Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the progress of the Transformation Programme in the delivery of approved budgetary savings; reviews of services and consultation processes being undertaken.  The report also set out the details of a package of budget savings options for consultation, which were set out in the following annexes to the report:

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      approval be given to the funding of known budget shortfalls in 2011/12 totalling £1,494,431 as detailed in Annex A of the report from the Budget Pressures Reserve established for this purpose;

(2)      that the Council be recommended to cancel its meeting on 22 December 2011 and re-schedule it to be held on 24 November 2011 in Bootle Town Hall;

(3)      the meeting of the Cabinet on 5 January 2012 be cancelled and re-scheduled to be held on 19 January 2012 in Southport Town Hall and an additional meeting of the Cabinet be held on 16 February 2012, commencing at 10.00 am in Bootle Town Hall;

(4)      the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) be requested to hold an additional meeting on 21 February 2012, commencing at 6.30 pm in Bootle Town Hall to consider the Cabinet’s budget recommendations prior to the Budget Council meeting on 1 March 2012;

(5)      approval be given to the changes in the Medium Term Financial Plan assumptions as highlighted in Paragraph 5.1 of the report;

(6)      it be noted that Officers are currently progressing a number of service reviews;

(7)      the ongoing business efficiencies (C1 to C4) be noted and the Council on 27 October 2011 be recommended to approve the change proposals (C5 - C8) in Annex C of the report and mandate Officers to commence consultation and implementation processes with partners, key stakeholders, employees and Trade Unions, including the issue of relevant statutory and contractual notifications if appropriate to achieve change;

(8)      the equality impact assessments set out in Annex D of the report be noted;

(9)      approval be given to the commencement of consultation and engagement activity on the budget savings options set out in Annex E of the report;

(10)    it be noted that all figures in Annexes C and E of the report are working assumptions of proposals/options to be considered and these figures should not be seen as pre-determining any decisions;

(11)    the risks outlined in Paragraph 12 of the report be noted; and

(12)    it be noted that further options may be subsequently developed and submitted to Council for approval.  However any such options will require appropriate consultation prior to their approval and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50