Issue - meetings

39.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health that provided an opportunity for it to review its input into the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process during 2014/15 and to identify lessons for the 2015/16 process.

39.2     In order to have more effective and greater input into the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) for 2015/16, the Committee agreed that:

·         Scrutiny will have more impact the earlier on it is involved in the RPPR process.

·         Scrutiny will be able to make better savings recommendations if it is given more information about the potential impact of savings.

·         An away day should be held with the Director of Adult Social Care and Health before detailed proposals are developed to discuss scrutiny’s involvement in the RPPR process.

39.3     RESOLVED: to request an away day before detailed savings proposals are developed in order to begin the RPPR process.

43.1     The Chair introduced the report and reminded the Committee that this was the Committee’s opportunity to comment on the 2015/16 reconciling policy, performance and resources (RPPR) process. The Committee discussed the RPPR process, the outcomes of the RPPR Board meeting and special Scrutiny Committee meeting held to discuss the Reformulated Supported Bus Network (RSBN).

Reformulated Supported Bus Network (RSBN)

43.2     The Committee thanked Officers for their work on the RSBN proposals, which are part of the medium term financial plan for the department. The commercialisation of some routes was welcomed by the Committee, but it was noted that the consultation had caused some public concern and distress about the potential loss of supported bus routes.

43.3     The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport explained that operators can choose to commercialise routes at any time during the year. The department continues to work towards this goal for as many routes as possible. The tendering process had led to a number of operators choosing to take on previously subsidised routes on a commercial basis.

43.4     It was noted that the Council had consulted on all routes in an open and transparent way, right at the start of the process. Although the commissioning process had been painful at times, it had resulted in a sustainable bus network. The Chair added that the commissioning process was a penetrating way of working out the best way of delivering services against a background of diminishing resources.

43.5     The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport thanked the Committee for their comments about the work of the Public Transport team. The commissioning process is iterative and the team will continue to work to commercialise more supported bus routes as opportunities arise.

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process

43.6     The Committee approved the RPPR process and agreed that there is a need to continue reviewing services to secure sustainable, best value services in the future. The Committee will need to examine a number of aspects of the Department’s remit in the longer term, as the Council starts to look at the next three year budget setting process.

43.7     The Committee shall need to focus on a number of the Department’s activities to understand the cost and values of the various services. This will help the Committee form a picture of what services need to be retained and the projected effects of cuts on residents as they may be applied in the future.

43.8     The Committee considered the merits of reviewing the services provided by the department earlier in the year than has been the case previously. The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport reminded the Committee that the department has a policy framework that determines how the budget is spent and would welcome earlier discussions and input from Scrutiny on the budget. 

43.9     It is likely that the Council as a whole will need to find a further £70 million to £90 million pounds in savings over the next three years. The department does not know the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43

56.1.    The Committee considered a report from the Chief Executive which summarised the Committee’s input to the RPPR process and invited suggestions for improving Member engagement. The Chief Executive set out that a new process for developing the three year Medium Term Financial Plan was being considered, in the light of the scale of the challenges ahead.

56.2.    RESOLVED to (1) establish a standing RPPR Board, consisting of Councillors Birch, Blanch, Standley and Whetstone, to monitor the process throughout the year; and

(2) focus initially on the Library Service and Communications.