Minutes:
The Committee scrutinised the
following matters:-
Cabinet Board Proposals
2.1 Revenue Budget Monitoring
Report
Members received the monitoring report and
scrutinised expenditure against the agreed budget position.
Members asked for an explanation of the £313k
overspend on Home to School Transport. Officers explained that there are
additional demands on the service which are causing an increase in costs,
particularly the junior apprenticeship programme.
Members asked for an explanation of the School
Meals overspend. Officers explained that the budget included a saving to be
achieved by applying a different pay scale to various roles, however, as there
had been a delay in the implementation of the change, the saving will not be
delivered in full during 2018/19.
Members asked for the detail of the changes to care
packages within domiciliary care. Officers explained that there had been a
review of the care packages to ensure that they reflected current needs. As a
result of the review process, care packages had been reduced, producing a cost
saving. It was noted that the target
budget saving this year is £2.5m and includes other measures as well as reviews
of care packages.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet.
2.2 Capital Budget Monitoring
Members received information in relation to the
delivery of the 2018/19 Capital Programme.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet.
2.3 Draft Budget for Consultation 2019/2020
Members
were provided with information on the draft budget proposals which included
proposed financial savings, service reductions and income generation for
2019/20 and beyond.
It
was noted that following approval, there was proposed to be a public
consultation exercise which will end on 11th January 2019. Responses to the
consultation will be considered and where considered appropriate, proposals
will be amended prior to Council being invited to set a balanced budget for
2019/20 in February 2019.
The
Committee made a number of points on the Provisional Settlement and agreed that
the Director of Finance be invited to prepare a response to the Welsh Government
taking account of the comments raised by the Scrutiny Members.
The Director of Finance verbally updated Members on
the implications of the Chancellor’s recent Statement. It was noted that
Government had announced and additional £120 million for Wales. Initially
assessments by the WLGA suggests that there could potentially be an increase of
£55-60 million for local government, however, Welsh Government have indicated
that there are other pressures that may be a call on the additional funding.
The Director of Finance highlighted that it was
proposed to use some general reserves to achieve a balanced budget position in
2019-20 this is a departure from the strategy adopted in previous years which
underlines the impact of the Provisional Settlement on the Council’s operation.
Members noted that if it is agreed to use £4 million of the general reserves it
would be difficult to replenish those reserves.
Members thanked the Director of Finance for
clarifying the various issues raised in debate. Members asked if the
Chancellor’s announcement would impact on the current year or in 2019-20.
Officers clarified that the £120 million would most likely be used to support
the 2019-20 budget year. It was noted that once the Welsh Government had made
decisions concerning the application of the additional funds, the Council’s
budget proposals could be re-visited, however, as the proposals currently
stand, there is a residual budget gap of over £4 million.
Members asked if increases in fees to access the
Music Service affected the demand for the service. Officers highlighted that
current charges for the service are between the mid and lower end of the scale
charged by local authorities in Wales. It was noted that the service could
benefit from funding that is being retained by Welsh Government and the
Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning was making representations
to Welsh Government to use this funding to alleviate pressures on the service.
Members
queried the funding from the Welsh Government in relation to the Music Service.
The Leader explained to Members that he had written to the AM’s and MP’s to try
to secure release of the funding, however, it was noted that it was for the
Welsh Government to determine the release of these funds.
Members asked whether any community groups have
been identified to take over the libraries listed in the report. Officers
highlighted that these are proposals for consultation and the consultation
period would be used to identify if there are alternative arrangements that
could be put in place to operate the services going forward.
Members highlighted that within the report there
are proposals to generated income from rents related to homeless people.
Officers confirmed that this proposal related to generating income from the
housing benefit system.
