Agenda item

To receive the report of the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources concerning the Money Plan 2015-20 & Budget Proposals for 2015/16.

85.1      Council considered a joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources concerning the Council’s Money Plan 2015-20 and Budget Proposals for 2015/16.

85.2      Councillor James moved the recommendations set out in the report.

85.3      Councillor Norman (Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources) seconded the motion.

85.4      Councillor James thanked the Head of Finance and other officers for their role in compiling the budget proposals and summarised the key successes achieved in 2014/15, including reductions in unnemployment. He reported that cumulative savings of £9 million had been made through reviewing management structures, sharing services, working with partners and identifying efficiencies. £1.3 million of savings were required in 2015/16 and they would be primarily achieved through the implementation of a number of shared services; he noted the City Council’s strong relationship with Gloucestershire County Council and that the joint appointment of a Managing Director/Commissioning Director would provide the Council with leadership and also deliver significant savings. He noted the proposal to freeze Council Tax for the fifth year in succession and that parking charges would also be frozen for a further year. He highlighted the progress made on key regeneration projects and the positive impact and legacy that Rugby World Cup Host City Status would bring. He advised that, within his portfolio, savings would be achieved through a review of Planning Services and implementing recommendations from the review of Cultural Services. He stated that the Council continued to be ambitious and to work in the interests of residents, and he thanked staff for delivering quality services with fewer resources.

85.5      Councillor Norman advised that the Council has to make difficult financial decisions that were essential to ensure the achievement of a sustainable financial plan. He explained that the plans were consistent with 2014/15 proposals and had been updated to reflect savings that had been achieved early. He considered that residents would welcome the Council Tax freeze, which would save them money which could then be spent in the City. He stated that back office savings and efficiencies were key and that £720,000 of savings had been identified within his portfolio.

85.6      Councillor Hilton noted that the budget proposals were consistent with the two year plan previously set out. He advised that he was pleased to see no plans to increase charges for the collection of garden waste and that other fees and charges had been frozen or increased in line with inflation. He welcomed proposals to freeze Council Tax and the government grant that would be received as a result. He stated that the Council was required to make substantial savings and that the proposals met those requirements.

85.7      Councillor Haigh expressed concern at central government’s continued reductions in funding for local government and urged the devolution of more powers within England. She noted that the budget consultation showed that residents were willing to pay more for services, but that cuts continued to be proposed. She stated that savings identified previously had not been based on concrete proposals and that she was please to see that savings against the Amey street care contract for 2015/16 had been reduced, however, savings would instead be moved into future years. She stated that it was unclear how many of the proposals would impact on services and that there was no indication of savings required in 2016/17.

85.8      Councillor Haigh moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Chatterton.

“Reduce the cut from £50,000 from SLA’s to advice services in 2015/16 to £30,000 and work with the SLA funded organisations to ensure that in implementing the cut we protect the most vulnerable people in the City.

The Council to work with the funded organisations to see if further savings can be made in future years without adversely impacting the viability of the service.”

85.9      Councillor James rejected the amendment.

Note:   Councillor Smith moved to the public gallery during the debate on the       amendment in light of her disclosable pecuniary interest.

85.10   Councillor Haigh stated that the Law Centre played an important role in helping residents and that they were keen to work with the Council to find savings, but needed sufficient time to be able to do so. She emphasised the importance of supporting such services by using reserves to fund the shortfall.

85.11   Councillor Pullen urged Council to approve the reduction in cuts to the advice service for the benefit of needy people in the City.

85.12   Councillor Dallimore stated that Council have always been supportive of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), but that support could not continue at the same level when facing cuts to Council services and residents had not identified the advice services as a priority area. She noted that the advice services had been aware of the proposed reduction in funding for the past year, when they were first proposed and deferred. The Council would continue to engage with the advice services to provide non-financial support, such as identifying new income and funding streams and back office savings; it was hoped that the reduction would not impact on the frontline services delivered.

85.13   Councillor Chatterton stated that the reduction in funding to the advice services would result in the withdrawal of further services to residents who could otherwise not access that type of assistance.

85.14   The amendment was put to the vote and was lost.

85.15   Councillor Porter (Cabinet Member for Environment) advised that, from within his portfolio, higher levels of income from the Cemetery and Crematorium Service were expected to be recurring and would be built into the budget. He explained that savings required from the Amey street care contract in 2015/16 had been reduced with a proportion moved into the proceeding financial year; savings would be made through review and redesign of the services provided and a Working Group had been set up to look at it. Opportunities to bring in additional income were also being considered and the collection of two extra recyclates would be rolled out, resulting in increased income and reduced landfill costs. Other savings would be achieved through reviews of management structures and back office efficiencies.

85.16   Councillor Dallimore advised that the Council had driven a shift in its approach to working with communities and neighbourhoods through the introduction of Asset Based Community Development. She commended the Members Allocation Fund and confirmed that it would continue in 2015/16. She noted proposals to save £50,000 for the Service Level Agreement with advice services in the City by helping them to achieve back office savings and identify new income streams, and £50,000 to be saved through a review of the Shopmobility Service including the methods of provision and delivery.

85.17   Councillor Organ noted from within his portfolio £200,000 of savings required from the Aspire management fee.

85.18   Councillor James stated that fundamentally the Council had to make savings and he noted there was no opposition to the proposal to freeze Council Tax. He advised that the cost to the Council of the museums and Guildhall had reduced and other actions would be taken. He also confirmed that there remained £100,000 in the budget for the provision of new public conveniences in the City Centre.

85.19   The motion was put to the vote and, in accordance with Part 4 Rule 18.05 of the Constitution, names were recorded as follows:

For                              Against                      Abstentions

Llewellyn                   Haigh                         Hilton

Noakes                      Smith                         Witts. C

James                                    Hobbs                                    Wilson

Dallimore                   Lugg                           Witts. S

Norman                     Bhaimia                     Field

Organ                         Hansdot                     Brown

Porter                         Gilson                                    Beeley

Gravells                     Chatterton                

Tracey                        Pullen

Hanman

Ravenhill

Williams

Dee

Taylor

Patel

Randle

Toleman

(17)                             (9)                               (7)

85.20   The motion was carried.

85.21   RESOLVED –

(1)      That the proposals for the 2015/16 budget in this report, including a Council Tax freeze for the fifth year, be approved.

(2)      That the target budget reductions set in the Money Plan 2015/2020 be implemented.

(3)      That it be noted that consultation has been undertaken on budget savings proposals to achieve the level of further savings required in 2015/16.