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.

Officers reported that the High Level Business Cases would be presented at the Corporate Policy Committee on the 13^th of February.

Councillor J Clowes proposed two amendments, seconded by Councillor T Dean which were as follows;

EC4 “Fund Libraries in a different way”

It was felt that whilst the approach was supported it must go further than as described in the consultation extract.

If the potential savings for 2024/25 were to be achieved, the Library Strategy must be expedited. It was proposed that;

1)    That the Library Strategy (together with the schedule for its’ delivery), was included in the MTFS proposals for 2024/25 (Savings could not be effectively met without it).

2)    That progress of the Library Strategy was included in MTFS quarterly reviews scheduled into the Committee’s work programme in order that Members had sight of emerging policy objectives at the earliest opportunity. This offered optimum opportunity for oversight and scrutiny of that work.

3)    That all Library governance models remained “on the table”. Engagement with Town and Parish Councils was only one approach, but other models such as Staff Mutuals, Constituted Community Groups, Industrial & Provident Societies, may better suit different libraries and communities.

4)    That the proposed outcomes of the Library Strategy were brought forward to Committee in a timely way to deliver savings within year.

Parish Compacts

1)    As part of the 2024/25 MTFS quarterly reporting process, all asset transfers and devolved services to Town and Parish Councils are reported to Committee in order that Members are able to provide optimal oversight and scrutiny.

2)    the 2024/25 MTFS includes opportunities for proportionate, devolved services, through an expansion of the parish compact system (or appropriate alternative models), for smaller (often more rural) parishes, where CEC service provision is commensurately more costly that that which local parishes and communities may wish to source for themselves.

3)    These opportunities to be investigated in terms of local consultation and cost-benefit analysis, prior to bringing forward any realistic savings to Committee later in 2024/25 or for inclusion against the 2025/26 MTFS.

4)    As the Green Spaces Review (MTFS 2023/24) is implemented, it is timely to further review Green Space maintenance over 2024/25 in the context of Town and Parish Council devolved services (this is already underway), but also in the context of parish precepts (where such parishes express an interest).

The amendments were voted on and carried unanimously therefore the amendments became part of the substantive recommendations. Officers undertook to include them into the revised MTFS documentation.

Following an introduction on each proposal members asked questions and provided comments in relation to each proposal. These included:

Proposal EC1: Refresh wholly owned company overheads and contributions

Had a view already been formed on this a proposal of £1m savings had been cited is there already a review on this?

Officers reported that an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 127