Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 16 September 2013 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence had been received from Alan Schneiderman (who was substituted for by Councillor Barry Rawlings).

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The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Daniel Thomas, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, John Hooton, and the Head of Governance, Andrew Nathan, presented the Corporate Plan objectives, Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and budget headlines report for the period 2014/15 – 2015/16.

Resources and Performance

In response to questions on the scale and rationale for proposed budget cuts, the Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance advised that whilst all service areas were required to make cost savings and efficiency improvements, the proposed budget had been carefully balanced to support the protection of vulnerable people, maintain highways and respond to cost of living pressures. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance informed the Committee that savings from contracts and efficiencies had allowed for a proposed 1% cut to Council Tax and preservation of existing reserve levels.

Members questioned the real value to the taxpayer of a 1% cut in Council Tax. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance acknowledged that whilst it would not be a large amount of money per individual household, a recent survey had shown this to be a top three concern for local residents and the reduction would put £1.5m back in to Barnet households.

Members expressed concern with the statement that successful achievement of budget objectives required collaboration and questioned how this would be driven. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance stated that consistent efforts were being made to push for collaborative efficiency and acknowledged that it was a challenging prospect given the need for other boroughs and external agencies to share this task.

Addressing the reported savings due to the CSG and DRS contracts on pages 43 and 46 of the report, Members enquired as to whether additional savings would be achievable. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance reported that the joint venture company, Re Ltd., which had been set up to deliver the DRS contract, had already won two private sector contracts in pursuit of business growth that would generate additional revenues for the Council. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance also wished it noted that budgets cuts would have been far greater had savings from the Capita contracts not been realised.

A Member, commenting on the fact that the report referred to consultation on a number of occasions, asked whether savings in legal services were largely due to the high cost associated with previously inadequate consultation.  The Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance agreed that lessons had been learned from the recent judicial review but stressed that consultation happened regularly and in accordance with legal advice given.

Committee noted that an allowance had been included within the budget envelope for demographic growth in line with population projections for Adults and Communities and Children’s Services. In response to a question as to why there was an allowance of zero for demographic growth in Children’s Services for 2014/15, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer explained that this had already been accounted for and subsumed within the overall 2014/15 budget provision for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Councillor Moore requested an entry in the minutes to note that, given the Quarter 2 Finance and Performance Report, which included virements and changes to fees and charges, was listed as being key decision; it could have been argued that the decision regarding the £16m being transferred at the beginning of August in connection with the CSG Capita project should have been also reported as a key decision. 

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions. 

RESOLVED that:

·         An update on the Parking Recovery Plan to be reported to Committee on 13 March 2014; and,

·         The meeting being held on 9 December 2013 to commence at 7.00pm.

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