Issue - meetings

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Organisational Development) & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Corporate IT, Legal, Organisational Development

The Executive Member for Organisational Development & Performance introduced the report. The Committee raised the issue of slippage on the Tech Refresh budget and the Executive Member commented that the additional spend was necessary to modernise the system and would bring efficiency savings. The IT Capital Programme was discussed, and it was commented that improvements would be made in the collection methods of Council Tax and parking fines, the costs of back office functions and non-cashable savings. The Committee raised concerns over the number of people using e-services, and it was commented that this was increasing year by year and the Council had to offer more contact pathways for residents.

The issue of recruitment budget was raised and it was commented that Haringey needed to compete with other employers and the spending was required for stands and publicity materials. The correction of the schools payroll charge was discussed and it was agreed that this would not be approved until more information on this was provided to the Committee before 12 December.

The issue of the Vision and Values consultation development was raised and after a vote it was agreed that this would be approved by the Committee. The payment of Member broadband monthly charges was discussed, and it was agreed that the exact figures for the charges would be provided to the Committee before 12 December 2005. The issue of trial extended opening hours was discussed, and it was commented that this was an estimate of the cost implications of extended opening hours to the public, which would be established by a feasibility study. The ACE (Access) agreed that the bid was not essential this year and that the cost of the feasibility study could be contained from existing resources. The Overview & Scrutiny Committee rejected the bid pending the outcome of the feasibility study.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Corporate IT, Legal business unit and Organisational Development, with the exception of New Revenue Investment Proposal 21, Correction of the Schools Payroll Charge, which is to be re-considered following the circulation of a detailed briefing note before 12 December 2005 and New Revenue Investment Proposal 38, Trial Extending of Opening Hours, which was rejected pending a feasibility study. The Committee raised concerns over the figures budgeted for Members’ Broadband charges, and it was agreed that a detailed breakdown of this figure would be made available before 12 December 2005.