Issue - meetings

To consider the proposals within the budget consultation relating to the Committee’s responsibilities.

The Committee considered a report which sought feedback on the responsibilities of the Committee as consultees, on the development of the Cheshire East Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024/25 to 2027/28.

There remained a shortfall of £12.7m across all committees to be resolved and further budget change proposals were sought to help present a balanced budget.  The Highways and Transport budget for 2023/24 was £11.0m.  Expenditure was forecast to increase by £5.8m next year.  The budget could increase by £1.2m due to funding constraints and as a result Highways and Transport would need to find savings of £4.6m to reduce the £5.8m growth pressures to an affordable level of £1.2m. At this stage £1m of savings had been identified.  

Officers reported that the High-Level Business Cases would be available for Members in time for the Corporate Policy Committee on the 13 of February.

Members asked questions and provided comments in relation to the proposals. These included:

Pay Inflation –it was asked why 3% figured was being used as in previous year had used 5% and this was below what the actual pay award had been.  In response it was stated that the pay award was subject to negotiation and the percentage was difficult to predict particularly when it was a fixed sum. The existing MTFS forecast that the average increase would be around 3% for 2024/25.

High Level Business Cases – it was stated that reference had been made previously to the business cases being considered by the Committee, but they were not included in the report.  In response it was reported that the process had changed and that the high level business cases were being collated for the meeting of the Corporate Policy Committee on 13 February. 

Ongoing funding for highways – it was asked how much money the Council needed to put into the highways budget to have an adequate maintenance plan.  In response it was stated that the funding received was not adequate compared to the level of work necessary to maintain the highways network to the standard the Council would like to achieve.  12 months ago the Council had a £180m backlog of repair work which was now closer to £200m.

Public Consultation – it was asked how the public views would be reflected in the final budget proposals.  In response it was stated that the public consultation had closed on 29 January and the outcomes would be reported to the Corporate Policy Committee on 13 February.

Bus Service subsidy – it was asked how the savings were going to be made.  In response it was reported that there was £2.5m growth for local buses.   The savings related to the level of supported local bus services and the recent tendering offered up savings of £250k.

Conservative Group Highways and Transport budget proposals– Cllr M Sewart reported that the number in the proposals was out of sync and that they should read as follows:

• Provision of Car Parks – it was proposed:

Ai)       that the parking disposal strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37