Issue - meetings

The Select Committee considered a report of the Head of Corporate Governance which outlined the Liberal Democrats’ suggested amendments to the Administration’s budget proposals for 2020/21.  The report identified additional savings proposals totalling £1.109m in 2021/22 and £0.279m in 2022/23 which could be considered individually or collectively.  There were also initial investments proposed that would be funded from the savings proposals and suggested amendments to the Capital Programme. 

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Green commended Officers for their assistance in compiling these budget proposals.  As an overview, the aims of the Liberal Democrat proposals were in addressing health, green issues, pavements, and the prosecution of anti-social behaviour and dog fouling, all issues that would feature most in Councillors’ casework.  Councillor Gloster then presented the proposals and addressed the enquiries of the Select Committee.  The effect of Covid was acknowledged, and a hope expressed that light could now be seen at the end of the tunnel with a move to a ‘new’ normal.  The Liberal Democrats did not underestimate the task and financial challenge facing the Council and that facing the Cabinet Member in presenting a budget, but it was believed that the submitted proposals were robust alternatives to enhance the life of residents across the Borough.

In respect of the Committee’s considerations, it was determined that the budget reduction proposals be considered first as these would be required to fund any alternate investment proposals that the Committee might wish to recommend to the Cabinet.

Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget Reduction Proposals

OPP-BR1-201 - Additional Vacancy Management factor to achieve greater efficiency including limiting the present use of agency staff and consultants (£0.473m)

The proposal sought to assist in reducing the number of agency staff and consultants used across the Council further by applying an Additional Vacancy Management factor of 0.75% to all Council mainstream employee budgets. 

In response to a query as to where the proposed figure had been drawn from, the Committee was advised that this figure had been considered achievable in discussions with the Head of Corporate Governance and Responsible Officers. 

OPP-BR1-202 - Reduction in the amount of stationery purchased across the authority (£0.010m)

It was proposed that stationery be centralised in particular locations across the Borough to ensure better value for money through increased understanding of which items are required, volumes etc.  It was also proposed this saving could temporarily increase due to the current home working, with a budget reduction of £0.010m for 2021/22, of which £0.005m could be built back into the budget for 2022/23 in the event staff returning to office working. 

The location of centralised stores and who would be responsible for collecting stationary was queried.  The Committee was advised that the advice from Officers was that this was achievable and as such, taken as correct. 

OPP-BR1-203 - Reduce refreshments budget (£0.004m)

It was proposed to reduce the mainstream budget for refreshments by 10% for 2021/22, with a further 10% reduction in 2022/23, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

To consider the Liberal Democrats Budget Amendment Proposals for the 2020/21 Budget.

The Select Committee considered a report of the Head of Corporate Governance which outlined the Liberal Democrats’ suggested amendments to the Administration’s budget proposals for 2020/21.  The report identified additional savings proposals totalling £1.621m in 2020/21 and £0.267m in 2021/22 which could be considered individually or collectively.  There were also initial investments proposed that would be funded from the savings proposals and suggested amendments to the Capital Programme.  The Committee was asked to note that the budget amendments presented could be categorised into three broad themes of tackling health deprivation, combatting climate change, and regeneration, based on Liberal Democrat priorities.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, accompanied by the Head of Corporate Governance, presented the proposals and addressed the enquiries of the Select Committee.  It was explained that the Liberal Democrats were aware of the scale of the financial challenge the Council was facing and the difficult choices needing to be made to ensure that a balanced budget could be presented to Council.  The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group also commended the work of the Finance Team who had provided assistance with the preparation of the budget. 

The Select Committee examined the saving, investment and Capital Programme proposals in detail.  In introducing consideration by the Committee, the Chair acknowledged comments of the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group that some previous Liberal Democrat proposals had been included in later Administration proposals and commented that there may be some proposals here which, while the Select Committee may not feel able to support at this time, might be considered worthy of suggesting that the Cabinet give some consideration to them going forward.  In respect of the Committee’s considerations, the Chair advised that the budget reduction proposals be considered first as these would be required to fund any alternate investment proposals that the Committee might wish to recommend to the Cabinet.

Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget Reduction Proposals

OPP-BR1-201 - Additional Vacancy Management factor to achieve greater efficiency including limiting the present use of agency staff and consultants (£0.500m)

The proposal sought to assist in reducing the number of agency staff and consultants used across the Council further by applying an Additional Vacancy Management factor of 1% to all Council mainstream employee budgets.  It was noted that the Administration had reluctantly applied a 1.5% factor and the ability of Council staff to deliver at the higher vacancy factor was queried.  For that reason the Select Committee was not minded to take forward this proposal.

OPP-BR1-202 - Increase the Flexible use of capital receipts by revising the transformation programme to focus on the Opposition's priority areas (£0.500m)

The proposal noted that the Administration had taken advantage of the allowed flexibilities to fund transformational expenditure through capital receipts and put forward extensions of that flexibility to focus on the priority areas of the main opposition group.  A possible investment in respect of recycling was outlined.  The Select Committee considered that the Administration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8