Issue - meetings

That the Committee notes the verbal update from the Chief Executive following the meetings of the five Overview & Scrutiny Committees, as follows:

-          All of the listed cost pressures have been endorsed;

-          No proposals to review specific areas of cost efficiency/service models have been made;

-          The budget corporate efficiency target of £1-2m was noted and accepted;

-          The Council’s position on Council Tax - as set out in last year’s budget-setting - was reinforced by all five committees; and

-          The expectations of Government for a minimum 6% increase in RSG, and stability and indexation in specific grants was fully supported.

The Chief Executive gave a verbal update following an overview of cost pressures and overall budget strategy for 2021/22 presented to each of the Overview & Scrutiny committees at recent meetings.

Each of the five committees had accepted:

·         All cost pressures within the forecast for their respective portfolios, with no requests to explore further cost efficiencies in recognition that nothing of scale remained;

·         The aim for between £1m-2m of ‘true’ cost efficiencies across the Council, including adapted ways of working;

·         The existing stance that the annual increase in Council Tax should aim to be below 5% as the maximum; and

·         That a minimum 6% uplift in the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) to Flintshire was required to clear budget requirements and keep Council Tax suppressed below 5%.

The Chief Executive summarised the budget timetable and advised that an all-Member briefing had been scheduled for 23 December to consider the implications of the Provisional Local Government Settlement due the day before.  Collective council engagement with Welsh Government (WG) and Welsh Local Government Association had made clear the expectation for a minimum 5% national uplift.

Councillor Banks reiterated the need for a 6% uplift in RSG for Flintshire.  He referred to the positive relationship with WG and thanked both Governments for the financial support received during the pandemic.

The recommendations - which were amended to reflect the debate - were moved and seconded by Councillors Williams and Dunbobbin.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the verbal update from the Chief Executive following the meetings of the five Overview & Scrutiny Committees, as follows:

-          All of the listed cost pressures have been endorsed;

-          No proposals to review specific areas of cost efficiency/service models have been made;

-          The budget corporate efficiency target of £1-2m was noted and accepted;

-          The Council’s position on Council Tax - as set out in last year’s budget-setting - was reinforced by all five committees; and

-          The expectations of Government for a minimum 6% increase in RSG, and stability and indexation in specific grants was fully supported.