Issue - meetings

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

Further to Minute No. 64 of the meeting held on 11 October 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 towards the establishment of the 2013/14 – 2014/15 budget plan and the consultations processes which were being undertaken.  The report also set out a further package of budget savings proposals relating to the ‘inform consultation options’ set out in Annex B of the report.

The report contained the following annexes:

The Chief Executive reported that a consultation response had been submitted prior to the meeting from the National Allotment Society relating to Option F1.5 (Allotment Users Fees and Charges) in Annex B of the report and that the details of the response and any officer comments would be included in the report to be submitted to the Council meeting on 22 November 2012.

The Chair 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.

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

Decision Made:

(1)       it be noted that the figures and phasing set out in the annexes to the report were working assumptions of options to be considered and the figures should not be seen as predetermining any decisions.  Many of the options would be subject to consultation and engagement, and any figures indicated were being used to facilitate outline budgetary forecasting only;

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

Annex B – Proposals – Community being informed of changes

(3)       it be noted that the relevant legislative framework, the risks and mitigating issues identified, the equality impact assessment information and the mitigating factors for each individual proposal in Annex B of the report had been taken into account;

(4)       subject to the deferral of Option F1.1 (Cars Parks), the Council at its meeting on 22 November 2012 be recommended to approve the remaining proposals set out in Annex B of the report;

Annex C – Integration Proposals

(5)       the Council at its meeting on 22 November 2012 be recommended to approve the integration options set out in Annex C of the report and mandate Officers to continue with consultation, 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.  (This would involve engagement in consultation as necessary, and the issuing of statutory notices to Trade Unions under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72