To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor J Hardwick and from the statutory co-optees, Mr Burbidge, Mrs Fisher and Mr Sell.

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

No substitutions were made.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2016.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To consider suggestions from 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.)

There were no suggestions.

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

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a scrutiny committee meeting subject to the question being directly relevant to an item listed on the agenda below.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 8 December 2016 to tbrown@herefordshire.gov.uk)

No questions had been received.

The Committee’s views were sought on the budget proposals for 2017/18 and the updated medium term financial strategy (MTFS).

The interim director of resources (IDOR) gave a presentation.  He commented that the Autumn Statement had resulted in very few changes to the position reported to the Committee in November.  The financial settlement was awaited but no significant changes were expected.  In response to comments made by the Committee in November the figures in the MTFS had been reviewed to ensure consistency in reporting and that any changes over time could be readily tracked.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·        It was observed that a number of figures had changed from those presented in the report to the Committee in November.  Examples included: an increase in the proposed budget for adults and well being (£166k), an increase in locally retained business rates (£2m) an increase in the business rates top up and S31 grant, and an increase in the centralised pension deficit and housing benefit costs.

·        The head of corporate finance provided clarification adding that the change to the net budget related to a change in the presentation of the S31 grant and a recalculation of the expected business rate income.  The centralised pension cost had been revised following the latest headcount and the housing benefit cost had been revised to reflect an administrative cost that had to be incurred.

·        The IDOR commented that in response to the points made by the Committee in December he had challenged the assumptions underpinning the budget.  This had been a worthwhile exercise.  Changes in figures could now be readily tracked and he considered the MTFS model was now more robust.  A detailed reconciliation could be provided to members of the Committee if they wished. It was noted that a Member considered that information on the trend in business rate income would be helpful.

·        With reference to page 48 of the agenda papers paragraph 4.5, and also noting the proposals for a development partnership, it was asked what scope there was to make allowance for the benefits of partnership working in selling or leasing Council property assets.  The IDOR commented that the Property Services team was reviewing current arrangements to ensure that it could be demonstrated what benefit was being gained and should be gained from leases and disposal of council properties to other organisations.

·        The Director, Environment, Corporate and Communities commented that money was allocated for the proposed development partnership in the capital programme.   In relation to assets it was not proposed to allocate assets to others but to consider requests from Parish councils to take on the running of assets if they wished to do so.

·        In view of the expectation that parish councils and others would take on the delivery of some services it was asked if there could be some specific provision in the revenue budget for invest to save schemes that Parish Councils and community groups proposed.

·        In response officers suggested that the principle of facilitating increased engagement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday 17 January 2017 at 10.00am.

Tuesday 17 January 2017 at 10.00am.