Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Finance)  To set out a process for scrutiny of the budget within the Council’s financial and business planning framework and to consider the financial strategy issues for the four -year planning period.

This report was received to set out the process for scrutiny of the budget within the Council’s financial and business planning framework, and to consider the financial strategy issues for the four-year planning period.

We noted the rôle of Scrutiny Members in respect of the budget which was:

i)                    to ensure the budget proposals supported the Council’s priorities and the improvement of services

ii)                  to ensure value for money was being achieved and that the Council was obtaining maximum benefit from the resources it was using

The committee noted to achieve this rôle it was suggested that:

i)                    in respect of the annual budget process, the new savings and investments from the Pre-Business Plan Review be considered at meetings during November and December and that Chief Officers and/or business unit managers were to attend to present and answer questions

ii)                  That when scrutinising value for money, the committee would ensure that wherever possible in scrutiny reviews the specific issue of value for money was investigated using the cost, performance and perception matrix; and,

iii)                That possibly the committee would consider adding to the work programme with specific thematic or cross-cutting reviews, or a review of previous years approved budget savings and investments to assess their impact

The committee noted Appendix 1 to the report, which set out the financial planning process in full, providing details of relevant national issues as well more local budgetary ones.

The committee noted the proposals with regards to efficiency savings.  With Members having agreed to cap Council Tax rises at no more than 3% across the next four years, it was noted that these would likely be required.  The committee also noted that Haringey had been at the bottom of the grant settlement floor for the last five years.  However, Members agreed that efficiency savings could be made across the board through corporate projects, as well as those from individual business units.

Member requested that the budget take full account of the Gershon Review of public sector finance.

Members requested training on the budget scrutiny process, and agreed that the Training Officer should organise a conference for all Councillors to set out the process, allow a forum for a full debate and ensure that all had a good understanding of the process as it stood.  Members also requested that measures be taken to ensure the accuracy of the eventual document which was to be scrutinised.

Members requested that an informal session of the committee meet in due course to decide a course of action in scrutinising the budget itself.

RESOLVED:

1.      That we receive the report.

2.      That the training and other recommendations outlined above be implemented.