To consider the report of the Budget 2016/17 Task and Finish Group and make recommendations to Cabinet.

Councillor Hannah Fraser, Chairman of the Budget 2016/17 Task and Finish Group, was invited to present the Group’s report.  She observed that they had been tasked to consider the budget for 2016/17 but they had been informed by the wider financial strategy going forward.  The specific ongoing financial challenges had been noted and they recognised the difficulties and challenges these presented.  She described the Budget for 2016/17 as precarious, with details regarding the impacts of funding reductions still unclear and hard to assess.  She continued that the Group had received a lot of detailed information but had had insufficient time to fully consider it.  The Group recommended that a standing group was established to enable more time to be given to the consideration of future budgets. 

Councillor Fraser continued that the Group had noted a strong reliance on new working practices to allow services to continue and a presumption that Town and Parish Councils and 3^rd sector organisations would be able to deliver services.  She continued that it was unclear whether the necessary support networks were in place to enable this. The Group had also been made award of the number of discretionary services which supported or decreased the requirement for the statutory ones.  Concern was expressed regarding the unintended consequences of ending the discretionary services, and the impact this would have on statutory services leading to budget implications which would need to be given consideration.

She continued that the Council needed a clear vision for the future, it needed to define its future role, purpose and structure.  The reduction in the establishment risked the loss of knowledge, experience and assets if this was done in an uncontrolled manner. 

A Member thanked Councillor Fraser for the work undertaken by the Task and Finish Group, and commented that there were still many unanswered questions which required directing.  He continued that he had noted that the Group had found difficulties with partnership working as all public sector bodies were experiencing similar funding reductions, it was important that the seriousness for partnership working was demonstrated. 

Councillor Hunt, a Member of the Task and Finish Group, commented that the work had been challenging with both Senior Officers and Portfolio Holders tightly scrutinised.  He continued that the Group could have produced a more considered report if the work had started earlier and supported the report’s recommendation for a standing Task and Finish Group. 

Councillor Evans expressed dissatisfaction that not all Members of the Task and Finish Group attended all meetings.  It was agreed that attendance information would be provided.  Councillor Hunt commented that he had not been able to attend one of the meetings but had received the relevant paperwork beforehand and forwarded his comments for consideration.  Councillor Evans suggested the appointment of substitutes for future meetings. 

Members considered a number of alterations to the text of the report:

Recommendation B:  the wording should be changed to read that the Financial Strategy would be the main focus of the work programme, not that the work programme be built around the Strategy.

Recommendation D:  that Cabinet be asked to highlight the risk and impact of the budget proposals for 2016/17.

Recommendation G:  remove the word continue from the phrase “… must continue to be a priority” as communications have not always been a priority. 

Recommendation F:  this recommendation should be strengthened to include that the Council should invest to save and generate future income to create income.

In response to Member’s request for clarification of recommendation I, Councillor Fraser explained that this recommendation was aimed at community engagement and ensuring that support was offered to Town and Parish Councils to enable them to take on the provision of services.  Recommendation H referred to partner organisations.

A Member commented that the effect of climate change was missing from the report. 

In response to a Member’s query, the Commissioning Director confirmed that to his knowledge commissioning would continue.  He added that with the current budget constraints the Council could not continue to be the solo finance provider and cost pressures had to be shared.  Members expressed concern that Town and Parish Councils were unaware that they were being expected to provide services previously provided by the Council and were not being given sufficient guidance on what they need to precept for.  Members commented that some of this communication would be done through the Big Conversation work, but much work needed to be done to ensure continuity of provision for services. 

Councillor Evans raised the issue of Task and Finish Groups being private meetings.  The Senior Solicitor advised that the purpose of this was to allow Members to discuss difficult topics freely but if Members wished to scrutinise a topic in public this could be done through the setting up of a Sub-Committee,  although Sub-Committees did not have the flexibility of Task and Finish Groups. 

Agreed: that subject to the agreed rewording of Recommendations, the Budget 2016/17 Task and Finish report be accepted and formally presented to the Cabinet for consideration.