Agenda item

To consider the 2021/2022 Budget Consultation.

Frank Jordan, Executive Director of Place introduced and presented this item to the Committee.

He advised the Committee that Cabinet have proposed a set of draft budget proposals and if approved by Full Council the proposals did indicate a balanced budget.  Cabinet would consider the results of the budget consultation on the 2^nd Feb and in addition to this Central Government had provided a settlement for Local Authorities.

All proposals had been listed and structed under draft Corporate Plan themes: Open, Fair and Green, and RAG (Red, Amber, Green) Rated by Cabinet Members.  Any proposal marked as Red or Amber denoted Cabinet Members were minded to reconsider the proposals following consultation and the full details of the Government settlement.

Frank advised the Committee of key headlines:

1)    The potential available for Cheshire East Council from the Government Settlement, meant the level of Council Tax (that was set by Full Council) gave rise to an opportunity to add an additional precept of 3% that would be linked to Adult Social Care on top of the Council Tax rate.  This would provide more income and enable reconsideration of some of the proposals.

2)    In terms of the cost base, there was an opportunity to freeze pay for Local Authority employees, an additional Social Care grant was to be awarded.  The amount will be based on amount of funding raised locally, so it is linked to Council Tax.

3)    New Homes Bonus will be reviewed in the medium term.

4)    Government had changed guidance and rules around use of capital funding raised through public works and loans board if used to acquire assets for a yield.  This was part of Medium Term Financial Strategy which was approved last February, this is no longer appropriate under the new guidance.

Frank presented a list of proposals for the Place Directorate under the themes of Open and Green.

Open:

Flexible Resourcing for Regulatory Services

Urban Grass Cutting

Highways Correspondence

Tourist Information Centres

Regulatory Services ICT System £9k

Constellation Partnership

Orbitas

Public Rights of Way

Everybody Sports and Recreation (ESAR)

Highways

ASDV Review

ANSA Savings of £259k

Strategic Leisure Review

Estates Transformation and Neighbourhood Service Review

Green:

Development of Transit site for Gypsy and Travellers- £27k Growth

Tatton

Asset/Service Transfer

Fixed Penalty Income

Housing Services- £45k

Waste- Tonnage and Contract inflation £810k

Environment Strategy

Trees

LED Lighting for Street Signs

Parking Strategy (37k-£955k)

Local Bus Services

The committee considered the Pre-Budget Consultation 2021/22 proposals relating to services that fell within its remit, with a view to passing on its comments, feedback and recommendations to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny (28 January 2021) to include within its final budget scrutiny feedback to Cabinet (2 February 2021).

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

• In respect of the Boroughwide Consultation on the Parking Strategy and the Local Transport Plan, that the consultation timeframe be extended to take into account the difficulties people without access to the internet may have experienced trying to access services such as libraries which are closed as part of the national lockdown guidance relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Easter was given as a suggestion.

• It was noted that the budget proposals came with an attached caveat that:

Proposals marked RED / AMBER had been identified as those only being considered for consultation and any subsequent implementation if the Local Government Funding Settlement does not sufficiently increase the funding to Cheshire East Council. RED items would be removed first where possible.

The Committee agreed that for items relating to the Environment and Regeneration budget, the items marked in red and Amber could represent c£770k of savings.  Recommendation from the Committee was to retain those savings regardless of the outcome of the Local Government Funding Settlement.

• The Committee proposed that a plan for rural grass cutting could be developed as there was some reported road safety issues reported in certain parts of the borough.  Members were keen to note from Officers when rural grass was planned to be cut and/or sprayed and also the issue of Pavements siding out’ was raised, especially on major A roads where people can’t walk down.

RESOLVED –

That the committee’s comments, questions and feedback on the Pre-Budget 2021/22 Consultation proposals be formalised and presented to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (28 January 2021) to include within its final budget scrutiny feedback/recommendations to Cabinet (2 February 2021).