Executive Director of Finance

13 January 2016

National Context• The Chancellor has announced an ongoing

period of “fiscal consolidation” to the end of this parliament

• Local Government remains an “unprotected” area of spending

• Major costs pressures exist in both the social care system and the NHS

National Context• The Spending Review announced that the overall central

government Departmental Expenditure Limit for local government will decrease by 56% in real terms, although this is expected to be offset in part by increased Business Rates and Council Tax. The Government anticipates overall local government spending to face a total real terms decrease of 6.7% between 2015-16 and 2019-20, based on current inflation forecasts

• The Provisional Local Government Settlement has subsequently set out details of the reductions in local government funding (Settlement Funding Assessment) between the adjusted 2015-16 position and 2019-20, which will see reductions in England of 31.8%, a reduction for shire counties of 43.1%, and a reduction for Norfolk of 33.0% over the period.

Where we spend your money:• £615m Children’s Services

• £359m Adult Social Services

• £263m Community and Environmental Services

• £76m General Finance

• £45m Running the Council

• £33m Public Health

• £22m Finance and Property Department

Where the money comes from:

Funding Gap 2016-19

Currently consulting on £123.163m new savings over the three years 2016-19.

Pressures and SavingsIncreasing Costs• Reductions in core Government funding• Inflationary cost pressures• Increased numbers of service users• Increased costs of waste disposal• National Living Wage• Increased NI contribution pressures

Provisional Settlement Figures

A 72% reduction in core Revenue Support Grant funding over the next four years

Spending Review and Settlement Announcements

• Local authorities will retain 100% of business rates by 2020, and Revenue Support Grant will be phased out

• “New responsibilities” will be transferred to local government

• Government expect councils to raise council tax by CPI, plus 2% where they have social care responsibilities, each year

• Increased Better Care Fund monies for joint working with Health services. But majority of funding not until 2019-20

How to give your views• On the coming budget -- online at

www.norfolk.gov.uk/reimagining, but closes tomorrow.• On council services -- by email

at haveyoursay@norfolk.gov.uk• Via your county councillor -- contact details

at www.norfolk.gov.uk/councillors• On business rates -- to Central Government on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency 

Next Steps• 14 January (Tomorrow 5.00pm) – Budget Consultation

closes• Late January – Business Rates and Council Tax figures

are finalised• Late January – Service Committees finalise their

budgets• Late January / Early February – Final Local

Government Settlement received• 8 February – Policy and Resources Committee

recommends a three year strategy and budget proposals

• 22 February – Full Council consider and approve budget

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Re-imagining Norfolk programme & devolution

agendaDr Wendy Thomson CBE, Managing Director of Norfolk County Council

@NorfolkCC

Re-Imagining Norfolk

Dr Wendy ThomsonManaging Director

Norfolk County Council

A clear and ambitious strategyRe-imagining Norfolk looks forward, it’s not a managed retreat.

• We do have less money from central government – so we’re prioritising

• Government policy for local government moving to economic growth, rather than encouraging re-distribution

• We’re doing differently, not just retreating to minimum service levels

• We have a responsibility to future generations not just present citizens

Setting Priorities for NorfolkThe council’s 4 priorities look beyond our statutory responsibilities. We aim for:

• a well educated and skilled population • with ‘real’ jobs which pay well and have prospects • in businesses which move or grow here because we

are well connected with improved infrastructure - air, sea, road, rail, broadband and mobile network coverage

• Vulnerable people supported – more living independently and safely in their communities

A modern and effective council• Cutting costs through efficiencies • Better value for money through procurement and

commissioning • Enabling communities and working locally • Service Redesign: Early help and prevention• Customer Services -  Channel shift • Raising Revenue: a business strategy

Devolution

Devolution• Greater local control over services that

are currently delivered from Whitehall• Greater certainty over investment• A  ‘combined authority’  with Suffolk • Greater control over business rates,

including complete retention• Aiming for  a deal by the next budget • The Cambridgeshire Question

Our Bid• A local approach to skills – including a

Productivity Commission • Local management of European Funding• Guaranteed infrastructure and greater

control over prioritisation• Public service reform (greater efficiency

and lowering our cost base)

ProductivityThe Productivity Commission:New national initiative with British Chambers, the CBI, universities and Government tackling the root causes of poor productivity • Skills • Business support • Enterprise • Infrastructure

Support for Business

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Q&A

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Thank you for attending

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