Agenda item

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 Trade Unions to comply with statutory requirements regarding redundancies.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Booth, seconded by Councillor Brodie - Browne that resolution (5) of the Motion be amended to read as follows:

 

“approval be given to the proposals as described in Annex E of the report, subject to:

 

(a)       the deferral of Option F1.2 (Grounds Maintenance – Recharging grounds maintenance / utility costs for adult football/sports users / bowlers) until the consultation process on Option F1.3 (Grounds Maintenance - Recharging grounds maintenance / utility costs for organised junior sports activities) is concluded and a report is submitted to the Council on the progress made by the Sefton Sports Connect Group; and

 

(b)       the deferral of Option F1.4 (Cemeteries and Crematoria – Increase     Burial and Cremation Charges) until further consultation can take    place.”

 

Councillor P. Dowd indicated that he accepted the amendment.

 

On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the revised Motion was carried by 52 votes in support of the Motion and none against, with 12 abstentions and it was

 

RESOLVED: That

 

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 subject to:

 

(a)       the deferral of Option F1.2 (Grounds Maintenance – Recharging grounds maintenance / utility costs for adult football/sports users /bowlers) until the consultation process on Option F1.3 (Grounds Maintenance - Recharging grounds maintenance / utility costs for organised junior sports activities) is concluded and a report is submitted to the Council on the progress made by the Sefton Sports Connect Group; and

 

(b)       the deferral of Option F1.4 (Cemeteries and Crematoria – Increase Burial and Cremation Charges) until further consultation can take place.

 

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 Trade Unions to comply with statutory requirements regarding redundancies