BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
STRATEGY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STRATEGY COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER 2009
Quick Links
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
|
Mr N A Bennett
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr P Jones |
Dr M R Miller
Mr A J Ward
Mr R Whiting
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The following Members were unable to be present: Mr M P Booth, Mrs S Carpendale, Mr R E Kemp and Mr C M Spence.
It was noted that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, substitutes were in attendance as follows:-
Mr R Whiting (substituting for Mr M P Booth)
Mr A J Ward (substituting for Mrs S Carpendale)
Mr P Jones (substituting for Mr R E Kemp)
Mr N A Bennett declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No. 77 (b) by virtue of being a Member of Sudbury Town Council and indicated that he would not be present whilst the matter was discussed.
Mr N A Bennett declared a prejudicial interest in that part of Minute No. 77 (a) concerning the reduction of community grant to the sports facility at the school at which he is employed and was not present when that part of the item was discussed.
Mr P Jones declared a personal interest in Minute No. 77 (a) by virtue of being a trustee of the Copdock Village Hall Management Committee but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Ms J A Jenkins declared a personal interest in Minute No. 77 (a) by virtue of being Chairman of the Leavenheath Village Hall Management Committee but indicated that her interests were such that she was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Mrs S M Wigglesworth declared a personal interest in Minute No. 77 (a) by virtue of being Chairman of the Polstead Village Hall Management Committee but indicated that her interests were such that she was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Mr R Whiting declared a personal interest in Minute No. 77 (b) below by virtue of being a Member of Hadleigh Town Council but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Dr M R Miller subsequently declared a personal interest in Minute No. 77 (a) by virtue of being a District Council representative on the East Bergholt High School Dual Use Sports Centre Management Committee but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
None received.
(a) 2010/11 Budget – Savings Efficiencies and Additional Income (SFP Task Group)
Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic Financial Planning (SFP) Task Group, introduced Paper J142 outlining:
- Possible options for achieving the Council’s savings and efficiencies targets as an essential requirement in the development of a balanced budget for 2010/11
-
Specific actions that are being recommended by the Task Group; and
-
The ongoing need to identify further savings and efficiencies to meet in full the savings target and achieve a balanced budget for 2010/11.
It was noted that the figure of £1,602,000 referred to in the table in paragraph 5.9 should be amended to £1,605,000 and that the figure of £386,000 contained in the table in paragraph 5.11 should be amended to £286,000.
The Director of Finance referred to Appendix A to the report which outlined a summary of the savings proposals that had been developed by Officers for consideration by the SFP Task Group. In page 5 of Appendix A the date relating to the termination of canteen operations should be amended to 31.12.10.
The Chief Executive provided an update on her ongoing discussions with the Babergh branch of Unison.
During consideration of that part of Appendix B which detailed the Schedule of Proposed Community Grants Reductions Mr N A Bennett left the room and was not present during its discussion. During the consideration of this matter the principle of reducing community grants for 2010/11 by around £135,000 was agreed. It was also agreed that the SFP Task Group would consider this further, together with the impact of reducing Discretionary Rate Relief, at its next meeting.
The Committee considered options for Council Tax increases and concluded that the SFP Task Group should work on the basis of an increase of 3% and not 1.5%. Members were aware that the items as agreed in (1) to (6) below would be progressed through the draft budget and SFP process in order to achieve the Council’s savings and efficiencies targets and to identify the further savings and efficiencies which will be needed to produce a balanced budget for 2010/11.
RESOLVED
(1) That the latest overall position on achieving the Council’s revised savings target of £1.605m for 2010/11, as set out at paragraph 5.9 of Paper J142 and the on-going need to identify further savings to achieve a balanced budget for 2010/11, be noted.
(2) That the Strategic Financial Planning Task Group be asked to work on an assumption of a 3% Council Tax increase.
(3) That identified savings of £385,000, as summarised at paragraph 5.13 of Paper J142 be incorporated in the budget for 2010/11.
(4) That, subject to any necessary revisions being reported to the 14 January 2010 Strategy Committee, the potential savings, efficiencies and additional income as summarised at paragraph 5.11, and set out in Appendix A to Paper J142 be incorporated in the draft budget proposals that are presented to Council on 28 January 2010, it being noted that these include:
(a) Items that involve a significant impact on service provision such as grants to various organisations and reductions in Discretionary Rate Relief
(b) An estimated overall reduction of approximately 17 full time equivalent staffing posts as a result of vacant and temporary posts not being filled through natural wastage and voluntary and compulsory redundancies.
(5) That, subject to consideration of an alternative proposal from Sudbury Town Council, charging for long stay car parking be introduced in specified car parks in Sudbury and Hadleigh, and incorporated into the draft budget for 2010/11 accordingly, as set out in paragraph 5.5 of Paper J142.
(6) That the on-going discussions with staff and Unison in respect of possible reductions in staff terms and conditions, referred to in paragraph 5.5 of Paper J142 be noted.
(b) Managing Babergh Car Parks
Mr N A Ridley (Chairman of the Strategic Financial Planning Task Group), referred to a report (Paper J143) outlining the responses from Sudbury Town Council, Hadleigh Town Council and the Lavenham Parish Council on whether they wish to manage the respective Babergh owned or operated car parks in their areas.
It was appreciated that the offer to the Town and Parish Councils to submit proposals to manage Babergh’s car parks did involve very tight deadlines as there was an urgent need for Babergh to integrate any such proposals into its budget making process by mid December. Sudbury Town Council was the only Council who has submitted a proposal to take on the management of the car parks and an analysis of their proposal was outlined in Section 6 of Paper J143.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Town and Parish Councils be thanked for their responses on the managing of Babergh car parks.
(2) That for the financial, legal, operational and asset management reasons set out in Section 6 of Paper J143, Sudbury Town Council’s offer to manage Babergh’s car parks be declined.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.00 a.m.
Chairman
|