Agenda and minutes

Mr. D.R. Parsons CC – Leader of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 January, 2004 having been previously circulated were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of the Party Whip.

The Chief Executive reported that there were no petitions to be presented.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Resources to the Cabinet on 13 January setting out the overall position on the Revenue Budget 2005/06 and Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.  A copy of the report is filed with these minutes.

The Commission also considered a report setting out the comments of the Scrutiny Committees on the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme relating to their respective service areas.  A copy of that report is also filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting, Mr. D.R. Parsons CC Leader of the Council who had kindly agreed to attend the meeting to answer questions.

Members of the Commission welcomed the detailed reports that had been provided to scrutiny committees.  In the ensuing discussion the following points were made.

(a)    Overview of the Budget

(i)      The expectation was that all public bodies should aim to achieve year on year savings of 2½% of which at least half should be cashable.

(ii)     The achievement of efficiency savings in excess of £6million over two years was welcomed by members of all Groups.  The Leader paid tribute to officers in achieving a level of efficiency savings in excess of that required by the Gershon report.  The Commission was advised that Government guidance on achievement of efficiency savings had now been received.  Members asked that this information be circulated to them.

(iii)    Officers would continue to look critically at all areas of the Council’s budget to identify efficiency savings.  In this regard £500,000 had been set aside to provide resources to enable a review of business processes and systems, including the development of e-procurement.  It was anticipated that this review would generate savings over a number of years.

(iv)    After taking into account the final figures in relation to Revenue Support Grant Settlement and the Collection Fund there was approximately £385,000 within the budget not yet allocated.  The Leader indicated that he would welcome comments on possible areas of the budget which the Cabinet should consider.

In relation to the discussion on the comments of the various scrutiny committees the Commission agreed to note these and forward them to the Cabinet.  In response to further comments made by the members, the Leader advised the Commission as follows:

(a)    Community Services Scrutiny

The views now expressed in relation to the Shire Grants Scheme were noted and a review of the eligibility criteria would be undertaken.

(b)    Social Care Scrutiny

(i)      As stated at the meeting of the Social Care Scrutiny Committee, the decision to raise the level of homecare charges had been a difficult one.  The proposed level of charges would still leave Leicestershire in the bottom quartile in 2005/06.  The request for a staged increase was one that could not be supported.

(ii)     The investment in the four elderly persons homes was to ensure the facilities were upgraded.  The homes were a valued resource and occupancy levels of the homes were currently very high.

(iii)    The concerns expressed in relation to the Supporting People budget were noted and any further views from the Chairman and Spokesmen of the Social Care Scrutiny Committee would be welcomed.

(c)     Highways Transportation and Waste Management

The concerns about the level of resources in future years for highway maintenance were noted.  A cash standstill in 2006/07 was proposed by the Government.  The Cabinet had yet to make a decision on the level of resources that would be available in 2006/07.  With regard to Highway Maintenance, the successful introduction of Roadline and the proposed investment in Highways Patrol Units would help to identify and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.

The date of the Commission’s next meeting will be Wednesday 2^nd March, 2005 at 2.00pm.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 2 March 2005.

                                                                                                   CHAIRMAN

2 February 2005                                                                     

2.00 p.m. – 3.40 p.m.