Agenda item

To consider and comment on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Received the Corporate Planning covering report (pages 7-18 of the agenda pack) cover report and Corporate Plan 2015-16 (pages 19 – 266).

 

Councillor Arthur, Cabinet Member for Resources and Culture, introduced the areas of the budget proposal within his portfolio, including that it was necessary to remodel the delivery of Council services and relationships with residents, businesses, voluntary sector and community groups, and, that a 3-year budget plan was the right approach to ensure clear outcomes in order to stimulate growth and manage the rising cost in social care.

 

Consideration of the areas of concern within the Committee’s responsibility are noted below.

 

a.         Corporate Priority 4 – Drive growth and employment from which everyone can benefit (summary page 187)

 

i.              Item 49 – Economic Development – Film Office

 

The Committee requested a briefing note on the proposal to outsource the Film Service.

Action: Dan Hawthorn

(Post meeting note: briefing circulated to OSC on 7/1/15)

 

ii.         Item 51 – Reduce funding for Alexandra Palace and Park Trust (p.195)

 

A member expressed concern that cuts to Alexandra Palace and Park funding would impact a well used community facility and risk losing the current Heritage Lottery Fund project bid. Cllr Arthur recognised the importance of Alexandra Palace for Haringey and that support would continue to assist the Palace to achieve a more sustainable position. 

 

The Committee was concerned that the Council would continue to subsidise the Palace at the expense of other Council priorities. Councillor Arthur sympathised with this view and highlighted the Council’s statutory responsibility regarding continued support for the Palace and Park.

 

iii.        Item 52 – Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid for Bruce Castle Museum (p.196)

 

The Committee questioned the impact of cutting £218k funding from Bruce Castle, a much needed facility in a very deprived area, in the third year and the consequence of the HLF bid being unsuccessful. 

 

Cllr Arthur acknowledged that Bruce Castle was important to the community and ran good events but also that the building required repairs.  The HLF bid was part of the regeneration project for Tottenham and included options for a sustainable future for the facility.  In the unlikely event that the bid was unsuccessful there was scope for other options including the use of capital funds.  In response to concerns about any decisions on the transfer of any assets or leases being open and transparent the Cabinet Member assured the Committee that any options and implications would be open to consultation and presented to Cabinet.

 

iv.        Item 54 – Cultural Strategy (investment proposal, p.198)

 

The Cabinet Member explained, in response to a question, that the figures for Year 2 were in brackets to demonstrate that this money would be removed from Year 2 funding.

 

The Committee raised concerns about how participation in culture would be delivered with reduced funding and that areas of the Borough were often ‘forgotten’. Cllr Arthur emphasised that rather than provide direct funding, the Cultural Strategy would focus on providing active support (such as granting necessary licences, assisting in bids for funding) to communities and organisations which were aligned to the Corporate Plan.  The partnership and whole-borough approach of the Cultural Strategy would target growth and skills to: attract creative industries to the Borough, equip residents in the required areas and work with organisations to make use of existing buildings.

 

v.         Item 55 – Jacksons Lane (page 199)

 

Noted the Committee’s uneasiness about the proposal not to invest in Jackson’s Lane beyond Year 1 and the Council’s commitment to continue to work in partnership with  the management team.

 

b.         Corporate Priority – Enabling

 

i.          Item 70 – Customer Service Transformation programme (page 217)

 

The Committee highlighted the need for customer services to be inclusive, content of the website and literature to be in plain English, for residents to be listened to and not feel rushed when seeking customer advice and support.

 

The Cabinet Member and officers explained that the standard of customer service required improvement as issues were not consistently dealt with at first contact, residents felt that frontline staff were unsupportive and unhelpful and the proposals allowed more flexibility in staffing. The proposals included extending the Council’s online services to reduce the number of residents requiring assistance from customer agents and enable faster access to face to face support for those residents who did not use the online system.  The savings would be made by moving all customer agents into one building.

 

It was noted that the Council’s vision was to build a caring and supportive culture and that this was maintained and consistent resident engagement was key at this time of necessary change.

 

The Chair suggested a possible future Scrutiny Review of the Council Telephone System.

Action: Clerk

 

ii.         Item 71 – Muswell Hill Library relocation (p.218)

 

The Committee expressed that the Council needed to listen to residents who wanted the library to remain where it was.

 

Cllr Arthur acknowledged the anxiety in the Muswell Hill community about the possible move of the library from its existing site. He assured the Committee that all 9 libraries in the Borough would be protected and invested in. Proper consultation would take place about the future of the library including whether to improve existing facilities onsite or move to another location.

 

iii.        Item 72 Libraries staff restructure (p.219)

 

Cllr Arthur agreed with the Committee’s comments that the libraries self-service IT system required improvement.

 

iv.        Item 73 – BIP: Business Infrastructure Programme (p.220) and

            Item 74 – BIP: Commercial Unit & Organisation Wide Supplier Savings (p.221)

 

The Committee noted that savings would be achieved through:

·         More efficient processes

·         ICT enablement (e.g. online payslips)

·         People Savings

 

Members expressed that outsourcing did not always achieve efficiency.

