Agenda item

The Commission considered a joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Resources which provided information on the proposed 2019/20 to 2022/23 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as it related to the Chief Executive’s Department.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 9’ is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion and questions the following points were raised:-

Growth

(i)          The Commission supported the proposal for growth in the Hardship and Crisis support service.  Demand was rising and the earmarked reserve that had been used to support the service over the last couple of years was running out.  In the longer term the budget would be balanced through recommissioning the service in a more holistic and streamlined way, for example through the reducing the number of referral points.  The County Council did not work with the charity Help Through Crisis but was open to exploring options for collaborative working wherever possible.

(ii)         With regard to the proposed growth in Legal Services, it was noted that increasing the in-house provision would reduce spend on more expensive agency staff and would also provide a better service.  Consideration would be given to using fixed term contracts for posts to support major infrastructure projects, although it was recognised that additional legal support for Section 106 agreements, to enable a timely response, would be an ongoing requirement.

Savings

(iii)       The Commission was pleased to note that the saving from the review of grants and contracts across the Communities, Policy and Resilience function would not have a detrimental effect on front line services.  Savings would be made from the infrastructure to support front line services, for example through better alignment with other agencies that funded a similar service.

(iv)       It was noted that Brexit was likely to create additional demand on the Trading Standards Service, both in terms of enforcement work and supporting small and medium sized businesses.  To date there had been no indication from the Government that additional funding would be made available.  The £35 million of national funding that had been announced was directed to Port Authorities and Environmental Health Services.  Concern was expressed that the savings requirement for Trading Standards would affect front line services at a time where they were likely to be facing increased demand.  The Leader of the Council advised that, if more resources were required for Trading Standards after Brexit, efforts would be made to ensure that they were made available.

(v)        Concern was expressed that Non Disclosure Agreements had prevent the sharing of information relating to Brexit, particularly with regard to the East Midlands Airport.  However, the Commission was assured that within the last two weeks there had been a significant push to get them lifted so that information could be shared.  A regional steering group had also been set up and had met with the Secretary of State during the previous week.  Members would be kept apprised of any developments through the Weekly Digest and the Corporate Governance Committee was also monitoring the situation through the Corporate Risk Register.

(vi)       The savings requirement from reducing funding to tourism support services was not expected to be fully delivered because the plan to set up an organisation with Leicester City which would be self-funding by 2021 would now not be realised.  The Commission had some concerns that a new organisation covering City and County would have disproportionate focus on Leicester City and emphasised the importance of tourism to market towns and the local economy.  It was suggested that this could be the subject of a future report to the Commission.

Capital Programme

(vii)     In response to a query regarding why superfast broadband coverage was limited to 97% of properties, the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources advised that there were challenges in ensuring that every isolated, rural property was identified.  The contract was based on percentage delivery; the location and order of roll out to properties was a commercial decision.  Further details on the roll out of superfast broadband, including whether the potential introduction of 5G technology would have an impact on the project, would be provided to the Commission after the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the comments now made be submitted to the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 February;

(b)  That the Cabinet be recommended to reconsider the saving CE4:SR Trading Standards Reduction in Staffing and Agency Budgets, particularly given the likely impact of Brexit on demand for the service;

(c)  That a report on tourism services be submitted to a future meeting of the Commission;

(d)  That officers be requested to provide members of the Commission with further information on Superfast Broadband and whether 5G technology would have any impact on the project.