Agenda item

Report by the Chief Executive.

27.1     The Chair introduced report and outlined that this is the Committee’s opportunity to review its input into the RPPR process. The Chief Executive commented that as the Council had just completed the RPPR round and was working toward the State of the County report in July, it was a good point to review the process.

27.2     The Chair asked what benefit there had been from the Place Scrutiny Committee input into the RPPR process, and invited comments from the Lead Members. The Chief Executive commented that in shaping the proposals for activity and budget planning that it was helpful to have the Scrutiny Committee’s input on areas of search for savings, desired approach to activity and risk. The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport reminded the Committee of the work it has done historically that has helped shape the savings plans.

27.3     The Lead Members commented that they valued the input from the Scrutiny Committee and understood the Committee’s request to have more detail earlier. Information had been shared as soon as it was available with Scrutiny Committees and also through Whole Council Forums. The RPPR process involves all Councillors in the budget setting process, and the activity and savings proposals came forward through this process. The Lead Members noted the Committee’s comments on RPPR, but did not perceive there had been any challenge from Scrutiny on the areas of search for savings in the last round.

27.4     The Committee discussed the timing of the RPPR information received by the Committee. It noted that at the September meeting the Committee had the full State of the County report and the Portfolio Plans with all the departmental budgets and targets. The savings plans were available at the October Cabinet meeting. The Committee considered whether it may be better to move the September meeting to after the Cabinet papers are published, so the Committee can then ask for further information based on the savings plans presented to Cabinet.

27.5     The Chair added the Committee has had real impact where it has early access to the detailed financial information, but this appears to have stopped happening. The way the RPPR process has been presented to the Committee this year has meant the Committee has not been able to make the contribution that it would have liked to have made.

27.6     The Chief Executive responded that the Scrutiny Committee did have the opportunity to request information and offer suggestions for savings. As budgets become tighter the room to manoeuvre is much less, therefore savings options are much more constrained. The approach agreed by full Council in February 2019 included savings plans for the next two years as well as 2019/20 so consideration of those could be made immediately. Scrutiny has had impact through other work and officers are ready to make the information available that Scrutiny requests.  It is also possible to look at the timing of Scrutiny meetings if that would be helpful.

27.7     One of the Committee members commented that the RPPR report gave the impression that it was an officer report, when in truth it had been agreed by Cabinet Members. The Lead Member for Transport and Environment responded that the proposals in the report to Cabinet are agreed with Lead Members. The Lead Member for Communities and Safety outlined that there is a dialogue between officers and Lead Members over income and expenditure for the services within their Portfolio. There is always an offer to meet with other councillors to discuss the options available for services.

27.8     The Committee observed that the time between when final budgets are known, and when Full Council has to agree the budget, is very short. This leaves little time for Scrutiny to discuss the budget proposals, whereas Lead Members have regular access to officers. The Chief Executive acknowledged the challenges presented by the timing of central Government confirmation of local authority funding and outlined that officer support is available to all councillors.

27.9     The Chair thanked the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport for his comments and the department’s support for scrutiny work.

27.10   The Committee RESOLVED to note the report and examine changing the timing of meetings to take into account the RPPR reports to Cabinet.