To receive a presentation from the Leader of the Council on the Executive’s Budget Proposals for 2015/16, and to consider a report of the Democratic and Performance Services Manager. [N.B. Members are requested to retain, for Scrutiny purposes, the Budget report referred to Executive on 20/10/14.]

The Committee received a presentation from the Leader of the Council which set out the Executive’s Budget Proposals for 2015/16.  It was explained that the budget would be delivered in a context of increasing demand on Council services, with Directorates expected to maintain high quality service standards despite further reductions in central funding.

The Committee were informed that it was progressively more difficult to make savings each year, and that it was necessary to make difficult decisions about service delivery in order to retain quality and reduce costs. The projected deficit between the financial cost of increases in demand for services and the reduction in funding necessitated a ‘reshaping’ of Council service delivery.  

The Leader of the Council responded to a number of questions from the Committee concerning the impact of the business rate growth scheme on the budget, the potential savings from commissioning services from private sector partners, and future changes to Council Tax rates.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee thanked the Leader of the Council for the presentation and set out the proposed process and arrangements for budget scrutiny. Two budget scrutiny working groups were be held between Scrutiny Members, Executive Members and Corporate Directors before the Committee would return a Budget Scrutiny Report to Executive in January. Members were asked to contact Democratic Services to indicate which sessions they intended to participate in, and to submit questions and issues to the respective Chairs in advance of the sessions.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the content of the report be noted;

2)    That Scrutiny Members identify which service area review groups they would wish to participate in, and notify the respective Chairmen and officers accordingly;

3)    That the working groups review the budget proposals for the service areas in which they are interested, identify focused questions and notify the respective Chairmen and officers accordingly; and

4)    That authority to finalise the Budget Scrutiny Report be delegated to the Democratic & Performance Services Manager in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee.