Issue - meetings

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.

(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.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65