Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Finance Officer (copy attached) to provide an update of the latest position and to note the proposals in Table 1, approve the proposals in Table 2 and a further proposal put forward by elected members.

 

The Lead Member for Finance and Assets, Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, introduced the Budget Report (previously circulated) to provide an update on the process to deliver the revenue budget for 2016/17 and set out the next phase of the budget proposals.

 

Members were aware of the ongoing budget process.  3 additional budget workshops had taken place.  The first two workshops had dealt with items which had been deferred or held over for additional information.  At the workshop which took place on 5 June 2015, members were informed of the key assumptions within the council’s medium term plans – in particular, outlining the uncertainty around the level of future Revenue Support Grant settlements.

 

Further budget workshops had been arranged for 26 October and 14 December 2015.  As the process for 2016/17 developed, it would likely be necessary to schedule more workshops in the autumn.

 

There had been a significant level of uncertainty around the likely Local Government Settlement for 2016/17 and this was likely to remain the case for the coming months.  Until May 2013, Settlement values had been broadly consistent with the forward planning indications published nationally in 2011.  Since then, there had been no multi-year settlements and indications had changed consistently between and within financial years.  In the absence of more reliable Settlement information, budget plans needed to continue to develop proposals to cover a range of different scenarios.  The Draft Settlement for local government in Wales would be published in early October.

 

Members had been asked to submit their own proposals as part of the process and a prescribed form had been issued for that purpose.   A proposal put forward by members at the workshop on 5 June would be to cease payment of travelling expenses to members attending meetings as observers.  It had been estimated that this proposal may save up to £900 per year.

 

The aim of the budget process was to ensure the council delivered a balanced budget.  It remained a difficult process with some tough decisions to make along the way.  The engagement and support of elected members in the decision making and scrutiny of the process was crucial.

 

In depth debate took place with the following points discussed:

 

·       Councillor Colin Hughes expressed concern regarding prospective cuts.  He raised the closure of Aberwheeler as an example.  The Chief Executive explained he had not been aware of any individual service user who had not been placed following the closure of Aberwheeler.  All the vulnerable people had been placed within new work environments.  Councillor Richard Davies clarified that an in depth discussion lasting over 2 ½ hours had taken place at the Special Performance Scrutiny meeting which had taken place on 22 June 2015.

·       The Chief Executive confirmed balanced budgets were set.  72% of cuts agreed for this year had already been put in place.

·       Members requested a representative from the CHC (Community Health Council) attend the meeting together with the Acting Responsible Officer of BCUHB to enable questions raised by members to be responded to in detail, by the Health representatives present.

 

 

At this juncture (11.00 a.m.) there was a minutes silence held to remember the victims of the London bombings 10 years ago.

 

 

Debate continued with the following points discussed:

 

·       Councillor Colin Hughes confirmed to members he did not intend to claim expenses for any meetings he attended in the future.

·       Members requested minutes of the budget workshops to record results of discussions be made available.  It was confirmed that Going Forward Action Points would be circulated to members following the Budget Workshops.

·       A Scrutiny Task & Finish Group had recently been established to assess the impact of the budget cuts already agreed.  A number of members requested residents contact them showing evidence of the impact of the budget cuts.  Members, on receipt of the evidence, would submit the information to the Task & Finish Group for assessment.

·       Waste management, changes to the work practice were asked to be clarified.  The Head of Highways and Environmental Services explained there were operational changes which were due to the consequence of the green waste.  It could mean a small percentage of households could have the days of their green waste collection changed. Compulsory redundancies had been avoided and waste operatives were being recruited.  This would be a good news story.

·       The Leader, Councillor Hugh Evans explained if a balanced budget had not been delivered by the Council, then it would have been delivered by the Welsh Audit Office on behalf of the Council.  Residents needed to be assured that the council were taking a serious view of the budget situation and would take their concerns into consideration.    Despite all the cuts and negativity, the council were on track to deliver the Corporate Plan.  It has been agreed to invest £800million in the communities and to show support to the communities.

 

Councillor Stuart Davies moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Martyn Holland.

 

Members voted on the report recommendations – to note the Phase 4 savings proposals listed in Table 1 and approve the proposals listed in Table 2:

 

23 votes for, 9 against, 2 abstentions

 

Members also voted on the report recommendations – to approve the proposal put forward by members not to pay expenses to members attending meetings as observers:

 

26 votes for, 4 against, 1 absention.

 

RESOLVED that Council agreed to:

 

·       Note the Phase 4 savings proposals listed in Table 1 and approve the proposals listed in Table 2;

·       To approve the proposal put forward by members not to pay expenses to members attending meetings as observers.