Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors P. Clarke, L. Guppy, M. Hickman and D.W.H. Jones.

County Councillor R.G. Harris declared a personal and prejudicial interest pursuant to the members’ code of conduct in relation to Item 3 B20 mandate.  Councillor Harris left the meeting during discussion of the mandate.

County Councillor M. Powell declared a personal interest pursuant to the members’ code of conduct in relation to ALN provision at Deri View Primary School, as a School Governor.

Mr M. Fowler declared a personal interest in relation to ALN provision as a parent of a statemented child.

We received a report from the Head of Finance in which Select Committee Members were provided with detailed draft proposals on the budget savings required to meet the gap between available resources and need to spend in 2016/17. 

Report explains background for budget proposals of 2016/17 and the period of consultation runs up to end of November.  Mandates are work in progress, the report provided an opportunity for members, staff and public to influence what goes in to final proposals.

Headlines identified:

• MTFP gap over £11 million over 4 years, based on assumptions and pressures in report.
• Report focuses on next years budget 2016/17 position, £3 million gap.  £844,000 already identified as savings, but there are still savings. 
• It’s about understanding context and issues surrounding it and to welcome alternative ideas to meet the gap. 

Committee scrutiny:

• Concerns were expressed that there would be less cash for schools.  This was as a result of cash flat line and inflation was not in the model. 

We resolved to receive the report and noted its content.

3.            SERVICE AREA BUDGET MANDATES

We welcomed Officers who presented the budget mandates and we heard the proposals before the Committee were invited to ask questions.

During discussion the following points were noted:

i)             Mandate B1 - Assess the feasibility to establish a Not for Profit Service Delivery Model

• Purpose of mandate is so that select committee members are presented with relevant budget aspects, within the remit of the Children and Young People select committee.
• Outline problem that will be addressed through the mandate, trying to sustain access to locally significant services, this is a priority of the organisation. 
• Targeted reduced services, huge scope to integrate an offer which is growing. 
• There is a need for income generation and using assets to make money
• Return on investment generated by visitor economies and main part is that a lot of time spent with front line and staff are stretched beyond.  Massive income targets which have been increased year on year, based on facilities and capital investment we have saturated markets.  Need to change format and current restraints on way of working.
• Future options approach to bring services together in a more effective way.

Member scrutiny:

• A member queried whether schools would be subjected to a form of charge for using leisure facilities and members were mindful that charges should not be significantly increased as to dissuade customers from using facilities.  We were informed that partnerships between schools and leisure facilities had to be developed, this involved appropriate dialogue with stakeholders and ensuring correct agreements were in place.
• There was a need for market forces to be considered, this was to ensure that prices were not excessively increased to dissolve market competitiveness.
• Members were reminded that it was imperative to make a change, as there were significant risks to the services as a result of doing nothing.
• Options for alternatives were provided, which included not for profit companies, commercial opportunities, leisure and school budget combined.
• The first cohort  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.