Issue - meetings

Cabinet noted the observations in the report.

Councillor Eddie Reeves, Chair of the Performance and Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee, presented the report and observations on the Budget and Business Planning Report.

Councillor Reeves thanked the Cabinet members and officers who had attended the Committee’s meetings during consideration of the Budget report. He referred, in particular to the following observations:-

·       The impact of the proposals for the workplace parking levy

·       Concerns regarding the proposals for “delayering”, particularly the need for consultations with trade unions and the impact of the proposals on the “Delivering the Future Together” initiative

·       The need for clarity on the position regarding the High Needs Block funding in Children’s Services

·       The need for more priority to be given to developing career opportunities for staff in Children and Adults’ services and the financial benefit to the Council.

The Chair thanked the Scrutiny Committee for their thorough report and said that the Cabinet would take on board the observations.  She confirmed that the trade unions had been briefed on the budget proposals and there were national discussions taking place on Higher Needs education funding.

During discussion members commented on the need to consider the impact of the labour market on the recruitment and retention of staff in the County Council.

RESOLVED to note the report and observations of the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.