Agenda and minutes
PDF 179 KBVenue: County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Helen Rankin or Lucy Collier
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Zully Grant-Duff and Bill Chapman.
Richard Wilson substituted Zully Grant-Duff and Chris Pitt substituted for Bill Chapman |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a true record of the meeting. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were none. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (state actual deadline). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (state actual deadline). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were none. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SCRUTINY BOARD
Response from Cabinet on recommendations relating to Agency Workers is included at Item 5A. Minutes: The Cabinet response was noted. |
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes:
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To consider the latest budget monitoring and financial outturn report.
Report to follow. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Witnesses: David Hodge, Leader of the Council Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Key points raised in the discussion:
1. The Deputy Chief Finance Officer introduced the report by explaining that Scrutiny Boards had met with finance officers, Cabinet Members and senior officers to understand the financial prospects regarding the upcoming year for the Council. It was explained to the Board that during recent Sub-Group meetings the key challenge was for all services to analyse different systems and processes in order to save 1.5% per year.
2. The Leader of the Council stated that the final budget figure for 2016 would be finalised on Tuesday 9th February 2016. In addition to this he stated that Members of the Board should endorse in the budget plan. It was noted that the Chief Executive, Leader and Service managers would stop all non-essential spending.
3. A Member of the Board questioned how the overspend would be reduced over the next year, and it was noted that this could be achieved by delaying main property maintenance and recruitment of staff.
4. The Board noted the report.
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REVENUE & CAPITAL BUDGET 2016/17 to 2020/21
To present the Revenue and Capital Budget to the Council Overview Board, ahead of a decision being made by Cabinet on 2 February 2016. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
David Hodge, Leader of the Council Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Key points raised in the discussion:
1. The Chairman of the Board introduced and thanked the Deputy Finance Officer for the final report. Members expressed disappointment at the lateness of papers and agreed that it was difficult to digest them in a short amount of time. The Leader of the Council stated that the figures were changing daily and no information was available until the 17th December 2015. In addition to this he stated that there could potentially be a 3.99% increase in Council Tax. An increase in Council Tax was considered by some Members to be the only feasible way to fund the increasing demand in order to keep running statutory services. It was noted that this report was part of an ongoing process and the Board would continue to have a role in scrutinising budgets. It was highlighted to the Board Members that no decisions would be made until the final financial settlement had been agreed.
2. The Board were informed by the Leader of the Council that Surrey County Council was currently awaiting the outcome of a request for a £20 million transition funding grant to be agreed by the government. A Member of the Board questioned the outcome of the financial state if Surrey County Council does not receive the transitional funding of 20 million. The Leader of the Council stated that an emergency Cabinet meeting would be arranged if the additional funding was not received.
3. The Deputy Chief Finance Officer informed the Board that the overall figure of savings needed in the next financial year was £85million. Members expressed great concerns over the sum and there was a discussion regarding ways in which savings could be made. A Member stated that Surrey residents provide the second largest amount of taxation in the Country and local taxation should be spent on local residents.
4. The Chairman of the Council Overview Board invited the Chairmen of each Scrutiny Board to comment on the current financial situation for the services within their remit. The Chairman of the Economic Prosperity, Environment & Highways (EPEH) stated he had nothing to add until the final figure was revealed. The Chairman of the Education & Skills Board stated that there was a particular focus on SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) transport review due to the forecast overspends.
5. The Chairman of the Resident Experience Scrutiny Board informed the Board that he recently met with services including Surrey Fire and Rescue, Trading Standards and Cultural Services to discuss the financial budget. The Board would be focusing their March 2016 meeting on the future of the Library Service.
Bob Gardener left the meeting at 11.05am and returned at 11.13am.
6. It was highlighted by the Social Care Services Board Chairman that there was currently a lack of frontline staff for Adult Social Care and Children’s Service, which had been ongoing for a number of years. This was ... view the full minutes text for item 8/16 |
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To scrutinise the business case for a shared legal service between Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council and West Sussex County Council.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
The Council Overview Board was broadly supportive of the plans set out in the Cabinet report, and made the following comments and recommendations to Cabinet:
a) welcomes the proposal to set up a shared legal service, to be known as Orbis Public Law; b) wishes to emphasise the importance of careful monitoring of the anticipated 10% savings, as set out in the business case.
The Board was interested in understanding more as the partnership developed, and requested that when available, the more detailed plan including saving targets, budget and milestones be circulated to Members of the Council Overview Board. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10am on 2 March 2016. Minutes: 2 March 2016.
Meeting ended at 12.45pm. |