Agenda item

A verbal update will be provided.

(a)       That the update be noted;

(b)       That concerns raised on the impact of education cuts on classroom sizes be referred to the Lifelong Learning;

(c)       That concerns raised on the impact of any cuts on social care services to vulnerable people be referred to the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

(d)       That more detail on the Council’s approach to community asset transfers be shared with the Committee, including the FLVC website address.

The Leader of the Council thanked all Members who had attended the recent workshops and said that Group Leaders would be asked to pass on information to those who had been unable to attend and offer the opportunity for a separate discussion with officers.

In terms of reconciling the £2.6m gap to meet the overall revised budget gap of £16.4m for 2015/16 following the 3.4% reduction in the settlement, he said that there were a number of options remaining to be explored around school budgets, Council Tax levels and further service efficiencies, and that draft budget proposals would include further savings with emerging risks.  At the formal Overview & Scrutiny budget consultation meetings scheduled for January 2015, there would be an opportunity for Members to scrutinise the ‘green’ rated risk options which had not been shared at the workshops and which represented a significant share of the efficiencies.  In referring to the challenges of managing the expectations of Council Members and members of the public, he said that although the current situation was reflected nationally, Flintshire’s approach to closing the budget and defending important local government services was to create opportunities for alternative service models and innovation.  In response to concerns raised by a number of Members at the workshops on the provisional budget settlement for 2015/16 received from the Welsh Government (WG), it was the Leader’s intention to submit the Council’s response for discussion at full Council.

The Chief Executive referred to the deadline for consultation responses of 19 November and the need to have a full debate with all Members at Council.  He said that any significant change in the final settlement was unlikely as there was limited scope for financial flexibility within WG given budget pressures across the public sector, and therefore it was advisable to concentrate on the need for longer term planning in a consultation response.  He went on to provide information on the timescale for the budget setting process with work being undertaken on impact and equality impact assessments of the budget proposals and options.

Councillor Clive Carver made reference to the Council seeking expressions of interest on the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) initiative from Town and Community Councils.  He said that any decision to pursue this would impact significantly on precept amounts and asked how this could be justified when the asset in question was not limited to residents only in those communities.  The Chair said that the same concerns had been raised by others and in particular, smaller Town and Community Councils.

In acknowledging the point raised, the Leader of the Council said that this was a genuine attempt to offer the opportunity to transfer responsibility of important assets to Town/Community Councils or volunteer groups to protect and retain those facilities for the benefit of communities.  He referred to the scale of the current financial challenges and said that discussions could take place with Town/Community Councils on any ideas for CAT that were put forward, including options for collaboration with other Town/Community Councils.

The Chief Executive gave examples of options on assets such as libraries with the potential for volunteering input and acknowledged that there may be greater capacity in larger than smaller Town/Community Councils some of whom were now meeting with Council officers.  He stressed that the aim was to allow time and space for consideration of options which could be progressed during the next financial year and not immediately for the 2015/16 budget.

In response to comments from the Chair, the Chief Executive confirmed that the Council was working with the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) who were the first point of contact for expressions of interest on CAT.

Councillor Richard Jones thanked the Chief Executive for his response to questions previously raised on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) but asked why the Plan had not been reviewed to reflect the provisional settlement which was marginally better than expected.  The Chief Executive acknowledged that the MTFP could be used more effectively as a tool and that more frequent updates were needed alongside the budget process drawing on the best intelligence for future years.  He pointed out that even if targets were planned, the delivery of solutions was not made any easier.  Early planning alone necessitated early decision making on difficult decisions.

The Leader of the Council spoke about the challenges for Councils due to a lack of clear financial forecasting from WG and reliance on information in the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report which was a standard approach being taken across Wales.  He spoke of the need for further representations to be made to WG for adequate financial intelligence and planning long-term and about Flintshire’s planning in defence of public services and redesigning management structures and services to better align to future delivery.

Councillor Jones commented on the impact of financial cuts in schools and felt that school governors and Members should be given a better steer on how to deal with this.

Councillor Arnold Woolley shared frustrations on long-term planning and raised concerns about the effect of education cuts on class sizes and the potential for reduced social services for those in need.  He referred to the Council’s Charter with Town/Community Councils through the County Forum which included the transfer of assets and asked if the terms of this conflicted with the current CAT initiative.

The Chief Executive confirmed that there were no proposals in the budget for 2014/15 to withdraw principal needs-assessed social care services to vulnerable people or to reduce service quality.  He provided information on the Charter with Town/Community Councils and advised that this was a statement of intent and not a legal agreement.  The Charter had been written before the escalation of financial challenges and perhaps required updating.

Whilst the Leader of the Council acknowledged the key challenges on CAT, he spoke of the potential for success in some areas, as demonstrated in parts of England, and the option for Town/Community Councils to facilitate involvement from community groups.  He clarified that the opportunities for CAT applied to 2015/16, however options to explore any interest in the current year would be followed up.

Councillor Robin Guest commented on the views put forward on CAT and challenging decisions needed to justify additional expenditure of any asset transfer.  Councillor Carver spoke of the need to use plain language on agreements such as the Charter with Town/Community Councils.

Councillor Marion Bateman referred to the option for collaboration between Town/Community Councils on CAT and felt there was now a greater need for collaboration on larger issues.

The Chair said it was evident from this discussion that further questions remained and that reassurance was needed before proposals were considered by Cabinet.  The Chief Executive said that enquiries could be directed through the Corporate Finance Manager or direct to Cabinet Members.  In response to comments, he provided clarification on the FLVC as the contact point for expressions of interest on CAT, details of which would be posted on the FLVC website.

The Chair suggested that concerns raised on the impact of education cuts on classroom sizes and the impact on vulnerable people of any cuts to social care provision be referred to the Lifelong Learning and Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committees respectively.

The Chief Executive agreed to provide Members with more detail (by circular) on the Council’s approach to CAT, including the FLVC website address.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the update be noted;

(b)       That concerns raised on the impact of education cuts on classroom sizes be referred to the Lifelong Learning;

(c)       That concerns raised on the impact of any cuts on social care services to vulnerable people be referred to the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

(d)       That more detail on the Council’s approach to community asset transfers be shared with the Committee, including the FLVC website address.