To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr CR Butler, Cllr ACR Chappell and Cllr CA Gandy.

To receive details of any members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest by members in respect of items on the agenda.

None.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 28 September 2016 and 19 October 2016.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meetings held on 28 September 2016 and 19 October 2016 be agreed as correct records of those meetings and signed by the chairman.

With reference to the minutes of 28 September (minute number 104, penultimate paragraph), membership of a task and finish group on child and adolescent mental health services was considered and agreed as: Cllr Crockett, Cllr Lloyd-Hayes, Cllr Norman and Cllr Summers. It was agreed that Cllr Powell would chair the group. 

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the committee could scrutinise in the future.

(There will be no discussion of the issue at the time when the matter is raised.  Consideration will be given to whether it should form part of the committee’s work programme when compared with other competing priorities.)

No suggestions were received.

To note questions received from the public and the items to which they relate.

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a scrutiny committee meeting so long as the question is directly related to an item listed on the agenda.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than two working days before the meeting to the committee officer.  This will help to ensure that an answer can be provided at the meeting.) 

No questions were received.

The interim director of resources gave a presentation on the 2017-18 budget.  It was noted that the Chancellor’s autumn statement was due on 23 November and it was suggested that there be a further scrutiny meeting after that.  

The budget delivered the key priorities for the council; these were to:

·         enable residents to live safe, healthy and independent lives;

·         keep children and young people safe and give them a great start in life;

·         support the growth of our economy; and

·         secure better services, quality of life and value for money

It was a statutory requirement to approve the council tax base (which was set at 2% plus a 2% precept for adult social care), the gross revenue budget, and the net spending limit for directorates.  

A more detailed review of the core grant and the capital programme would take place at the general overview and scrutiny committee today.  However, the main points were that:

·         the calculation of the capital finance requirement was reflected in the revenue budget;

·         it was a statutory requirement to state the deliverability of the budget plus the level of reserves to ensure protection for unplanned circumstances;

·         the efficiency plan for a four-year funding settlement had been submitted and agreed with the government;

·         there were significant pressures and increased demand for services alongside increasing costs and inflationary issues that could have an impact;

·         grants had reduced significantly, the core by some 90% since 2010, and it was necessary to identify savings and reduce costs from the business to operate within available funding;

·         council tax revenue was the new driver, through the delivery of new houses in the county;

·         revenue from business rates was also a factor although in the county this was limited as employers tended to be small and the impact of statutory relief on business rates, such as for charities, requires review;

·         reserves were generally sufficient at the present time;

·         pressures on the budget included inflationary costs, demographics and long term contracts where pressures had to be absorbed, as well as statutory pressures such as the living wage which also affected contractors;

·         pressures were being offset through savings generated, creating efficiencies and reducing waste.  Service reviews contributed to this, in changing service delivery methods, supported by a business-like approach to fees and charges within the market context;

·         the overall picture was reflected in the medium term financial strategy over four years, a final review with the three directorates of proposed budget savings was planned to assess deliverability.

The net revenue budget is currently £139.8m.  Although the council tax base was known, it was noted that there were business rates appeals in process. 

It was not anticipated that there would be significant changes following the autumn statement, although there could be some adjustments, an example being the better care fund.  The public health grant and the better care fund were ring-fenced, although the public health grant could be used to support other activities.  It was clarified that the better care fund was separate from the troubled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.