Issue - meetings

To receive the Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for scrutiny in relation to areas within the select committee’s remit.

WITNESSES

• David Lewis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources
• Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth
• Denise Turner Stewart, Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities
• Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure
• Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment
• Kevin Deanus, Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue, and Resilience
• Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Public Health
• Claire Edgar, Executive Director for Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships
• Dan Quin, Executive Director of Community Protection and Emergencies (Chief Fire Officer)
• Owen Jenkins, Executive Director for Highways. Infrastructure and Planning
• Simon Crowther, Executive Director for Environment, Property and Growth
• Carolyn McKenzie, Director for Environment
• Lucy Monie, Director for Highways and Transport
• Rachel Wigley, Director for Finance, Insights and Performance
• Sarah Bogunovic, Assistant Director for Registrations, Coroner's Service and Customer Strategy
• Jane Last, Head of Community Investment and Engagement
• Jean Pierre Moore, Head of Community Partnerships & Prevention
• Clare Matthews, Principal Strategy and Policy Lead
• Nicola O’Connor, Strategic Finance Partner for Corporate
• Tony Orzieri, Strategic Finance Partner for Environment, Infrastructure and Growth
• Louise Lawson, Strategic Finance Business Partner Resources and Customers, Digital and Transformation

KEY LINES OF DISCUSSION

ENVIRONMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE & GROWTH

1. The Chair asked whether more could be done to reduce the cost of large multi-year EIG (Environment, Infrastructure and Growth) contracts. The Director for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport said that costs in large multi-year EIG contracts are managed through competitive tendering, ongoing reviews, and integrating social value and environmental goals. She emphasised the need to reassess policies and specifications and highlighted savings achieved through innovations like LED lighting and targeted road lining.
2. A Member asked about the risk of the identified pressures of £14.5 million for 2025/26 being higher than expected and inquired about the specific risk areas. The Executive Director for Environment, Property and Growth explained that the pressures for 2025/26 were anticipated to arise from scope changes, inflation in contracts, and staffing costs, particularly as many costs were tied to contractual terms. The Director for Highways and Transport said that a key risk was related to concessionary fare reimbursements, which could increase with higher bus usage. She mentioned that while the risk was considered low, it would still be monitored due to its dependence on external factors.
3. The Chair asked about the status of the bus fare cap. The Director for Highways and Transport said that the cap was increasing from £2 to £3 in 2025. More details were expected to come in the early part of 2025 regarding the implications of the change for both users and operators.
4. A Member asked for clarification on whether the levels of reimbursement would decrease if the bus cap went up. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth explained that the bus cap was a national policy requiring operators to join the scheme for government reimbursement. He also mentioned efforts to encourage more operators to participate and noted that any cost increases would be managed within the budget.
5. A Member asked if the £2.6 million  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55