Agenda item

Further to Minute 50 (18 October 2011), the Cabinet Member for Finance and Education reported on the Council’s budget preparations for 2012/13 and beyond and, in particular, the outcome of the consultation on the budget savings options for next year.

The Cabinet Member advised on the key issues that would impact on the Council’s finances in the years ahead, including the Government’s proposed localisation of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) and Council Tax Benefits.  He also praised the successful consultation exercise on the budget savings options which had resulted in a number of the options being withdrawn, deferred or amended as a direct result of the feedback from local residents, businesses and partners through the Select Committee scrutiny process and the other engagement methods.

Cabinet agreed:-

  (i)  To note the current projected financial position for the Council for 2012/13 and beyond as set out in this report;

  (ii)  To note the responses to the budget consultation process via:

a.  the Select Committees, as set out in paragraph 5.5 and Appendix F of the report;

b.  public consultation through Leader’s Question Time, the Council’s website, Facebook and Twitter and the Local Strategic Partnership Board, as set out in paragraphs 5.6 - 5.10 of the report;

c.  Trade Union and staff consultation, as set out in paragraph 5.11 of the report and the updated version of Appendix A tabled at the meeting.

 (iii)  In the light of the above and having regard to the Equalities Impact Assessments at Appendix E, to approve the savings proposals as listed in Appendix B to the report for implementation with effect from 1 April 2012;

 (iv)  To note that the following savings options were withdrawn as a result of representations made via the budget consultation process:

·  FIN&RES/SAV/03 - Credit Card charges

·  FIN&RES/SAV/17 - Removal of Free School Uniform awards

·  CUS/SAV/01 - Strategic Commissioning of domestic and refuse services

·  CHS/SAV/15 - Social Work restructure

  (v)  To note that the savings option in respect of Localities Management (CUS/SAV/02) was deferred pending further consideration;

 (vi)  To note that the following savings options were amended following further consideration in the light of the representations made via the budget consultation process:

·  ACS/SAV/20 - Community Safety Co-ordinators

·  FIN&RES/SAV/01 - Transfer of Assets and Commercial Services Division to Elevate

·  FIN&RES/SAV/06 - One Stop Shop Opening Hours

·  CUS/SAV/11 - Naturalisation of grassland areas

(vii)  To authorise the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, to take appropriate measures to implement the savings target identified in ACS/SAV/11 - Termination of subsidy to Broadway Theatre; and

(viii)  Note that officers are to issue notice, with effect from 22 December 2011, to affected staff who are at risk of redundancy as a result of the savings proposals in Appendix B.