Hampshire County Council Budget 2013/14 Carolyn Williamson

The Journey So Far Funding the County Council receives from central Government cut by nearly 25% over last two years - joint highest percentage reduction for any English county council In anticipating the significant cuts over 4 year CSR period, ambitious decision to find £100 million efficiencies savings in first 2 years. On track to secure 97 % of these savings by the end of this year At the same time, continuing to maintain and improve our services

Creating Sustainable Infrastructure Good roads are a vital part of Hampshire’s infrastructure and essential for the county’s economic progress and future prosperity Operation Resilience - £70 million investment in Hampshire’s roads for the long term Significant shift away from reactive to planned maintenance Resurfacing over 90 miles in 2011/12 on time and within budget

A New Generation of Commercial Opportunities and Partnerships Public-public partnership with a private sector twist Work in partnership with other public sector organisations to share services, based on a common set of values – combined with private sector input Building on a portfolio of ‘sold services’ of nearly £90M to develop a sustainable business strategy

Beyond 2012 A modern business delivering public services Embedding transformational processes to make the Council more effective and successful Sustainable public services for children through to adults, in a safe and prosperous Hampshire Preparing for the next Comprehensive Spending Review through further transformation workstreams to realise savings by 2015/16

Budget 2013/14 MTFS Key Assumptions : Council tax increase of zero or low (more on this later) Further loss of grant over last two years of CSR of 24% (before return of NHB topslice !) Annual efficiency savings of 2% in all departments (around £10m) Complexity and demography growth in both adults and children’s social care 2013/14 budget position balanced based on the above due to the early savings strategy put in place

Budget 2013/14 Council Tax : Another year of council tax freeze grant announced Equivalent to a 1% increase (£5.3m for HCC) paid for 2013/14 and 2014/15 only Referendum limit of 2% increase 2% increase would provide £10.6m additional income that would form part of base council tax income going forward

Budget 2013/14 Council Tax Benefit Localisation : Local schemes to be introduced with a 10% national cut in funding (impacts on major preceptors such as HCC) Eventual financial impact dependent on scheme design by billing authorities Most authorities looking to mitigate cut in Government funding through scheme design or changes to other discounts such as empty or second homes Less of an impact on preceptors than originally anticipated but schemes now subject to wider consultation

Budget 2013/14 Business Rate Retention : Disappointing outcome for local government generally HCC still heavily dependent on Government funding Equivalent value of Government support estimated at £274m in 2013/14 Only £45m of this is retained business rates and could benefit from potential economic growth Severely reduces the incentive effect the system was designed to produce

Budget 2013/14 Short narrative in your packs Feedback welcomed now or by Any Comments / Questions?