To agree consultation arrangements to inform the process for setting the 2019/20 budget and developing the medium term financial strategy (MTFS).

Under the budget and policy framework rules, Cabinet is required to publish its timetable for making proposals to Council for the adoption of the MTFS, its capital budget and setting a budget, and its arrangements for consultation after publication of those initial proposals.

The report proposes the timetable and recommends that Council be requested to move the date of the budget meeting in February by two weeks to provide for consideration of the government settlement usually published at the end of December.

It also requests that the scrutiny committees make appropriate provision in their work programmes to inform the budget setting process.