Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman advised Members of the need to declare a personal interest in school related items on the agenda if they were school or college governors.  All Members present except Councillors R.C. Bithell, A. Bragg,W. P. Shotton, and A.I. Dunbar (who were not school governors) declared an interest as school governors.

a)         That the presentation be noted;

(b)       That the Committee recommended a pressure bid of up to £11,700 to support the match funding scheme; and

(c)        That an item on the Youth Service be included on the Forward Work Programme for the Committee.

The Chairman welcomed the contributors to the meeting.

                        The Head of Finance explained that an overview of the budget was being provided for each Overview & Scrutiny Committee with the budget proposals for the specific area covered by each Committee detailed at the meetings. 

                        The Head of Finance explained she was making a similar presentation to each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and that the Director of Lifelong Learning, together with officers from Lifelong Learning, would present on directorate specific aspects of the budget.  The main features of the presentation were as follows:-

• National and Local context
• Council Fund Budget Strategy
• Budget Process
• Financial Overview
• Ongoing work
• Next Steps

            The Director of Lifelong Learning continued with the directorate specific contents of the presentation and reported on the budget proposals and key service issues concerning: 

• Pressures/Investments
• Efficiencies
• Live issues for the Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Key Service issues for Lifelong Learning in the medium term

The comments and questions which were raised by Members of the Committee, and the responses given are attached at Appendix 1.

Councillor C.A. Thomas reported on the Playschemes Task and Finish Group which had been formed to consider the arrangements for play schemes for 2013 and beyond.   She advised that at the meeting of the Group held on 23 January 2013 the following proposal was put forward for submission to the Committee:

That having considered the available evidence, the Group proposed that Town and Community Councils who normally had more than two settings, which wanted to keep them and were prepared to match fund, would have the opportunity to do so, supported by match funding from Flintshire County Council.  The Group emphasised the importance of maintaining positive relationships and working in partnership with Town and Community Councils and maintaining some consistency of provision within the budget restraints.  The Group recommended a pressure bid of up to £11,700 to support the match funding scheme. 

            The proposal put forward by Councillor Thomas as Chair of the Group was seconded by Mr. D. Hytch and when put to the vote became the resolution of the Committee. 

            Councillor Thomas also requested that an item on the Youth Service be included on the Forward Work Programme for future consideration by the Committee and this was agreed by the Chairman.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the presentation be noted;

(b)       That the Committee recommended a pressure bid of up to £11,700 to support the match funding scheme; and

(c)        That an item on the Youth Service be included on the Forward Work Programme for the Committee.

There were no members of the public and one member of the press in attendance.

Supporting information for budget consultation meetings.