Agenda item

The report (which is to be considered by each of the Scrutiny Committees on 20 December) forms part of a series relating to the Service and Resource Planning process for 2011/12 to 2015/16.  

Each Committee will meet in turn to consider the Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas.  Comments from each Committee will then be considered by Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee on 13 January 2011 prior to being fed back to Cabinet in order that they can take the comments into consideration in proposing their budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) in January 2011.

The following annexes are attached:

The Director for Environment & Economy will be available to respond to questions, together with the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure.

Officers from Financial Services will also be present at the meeting to answer any questions that the Committee may wish to ask.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment upon the Directorate Business Strategy and proposed savings

The Committee considered a report (GI5) containing the Business Strategies and savings proposed for their service areas.

Mr Day spoke on the growth and infrastructure proposals relating to waste management, supporting an alternative approach.

There was general agreement on all of the proposals, but the Committee AGREED to  recommend the Cabinet to bear the following points in mind when making decisions:

Transport   [Highways; traffic and parking; road safety (those areas not covered by the Safer & Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee); public passenger transport]

-          The Committee supported in principle the Park and Ride charging proposals, and recommend that that any parking charge system introduced is easy to implement and understand but also spreads charges fairly across user groups, in particular bearing in mind those who Park and cycle and those who park and do not go into the City.

-          There is a need to ensure we are achieving maximum savings from contractual arrangements with Partners

-          It is important that we realise opportunities to explore retail opportunities at Park and Ride sites for future income generation

-          Any changes to levels of bus subsidy need to be very carefully considered, particularly taking into account subsidies needed for new bus routes.

Growth & Infrastructure  [Regional planning and local development framework; economic development; waste management; environmental management; archaeology; access to the countryside; tourism]

-          It was agreed that any energy saving proposals need to have sound business cases sitting behind them.

-          The impact of changes to waste recycling centres on present and likely future communities need to be carefully considered.

-          Opportunities for working with partners on some Council services should be explored for future budget proposals

Capital

-          The committee was in general agreement that any additional Capital funding should be used for Highways Maintenance.