Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Transformation Services and Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

Further to the meetings of the Cabinet held on 13 September, 11 October and 8 November 2012, the Council considered the report of the Head of Transformation Services and the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided details of a package of budget savings proposals to enable the Council to achieve the current budget savings of £43.7 million for the period 2013/14 to 2014/15.

The report contained the following annexes:

Annex A – Work Programme Timetable

Annex B – Business efficiencies on which approval to progress immediately was sought

Annex C – Internal consultation proposals on which approval to progress immediately was sought

Annex D – Integration proposals on which approval to progress immediately was sought

Annex E – External consultation (information) proposals on which approval to progress as described was sought

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

The Leader of the Council, Councillor P. Dowd referred to the current budget savings of £43.7m which had to be achieved for the period 2013/14 to 2014/15 and indicated that the Government was due to announce the Local Government Settlement for 2013/14 in December 2012 and the confirmation of the external revenue support from the Government would provide greater clarity of the Council’s saving requirement for 2013/14.

 It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher:

1)         the work programme timetable contained in Annex A of the report be noted;

Annex B – Business efficiencies on which approval to progress immediately was sought

2)         approval be given to the budget reductions, increased income targets and adjustments to the Medium Term Finances Plan as outlined in Annex B of the report and Officers be authorised to continue with engagement and implementation processes with partners, key stakeholders, employees and Trade Unions as appropriate with a view to achieving the agreed changes at the earliest opportunity;

Annex C – Internal consultation proposals on which approval to progress immediately was sought

3)         approval be given to the proposals as described in Annex C of the report;

Annex D – Integration proposals on which approval to progress immediately was sought

4)         approval be given to the proposals as described in Annex D of the report;

Annex E – External consultation (information) proposals on which approval to progress as described was sought

5)         approval be given to the proposals as described in Annex E of the report;

6)         it be noted that the risks and mitigating actions outlined in Annexes C, D and E of the report had been taken into account;

7)         it be noted that where changes and/or savings cannot be achieved through deletion of vacant posts, Voluntary Redundancy or Voluntary Early Retirement then there may be a need for compulsory redundancies arising from a number of proposals outlined in the report that are subject to normal procedures; and

8)         it be noted that the Cabinet had been made aware of the need to notify the Department of Business Innovation and Skills and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT and Head of Transformation Services

Further to Minute No. 54 of the meeting held on 13 September 2012, the Cabinet considered the joint report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT and the Head of Transformation which provided details of the progress made on the reviews of service and consultation processes being undertaken in order to move towards the achievement of a balanced budget in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The report also set out a further package of savings proposals relating to internal consultation options, on which the first stage consultation is considered to be complete and requested the Cabinet to make an appropriate recommendation to the Council.

Councillor Dowd referred to the on-going discussions with the Trade Unions regarding the savings options within Corporate Support Services.

Councillor Moncur raised the following question on the issue referred to in the report and the Strategic Director - People responded to the issue as referred to below:-

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

Decisions Made:

(1)       the work programme timetable contained in Annex A of the report be noted;

(2)       it be noted that consultation in respect of terms and conditions issues had been commenced with the Trade Unions;

(3)       it be noted that the first stage of consultation on the change proposals set out in Annex B of the report, is considered to be complete;

(4)       the Council at its meeting on 22 November 2012 be recommended to give approval to the change proposals set out in Annex B of the report and Officers be authorised to prepare for implementation immediately, pending the final decisions of Council, including the issue of relevant statutory and contractual notifications, if appropriate to achieve change;

(5)       it be noted that Officers will comply  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64