Issue - meetings

To provide an update to the Orbis Joint Committee on the 2017/18 Orbis Operating budget, in order for the Joint Committee to recommend the 2017/18 contribution to be made by East Sussex County Council and Surrey County Council.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Kevin Foster, Chief Operating Officer, East Sussex County Council

Sergio Sgambellone, Director of HR, Orbis

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.           Officers introduced the report and gave a brief summery of the savings included in the report. Members noted that work was still ongoing and a further report should be expected.  

2.           Members sought confirmation on whether the savings identified in the report had been adjusted in accordance with updates to the Orbis Operating Budget in October 2016 and enquired if there was potential for further savings to be achieved. Officers advised that the savings identified had been revised to reflect the changes to the Orbis Joint Operating budget while also stressing that it was possible for further savings to be achieved by in year by the partnership.

3.           A discussion took place regarding the importance and financial benefits of revaluating how front line services are provided. It was noted that that there were identifiable benefits in providing self-service opportunities and by looking into ways of empowering staff to facilitate improved decision making. 

4.           Committee Members questioned a footnote in the report which stated that management costs include an adjustment to ensure that the cost of pension contributions was similar in both SCC and ESCC. Officers informed the Committee that this was due to the pension provisions of each council being different and that they were equalised for the purposes of fairness.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

None.

RESOLVED: That:

the Orbis Joint Committee agreed to recommend the level of 2017/18 contributions to the Orbis Joint Operating Budget to both ESCC and SCC Cabinets for inclusion in the 2017/18 budget proposals for approval by the respective County Councils.

To provide an update to the Orbis Joint Committee on the 2017/18 Orbis Operating Budget, in order for the Joint Committee to recommend budget proposals to East Sussex County Council and Surrey County Council.

The Committee considered a report on the Orbis Operating Budget for 2017/18, introduced by the Chief Operating Officer.

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.           The efficiency savings targets for 2017/18 are challenging but are achievable. They include additional areas of search for savings for each partner, which have been reported as part of the budget setting process for East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and are to be reported for Surrey County Council (SCC).  The response to the need for additional savings is a partnership approach, which has targeted the ‘managed on behalf of’ (MoBo) budgets (such as procurement and facilities management) rather than taking money from operational budget which is mainly made up of staff costs.

2.           The Committee commented that there was not much detail on the savings being proposed for each of the service areas in 2017/18. The Chief Property Officer responded that all six services are working on detailed plans, which will be fed back to the Joint Committee towards the end of December.

3.           The Committee noted that all the savings targets are green and asked if they were challenging enough. The Chief Operating Officer responded that the existing targets are challenging but manageable, taking into account the need maintain business as usual whilst making the efficiency savings. The Partnership has carried out a Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 efficiency savings plans, and will keep them under review.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

Further information on the savings plans for 2017/18 for the six services.

Resolved:

The Joint Committee:

             i.                         noted the latest position of the 2017/18 Joint Operating budget; and

            ii.                         agreed to recommend the level of 2017/18 Orbis Joint Operating Budget savings to the respective Cabinets.