To note the outcome of the recent review of the Council’s priorities; and to confirm the budget and corporate planning arrangements for 2014/15 in light of the ongoing significant financial challenge.

The council made a commitment to being open and transparent about the challenges it faces and to engage with people about the ways in which we will have to deal with these. This report aims provide an update on this work and seeks agreement to the consultation and engagement approach to be adopted in relation to the budget proposals.

The constitution requires Cabinet to make recommendations to Council on any changes proposed to the council’s corporate plan, to recommend budget proposals to Council, and to publish its timetable for making such proposals including arrangements for consultation. It is open to Cabinet to agree an alternative timetable but regard must be had to the statutory requirement for councils to set a council tax before 11 March.