Issue - meetings

The Democratic Services Manager introduced the report which provided feedback from Members and officers in developing the new approach for the budget consultation process.  Member consultation feedback was appended to the report, as was a proposed staged budget process flow chart. An amended form of words for insertion into section 16 of the Constitution was recommended in the report.

Following the consultation with Members, a set of requirements and responses/comments were outlined in the report which had been used to inform the proposed flow chart. The flow chart was also based on the 2018/19 approach but it was not prescriptive; the flow chart demonstrated a three stage process but dependent on circumstances, a two or four stage process could also be adopted.

The proposed wording for the Constitution was:

Based on good practice and the need for efficiency, the Council had developed a staged Budget Process, as illustrated in the flow chart.  This is not prescriptive; between two and four stages would be equally reasonable, depending on the circumstances in different years.  At each stage, there is four weeks available for consultation, both on an individual member basis and through one of the six Overview and Scrutiny Committees. Time is made available for individual Members and Overview and Scrutiny Committees to ask for additional information, up to and including a final deadline which will be set out at the start of the process.

At the end of the consultation, Cabinet will draw up firm proposals, having regard to the responses to the consultation.  Any report to Council will reflect comments made by consultees and the Cabinet’s response.  Overview and Scrutiny Committees may also prepare a response direct to Council for a non-executive decision, such as the Budget.  Throughout the process, up to the deadline which will be determined on an annual basis, the Council’s statutory officers will be available to guide and assist Members who wish to explore alternative proposals.

The Chief Executive explained that a lot of work had been undertaken on possible options to inform the flow chart.  He said the budget process for 2019/20 had already commenced with a report to Cabinet earlier that week on the projected budget gap.  Following the budget process the previous year, an early meeting with head teachers and Chairs of Governors had been arranged to take place the following week to consider budget scenarios.  Following an Income Generation Workshop where Members were challenging, work was now underway on options.  He referred to items such as Tracking Budget Efficiency and the Income Strategy which had already been placed on the forward work programme for Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee to track outcomes.

Councillor Dunbar commented on the efficiencies that had been achieved over recent years but emphasised the Council was now dependent on help from National Government and Welsh Government (WG).  He supported the recommendations in the report and welcomed the flow chart.  He said discussions with Group Leaders were essential so that they could report back to their respective groups.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24