Agenda item

Council Fund Budget 2017/18 - Stages 1 and 2

Purpose:       To approve the Stage 1 budget proposals; and

To endorse the strategy for Stage 2 of the budget for further work and reporting back.

Decision:

(a)       That the Stage 1 budget proposals for 2017/18 be approved; and

 

(b)       That the strategy for Stage 2 of the budget for referral to Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny prior to presentation to Council on 6 December 2016, be endorsed.

 

Minutes:

The Corporate Finance Manage introduced the report to provide an update on planning the 2017/18 Council Fund Budget and closing the significant ‘gap’, to recommend for adoption the Service Portfolio Business Plan proposals for 2017/18, and to seek endorsement on the Corporate Financial Stewardship proposals for review by the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny on 30 November 2016 prior to submission to County Council on 6 December 2016 for formal approval.

 

The Chief Executive commented on the clear and purposeful three year financial strategy and gave a joint presentation with the Corporate Finance Manager which covered the following areas:

 

·         the on-going strategy

·         critical point for Flintshire

·         the projected ‘budget gap’ 2017/18

·         where we left off in September

·         Service portfolio Business Plans – Part 1

o   service reform – business plans

o   final changes to proposals

·         Corporate financial stewardship - Part 2

o   conclusions of work to date

o   new and emerging pressures

o   ongoing work

·         working with Welsh Government – Part 3

o   key national discussion points

o   impact of the provisional settlement

o   Domiciliary Care – charging levels

o   summary of overall budget position

·         budget closing stages

·         the medium term

 

Councillor Aaron Shotton formally moved the recommendations to the report and thanked the Chief Executive and Corporate Finance Manager for their comprehensive overview of Stage 1 of the budget proposals.  He referred to the recommendation to endorse the strategy for Stage 2 of the budget and advised that a number of further corporate finance options to close the budget gap had been agreed at the meeting of Cabinet which had been held prior to County Council this afternoon.  He said these proposals would be subject to further scrutiny at the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny meeting on 30 November 2016.

 

Councillor Shotton also spoke of the need to protect frontline services against the impacts of austerity.  He commented on the further work to be done to bridge the ‘gap’ and set a balanced budget and took the opportunity give an assurance to Members, residents of Flintshire and service users, that the Council did not intend to  bring forward any further proposals which would effect its services.

 

Councillor Richard Jones thanked the Chief Executive for his clarification during the presentation around the information provided on equalities impact assessments/statements received.  However, he expressed concern that the information which Members had requested was a report on the consequences  of the efficiencies and decisions that had been made regarding front line services.  He raised a number of concerns around the level of efficiencies to be achieved,  the financial process, and the information which had been provided so far. 

 

In response to the concerns raised by Councillor Jones the Chief Executive advised that a commitment had been given to look at what impact assessment work was available and this had been shared with Members.  He also explained that Members had been advised that if they had  concerns regarding any specific budget proposals they would be provided with information in response to those enquiries, however, there had been  no such requests as far as he was aware.  Regarding the concern that the Council should be aiming for a higher level of  efficiencies the Chief Executive  emphasised that there were no further efficiencies to be found in the business plans and reiterated that it had been previously agreed with Members that the business plans were now ‘maxed out’ .

 

Councillor Mike Peers endorsed the views expressed by Councillor Richard Jones and said there was a need for Members to be provided with a report on the consequences of the efficiencies proposed to services.  Referring to page 46 of the report, Councillor Peers asked for an explanation of the information provided in paragraph 1.27 regarding the £0.400m lower funding for the primary sector.  He raised further concerns around pressures and commented on the need and the cost to comply with the new Welsh Language Standards.  He suggested that as the Welsh Government had introduced and required that the Council be compliant with the Standards it should be asked to provide the funding to meet the need.  He also asked for further explanation to be provided relating to the electricity generated on solar farm sites, the car parking strategy and car parking charges   Officers responded in detail to the questions raised. 

 

Councillor Robin Guestreferred to the additional information which had been requested  by members of the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  He said it was the detail of what the consequences of the amendments to the budget and reductions in services would be, that was required.  In addition an explanation of why the figures had changed from previous years was requested.  He sought an assurance that the information requested by the members of the Committee would be provided before the next meeting on 30 November 2016.  The Chief Executive agreed that the further information requested on consequences and mitigation would be provided to all Members for the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 30 November 2016.  He asked that Members forward any additional questions to the Corporate Finance Manager in advance of the meeting

 

Councillor Richard Jones proposed an amendment to the recommendation to approve Stage 1 of the Budget proposals.  He proposed that approval be provisional pending acceptance of the  additional information to be provided to Members at the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 30 November 2016.  Members were asked to vote on the amendment and when put to the vote the amendment was lost.

 

Councillor Aaron Shotton acknowledged the request from Members for further information and assurance, however, he emphasised the need to progress and deliver the proposed efficiencies as early as possible.  Commenting on the question concerning the Education budget which had been raised by Councillor Peers, Councillor Shotton gave an assurance that the Council would do its upmost to protect and increase schools budgets as much as possible.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the Stage 1 budget proposals for 2017/18 be approved; and

 

(b)       That the strategy for Stage 2 of the budget for referral to Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny prior to presentation to Council on 6 December 2016, be endorsed.

 

Supporting documents: