North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Members’ Seminar 30th November 2012

Five Year Estimates, Budget and Precepts2013/2014 to 2017/2018

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Background

Medium Term Financial Strategy encourages a look beyond the next year to 2017/2018

Potential variability limits certainty but looking to estimate for 10 Years

Biggest changes in Local Government Financing probably since re-organisation early 70’s

More Uncertainty Until New System Settled

This Year’s Middle Way

Council Tax Freeze 2012/13 (√) Continuing Grant Reductions (√) 2013/14 to 2015/16:Savings of £2.5m

required over the three years (√) 3% pa Council Tax after 2012/2013 (X) Use Some Reserves in 2013/2014 (X)

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

2013/2014 Assumptions

A Pay award of 1% General Price Inflation of 2% 5% Vacancies in Retained Establishment No Change to Employers Pension Contribution New Burdens Fully Funded All budgeted savings delivered Neutral Reduction in Taxbase/Grant Provision 7%+ Reduction in Grant (Exc CT Freeze Grant)

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

A Balanced Base Budget Expenditure down 1.9% (£629,000) Income down 11.8% (£284,000) 1.06% increase in Council Tax Add £155,000 to Reserves and Increase Council

Tax by just under 2% Opt For Freeze at No Cost Given Freeze Grant

of £190,000 for 2Years Based on CLG figures September £48 billion to Find From? All about the Future

2014/15 – 2017/18

2% Pay p.a 3% pa increase in Council Tax Grant profile -5.4%, -5% -5.% then

disappears as Business rates takeover General Non Staff Costs Pressures 2%p.a £2.5m savings delivered by end of

2015/16 Again Based on DCLG figures September

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

The New Retained Business Rates System

“Top Up” or “Tariff” 2% For Fire – 50% to Government so 1% Consider Growth and Yield Authority will be a “Top Up” authority Estimates based on 2012 suggest £2.9m

RBR, £8.3m Top Up 33% of Authority Finance Key is Start Up/Baseline Funding 2013/14

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Half Full

“The Tariffs and Top Ups established through this process will be fixed until the next reset (possibly 2020) only rising annually in line with September’s Retail Price Index. This mirrors the arrangements whereby the non domestic rating multipliers are indexed to September’s RPI” (DCLG October 2012) (TABLE)

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Half Empty

“Chief Executives of 14 Major Retailers call for a freeze in Business rates” (Financial Times October 2012)

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Reserves

Could be crucial in Managing Funding from 2015/2016 to 2022/23

Maximum Estimated Drawing £5m over that 7 Year Period as New System grows

Minimum Estimated Drawing £3.5m Depends (mainly) on Baseline Funding Council Tax Increases of 3% RPI 2% No Further Savings

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Conclusions

Still Much to be Determined Increase Council Tax for 2013/2014 by 2.0% Or Freeze Council Tax For 2013/2014 Manageable Either Way “Acceptable” Level of Council Tax increase

2014/2015? 2020 Reset should give space for new system

Strategy/Options Statutory Duty of Best Value Compliance – Need to Do? Cost Control Rationalisation General Savings and Efficiency Drives Reserves and/or Council Tax Business Engagement Service Development

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Remember Remember

The 5th of December And the 12th (Possibly) And the 19th (Maybe) And the 31st of January And possibly some dates in February by

when all (hopefully) will have been revealed…….

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service