 

Cllr Arthur accepted the general consensus of the Committee against the outsourcing of services but reminded the Committee that the Council already currently commissioned successful services but proposals were focused on delivering the best services for residents and value for money.  In response to concerns it was explained that the Council would not move away from its existing framework but would include a more commercial approach.

 

c.         Draft Capital Programme 2015/16 and Indicative Spending Plans 2016/17 and 2017.18 (p.223)

 

In response to the Committee’s request for wider consultation on capital proposals it was stated that engagement would take place with residents and councillors about the capital programme proposals for 2015/16.

 

i.          1 – Technopark – to achieve vacant possession disposal

 

The Committee requested a briefing on the background of the Technopark project and what the proposals entailed.

Action: Cabinet Member for Culture and Resources/ Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration

 

ii.         4 - Ashley Road Depot relocation (short term costs) – Feasibility costs for depot relocation options

 

Noted that as part of the Technopark deal Ashley Road depot would be required to move and this proposal related to a feasibility study including the possibility of moving the Ashley Road depot to Marsh Lane.

 

iii.        17 – Marcus Garvey CSC Remodel of Library to accommodate customer service centre

 

The Committee highlighted the anxiety in the community about the possibility of a reduced library service from this site and expressed uneasiness about the potential move of Apex House customer services into the building.  The Committee did not agree with placing too many services, some dealing with sensitive matters, into the public building which was not particularly accessible and would not provide additional parking for the proposed additional staff coming to the building.  Cllr Arthur understood the concerns and assured the Committee that proposals would not be taken forward if there was clear evidence that they would not achieve the desired outcomes.

 

It was noted that a report on the Apex House proposals and Library proposals would be presented to Cabinet in January and March 2015 respectively.  The move of quality customer services in to Marcus Garvey could increase the footfall and improve use of the library.    There was evidence that libraries which also provided other services worked well at other sites (e.g. Wood Green).

 

Clerk’s note: Vice-Chair, Cllr Connor, took the chair during consideration of this item as the Chair left the room briefly (20.01hrs – 20;04hrs)

 

iv.        19 – Hornsey Town Hall Delivery option appraisals for Town Hall refurbishment project

 

Noted that the options would be developed and may require capital funding.

 

v.         21- Compulsory Purchase – empty properties

 

The Committee requested a written briefing about compulsory purchases, particularly in relation to its concern that the market values of properties may not be paid.

Action: Tracie Evans

 

d.         Proposed Schemes for approval (to be funded from grants and receipts (p.223)

 

i.          23 – Keston vacant possession – To allow vacant possession disposal of site      

 

It was explained that the proposal to allow vacant possession disposal of the Keston site had come directly from the service area in order to obtain a significant capital receipt.  The site had formally been used as an adult assessment centre.

 

Clerk’s note: Cllr Blake left the room briefly (20.04hrs – 20:07hrs) during consideration of this item.

 

ii.         27 – Business Infrastructure Programme – ICT investments to secure Business Improvement Programme

 

A total of £9 million was proposed for ICT investments over the three year period but this figure is likely to be reduced depending on the model chosen. An options report would be presented to Cabinet.

 

iii.        28 – Customer Services – New customer services platform – design and implementation costs

 

It was noted that a report would be presented to Cabinet in the new year around the contract for the new platform and that costs may be lower than proposed.

 

iv.        29 – Bruce Castle Project to restore Bruce Castle via HLF bid

 

More detail on the match funding would be available once options were established.

 

v.         30 – Outdoor Gyms

 

            The Committee requested a written briefing on how the provision of outdoor gyms would be funded.

Action: Cabinet Member for Culture and Resources

 

vi.        33 – Bruce Grove Station match funding for Network Rail project to support improved commercial offer at Bruce Grove station

 

The Chair emphasised the need to encourage Network Rail to clean the station.

 

Cllr Arthur was thanked for attending.

 

Cllr Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability, answered questions and provided information on the proposals of concern.

 

e.         Corporate Priority – Economic Growth

 

i.              Item 49 – Economic Development (p.194)

 

Concerns were raised about outsourcing services which were already performing well.  In response, it was emphasised that proposals would not only seek to run services more efficiently, with more expert resources, but would attract investment in the Borough and could reduce demands on management time and also produce a revenue stream.

 

            ii.         Item 50 – Environmental Resources       

 

The Committee emphasised the importance of maintaining efforts to achieve carbon reduction. Cllr Goldberg recognised that cuts could affect services but the Council was still committed to a reduction in 40% carbon emissions and more partnership working would be required to achieve this but also had to balance the management of climate change with providing essential services such as adult’s and social care.

 

The Cabinet Member congratulated, Ben Brown, LBH Procurement Manager, on the tax savings made so far through successful savings in energy and carbon reductions though not using so many buildings.

 

Cllr Goldberg was thanked for attending.