Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Finance Manager which outlined the Liberal Democrats’ suggested amendments to the Administration’s budget proposals for 2022/23. The report identified additional savings proposals totalling £0.987m in 2022/23 and £0.013m in 2023/24 which could be considered individually or collectively. There were also initial investments that would be funded from the range of savings proposals put forward to offset the increased expenditure and suggested amendments to the Capital Programme.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon commended Officers for their assistance in compiling these budget proposals.  As an overview, the aims of the Liberal Democrat proposals were to offer common-sense practical solutions to the borough’s problems and challenge the Administration to cut waste and provide the value-for-money local services the public want with a focus on making the borough safer, greener and cleaner.

The Liberal Democrats proposed capital investment of £6.950m from the £7.291m Funds for Emerging Priorities provision with the capital programme, thus not increasing any revenue budget financing requirement.

Liberal Democrat Alternative Revenue Budget Reduction Proposals

OPP-BR1-201 - Additional Vacancy Management factor to achieve greater efficiency including limiting the present use of agency staff and consultants (£0.550m)

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. 

OPP-BR1-202 - Reduction in mileage budgets to reflect changes in work practices (£0.050m)

It was proposed that due to the increase in Council employees working from home and the increase of Teams based meetings, the requirement to travel on Council business using a personal vehicle had reduced.

OPP-BR1-203 - Review of car allowances as previously promised to reduce the amount paid as a lump sum to staff doing zero or minimal mileage (£0.037m)

It was proposed that a review of the posts which attract essential car user status be undertaken with the intention of removing the lump sum payment from posts where users routinely record zero or very few miles.  It was noted to the Committee that many staff who did use cars regularly did not hold such status.  In presenting the proposal, it was further noted that proposal had been before the Committee several times previously, with the promised review failing to appear.

OPP-BR1-204 - Reduction in the General Training Budget agreed in 2018/19 to be made permanent (£0.100m)

The proposed reduction would require all future training requirements, which cannot be funded via the apprenticeship levy, to be reviewed to ensure that best value is being secured. Priority would be provided to statutory and mandatory training. Any additional training and development would be assessed on the basis of value provided to the organisation, managing any identified risks to the Council in terms of building capability across all service areas.

OPP-BR1-205 - Reconsideration of Council priorities with regards to the Communications and Research service (£0.250m)

It was proposed to reduce the service budget for the Communications and Research team by £0.250m in 2022/23. This reduction would be met by generating £0.245m through ceasing the publication of @Oldham Council, Working for You’ and deleting/ disestablishing 5.18 FTE posts. Alongside those reductions, it was proposed to generate revenue of circa £0.005m through income generation activities across the full range of Council media channels.

The Committee was advised that these budget reduction proposals generated funding to support a range of revenue investments of an equal value, £0.987m in 2022/23 and £0.013m in 2023/24, (£1.000m in total) to support Liberal Democrat priority investments. These investment proposals were:

·         Reinstate Parish Council Grant funding - £0.015m

·         Investment in tacking environmental issues - £0.200m

·         20’s plenty (introducing 20 mph zones) - £0.235m

·         Early help and preventative services - £0.100m

·         Bulk waste collection – 128 free collections per week – £0.200m

·         Youth Service -events and activities - £0.100m

·         Crime and Community Safety - £150m

RESOLVED that the Committee referred the Liberal Democrat revenue and capital budget reduction and investment proposals to Cabinet for consideration.