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ITEM EN5

ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY COMMITTEE –
17 SEPTEMBER 2003

BASE BUDGET REVIEW

Report by Director for Environment & Economy

Introduction

  1. An essential part of the "Maximising our Resources" strategy by the Leader and Deputy Leader, agreed by the Executive on 29 April, is the implementation of a rolling programme of base budget reviews. The current intention is to undertake a review of all budgets by August next year.

  2. There are three principal objectives of the reviews, namely to understand the budget, to identify potential efficiency savings and the potential for reducing or eliminating service provision. In practice the reviews undertaken have also looked at the potential for identifying any sources of additional income.

  3. We have been asked to illustrate potential savings of 2%/5%. This information can then be taken into account by the Council, along with expenditure pressures identified, in determining an updated Medium Term Financial Plan and the budget for next year.

    4. Progress to date on Reviews

  4. The reviews undertaken within Environment & Economy are Waste Management
    (Annex 1) (download as .doc file)
    (Annex 1, Chart 1 (download as .xls file)
    Annex 1, Chart 2     (download as .xls file)
    Annex 1, Chart 2 (download as .xls file))
    Annex 1, Appendix 1 (download as .xls file)

    and Highways Management
    (Annex 2 (download as .doc file).
    Annex 2, Appendix 1 (download as .doc file)
    Annex 2, Appendix 2, 3 and 4 (download as .doc file)
    Annex 2, Appendix 5 and 6 (download as .xls file))

    These reviews were chosen as the first to be undertaken because of the size of their budgets involved. The brief given for the reviews was to make them short, sharp and focused. A working group of officers managed the process and the gathering and presentation of information. This was supplemented by one meeting with the Leader and the two relevant portfolio holders as a check on whether the output was as expected.

  5. The Reviews contained in the Annexes represent the progress made to date in drafting the reports for the Executive. Any views made by this Committee will be taken into account in the final report to be taken to the Executive. Any views or comments forthcoming from the Committee will be incorporated into the final report.

    6. RECOMMENDATIONS

  6. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. comment on the progress to date;

          2. identify any specific aspects that could be looked at or developed further;

          3. offer any suggestions or advice in relation to the services; and

          4. comment on any proposals within the reviews.

RICHARD DUDDING
Director for Environment & Economy

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer:
Paul Gerrish Tel: Oxford 815081
Adam Symons (Waste Management) Tel: Oxford 815867
Richard Dix (Highways Management) Tel: Oxford 815663

September 2003

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