Members highlighted concern over the proposals to
reduce terms and conditions of service for catering staff and cleaning staff as
the roles are predominantly carried out by female staff. Officers explained
that the proposals were subject of consultation as approved by the Personnel
Committee. Officers explained to Members that the catering duties are different
to those undertaken previously and that is why there is a need to reduce the
grades attached to the various posts. In relation to the Cleaning Service,
officers explained that the Authority needed to recover the actual costs from
the schools budgets. There is a risk that schools would wish to buy services in
from an external provider however, if this were to materialise, schools will need to satisfy the Council that any
external cleaning service would meet the quality standards.
Members asked for information on the operation of
all of the libraries within the Authority, not just the ones highlighted within
the report. Officers explained that there are 4 libraries that have been
identified within the report for transfer to a community organisation or,
failing this, closure as all four have recorded less than 10,000 issues of
books in the last year.
Members
highlighted their concern around the Welfare Rights Service being cut. Officers
explained that the proposals showed savings of £2.8 million within the Social
Services department and that they have had to identify savings on areas that
are not statutory. Officers also mentioned that alternative services could be
accessed via organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) who are due
to receive additional funding from the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP)
in relation to Universal Credit support.
Members asked about the Equality Impact Assessments
as there will be equality issues around these budget proposals. Officers
highlighted that there are new duties under the Well-being of Future
Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as well as the continuing duties to assess the
equality impact of proposals etc. An Integrated Impact Assessment approach has
been developed to meet all of the requirements. It was noted that there would
be a two stage process: the initial assessment to identify the impacts; and
where the initial assessment indicates a material impact, a further, more
comprehensive assessment would be carried out.
Members asked what would be the effect of
increasing the fee for Pest Control. Officers explained that the service would still
be subsidised and the cost of fee would still be below market rates.
Members asked how Digital by Choice would be
sustained when there would be a reduction of staff within the IT Department.
Officers explained that the savings identified represented a restructuring of
the workforce replacing higher graded staff with lower graded staff as part of
a wider succession planning strategy.
The Leader of the Authority highlighted to Members
that the Cabinet had spent considerable time developing the budget proposals.
Members thanked officers for the work they have
undertaken. Members resolved to lobby the AM’s to ensure local government gets
additional funding to help offset the significant impacts of the Provisional
Settlement.
The Cabinet Member for Finance highlighted that the
Cabinet would examine the results of the public consultation very carefully.
Members were encouraged to put forward ideas on other potential savings or
income generation as soon as possible rather than waiting until the end of the
budget process.
The Director of Finance and Corporate Service
highlighted to Members that the Final Settlement will be released on the 19th
December 2018 and the Council’s consultation exercise will end on the 11th
January 2019.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet.
2.4 Treasury Management Monitoring 2018/19
Members received information on items
which included rates of interest, borrowing and investment income, as detailed
within the circulated report.
Following scrutiny, it was
agreed that the report be noted.
2.5 Third Sector Grants Scheme
Members received information on the results of the
consultation carried out on proposed changes to the Third Sector Grant Scheme.
Members commended Officers on the work that they
had undertaken and asked what organisations interested in making an application
to the revised Scheme would need to do next. Officers explained that
organisations could bid for funding for up to a three year period. Any organisation
awarded funding for a three year period would be regarded as a strategic
partner and would be required as part of the conditions of grant to support the
Council’s drive to increase participation in the on-line services; help to
increase income in services such as theatres and parks, and also to identify
gaps in services within communities and work with the Council to identify ways
of meeting those gaps in services.
Members asked that if partners are going to
increase participation in the Council’s digital services that training on IT
security be considered. Officers confirmed this would be part of the work to
increase digital inclusion.
Members asked whether organisations not currently
in receipt of grant funding could apply to the Scheme. Officers highlighted
that there is no restriction on organisations provided that they satisfy the
definition of voluntary or community sector.
Members queried the role of the Voluntary Sector Liaison
Forum. Officers informed Members that the Voluntary Sector Liaison Forum have
helped develop the Scheme and there is a commitment in the Compact that the
Forum reviews the Scheme every 3 years. Officers explained that this does not
conflict with the role of the Scrutiny Committee.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet.