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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
(COMMUNITY SERVICES)
COMMITTEE AND OVERVIEW AND
SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE AND THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2010
PRESENT: Mr D M Busby – Chairman
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Mr J R B Cave
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr P J Holbrook
Mr B D Hurren
Mrs M O Munson |
Mr B Riley
Mr C A Roberts
Mr H N Todd
Mr D M Walton
Mr D L Wood |
The following Members were unable to be present:
Mr A C Bavington, Mr J C Brand, Mr J A B Long, Mr M Newman, Mr A F D W Osborne and Mr J R A Sayers.
Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the SFP Task Group, was present at the meeting for the Group’s report (Minute No 5 refers).
1 - Election of Members
2 - Declaration of Interests
3 - Petitions
4 - Questions from Members
5 - Interim Strategic and Financial Planning Report
RESOLVED
That Mr D M Busby be elected to chair the meeting.
The following Members declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No 5 below in the capacity shown, but indicated that they were able to speak and vote on the matter concerned:-
Mr D G Grutchfield by virtue of being a Suffolk County and Hadleigh Town Councillor and appointed to the Gainsborough’s House Society, Ansell and Alabaster Trusts and the Hadleigh Traffic Management Working Party.
Mr J R B Cave by virtue of being the Council’s representative on ‘Choose Suffolk’.
Mr B D Hurren by virtue of being the Council’s representative on The Quay Theatre at Sudbury Ltd and in his capacity as the Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Mr P J Holbrook by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley JAC, and Ward Member for Bures.
Mr B Riley by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Hadleigh High School – Dual Use Sports Centre Management Committee.
Mr D L Wood by virtue of being a Suffolk County Councillor and a member of the Suffolk Police Authority.
Mrs M O Munson by virtue being a Hadleigh Town Councillor and on the Hadleigh High School – Dual Use Sports Centre Management Committee.
Mr D M Walton by virtue of being a Sudbury Town Councillor.
Mrs S P Clarke by virtue of the fact that she is the recipient of a concessionary bus pass.
Mr C A Roberts by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB JAC.
None received.
None received.
Members had before them Paper K158 (from the SFP Task Group) together with Paper K129 which was considered by the Strategy Committee at its meeting on 4 November 2010.
Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic and Financial Planning (SFP) Task Group introduced Paper K158 and together with the Director of Finance responded to Members’ questions on various aspects of the report.
In scrutinising the contents of Paper K158 and associated Appendices, Members were aware that the Draft Budget is based on there being no Council Tax increase for 2011/12. They were informed that the level of Government grant has yet to be notified, but it has been assumed that the reduction on the previous year’s settlement is likely to be in the region of 15%, taking into account the uncertainty about the Concessionary Fares Scheme.
In addition the following points were noted:
· Social Enterprise – being looked at for future year(s)
· Further significant staff related savings being made - already noted by Council when adopting the Collective Agreement
· AONBs – savings of 5% are being considered by the Projects and this should feed through to Babergh contributions.
· Sale/letting of HQ space – being looked at for future years
· Pin Mill car park – could increase charges further to fund public conveniences
· Funding of borrowing requirements etc - will be covered in Treasury management report and Joint Medium Term Financial Strategy with Mid Suffolk
The following were among various items which were further highlighted or were proposed as requiring further detailed discussion:-
· If possible, further information indicating percentage savings on broad service/divisional areas to be included in the final budget papers (including the items shown in paragraph 5.10 of Paper K158) if this does not involve excessive use of staff resources
· Information on the levels of discretionary community grants to be made available when the Draft Budget is submitted
· The importance of taking into account the needs of the elderly, vulnerable and unemployed in agreeing budget savings
· Savings across Babergh and Mid Suffolk arising from the integration of legal services and further saving opportunities which might be identified from the current six month pilot
· On the Capital Programme, making it clear that the potential future costs relating to combining with Mid Suffolk relate to service integration as opposed to merger
· The future use and operation of the Canteen facilities after the current contract ends
· Options for further reducing the costs associated with the Chairman’s Reception
The above items will be taken into account by the relevant officers, in conjunction with the SFP Task Group where appropriate, either as part of the current process or when looking at savings for future years.
In terms of observations on the savings proposals in Appendix A to Paper K158, Members requested that the SFP Task Group further reviewed the following before submitting draft Budget proposals to Strategy Committee in January 2011:
· The impact of cuts to the Economic Development and Tourism Budget
· The future provision of, and funding options for, publicly accessible toilet facilities
· The best means of using and distributing Babergh Matters
· Future funding options for the Substance Misuse Officer post
Members acknowledged the considerable efforts which the SFP Task Group had made to identify the savings, efficiencies and additional income generation as set out in Paper K158 resulting in proposals which would, if delivered, enable the Council to produce a balanced Budget with a small potential ‘cushion’ as a contingency. As a result of its scrutiny, the Joint Meeting voted in favour of accepting recommendation 2.3 of Paper K158.
RESOLVED
(1) That it be noted that, subject to any changes in the underlying financial assumptions, the aim is to achieve a 2011/12 Draft Budget that is based on there being no Council Tax increase.
(2) That in relation to savings proposals, the SFP Task Group be asked to:-
(a) give further consideration to any detrimental impact which might arise from the proposed saving of £5,000 for Economic Development and Tourism, particularly in relation to ‘Choose Suffolk.’
(b) in relation to the proposals for public conveniences, have regard to some concerns and issues in relation to specific sites and ensure that officers make every effort to identify alternative means of provision to avoid closure.
(c) give further consideration to the future delivery of Babergh Matters by the most cost effective means and limiting this to one edition per annum
(d) make every effort to find a means of funding the 0.5 FTE Substance Misuse Officer post .
Note: The meeting adjourned for refreshments between 11.15 a.m. and 11.35 a.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.30 p.m.
………………………………… Chairman
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