Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Liz Brighouse and Nick Carter.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 24 September 2009 (SYP3) and to note for information any matters arising on them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2009 were approved and signed.

Contact Officer: Lorna Baxter, Assistant Head of Finance –Resources Tel : 01865 323971

The attached report (SYP5) sets out the Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies for each Directorate and the identified pressures and proposed savings contained therin. The Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee is meeting prior to the December round of Scrutiny Committees to consider the overall position for the Council, the balance of pressures and savings across the Directorates and the the Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies for all Directorates.  Each Scrutiny Committee will then consider the strategies for their programme areas with comments from each being passed back to Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee in January 2010, in order that the committee can then feed back to Cabinet in time for consideration as part of their budget proposals.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to :

a.                        comment on the overall Council position and the balance of pressures and savings across the directorates;

b.                       note that the Directorate Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies plus the pressures and savings therein will be considered by the Service Scrutiny committees, their comments being fed back to Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee for consideration in January 2010;

c.                        consider whether the Council tax increase in the existing MTFP is still appropriate recognising that any reduction would require further savings to be identified; and

d.                        agree to invite the chairs of the Service Scrutiny Committees to attend the Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee on 17^th December 2009 to comment on the capital proposals.

The Committee considered a report (SYP5) and presentation, setting out the Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies for each Directorate and the identified pressures and proposed savings contained therein. They were asked to consider the overall position for the Council, the balance of pressures and savings across the Directorates and the Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies for all Directorates. 

In response to questions the following information and points of clarification were obtained::

1) the proposals did not reflect a worst case scenario but were based on the best estimates currently available. It was noted that further information might be available following the pre budget speech on 9 December. The Plan was about being prepared for what was realistically expected to happen and a cautious approach was taken to allow proper planning.

2) The assumptions behind the figures included for inflation were explained.

3) It was explained that although it was correct that the shortfall would hit hardest in later years  by front loading savings it allowed investment to save measures to be undertaken.

4) Targets were based on controllable spend.

The Leader sought a view from Members on the level of Council tax rise that they thought would be reasonable. There would be difficult choices during the current budget process. Factors involved in forming a view could include the financial position of the Council, the struggle people were having in the current economic situation and the impact of the capital grant settlement. The Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer added that key issues were the level of inflation and a concern over people’s ability to pay. She gave some indication of the effect of reducing the figure, explaining that a 0% figure would mean a deficit in the first year.

During discussion a member commented that it was a question of balance, with choices to be made between savings and services and the individual Scrutiny Committees would make comments based on the detailed consideration of programme areas. One member felt that the current assumption of 3.75% was reasonable but generally there was a view that the figure should be below 3%. There was a recognition that it would be difficult for it to be much below that figure. The Chairman  commented on his wish to see a figure below 3% but at same time to protect statutory and vital services.

RESOLVED:           

a)         as more particular referred to above the Committee commented on the uncertainty surrounding budget assumptions; sought explanation of the figure included for inflation and noted the importance of the investment to save approach;

b)                 to note that the Directorate Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategies plus the pressures and savings therein will be considered by the Service Scrutiny committees, their comments being fed back to Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee for consideration in January 2010;

c)         to note the individual member comments made on the appropriateness of the Council tax figure included in the existing MTFP and that generally there was a view that given the current economic position the figure should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/09

To consider the factors relevant in taking forward the scrutiny of partnerships.

RESOLVED:               to:

(a)   receive an overview of partnerships, looking at responsibilities and accountability, including the role of the Public Service Board; and

(b)   agree that the timetable for looking at particular partnerships be based on seeing those longest established first and newer partnerships later.