Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Glenis Ansell, Stuart Dobson and John Walsh.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations.

It was stated that the meeting would be live broadcast and recorded.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on (4 clear working days, e.g. Wednesday of week before a Wednesday meeting) in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on (2 clear working days, eg Friday of week before a Wednesday meeting). Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no questions or statements submitted.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as the extraordinary meeting to

scrutinise any amendments from opposition groups or other councillors to the proposed budget as Tuesday 14 February 2017 commencing at 14.00 in the Council Chamber, Monkton Park, Chippenham.

To confirm the date of the next ordinary meeting as Tuesday 14 March 2017 in the Kennet Room.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 14 February 2017 at 1100 at Monkton Park, Chippenham.

The Management Committee is asked to scrutinise the budget papers in accordance with previously agreed procedure and in the

context of:

·         The briefing to all councillors on the budget setting process on 24 January

·         Any initial views from public consultation events

·         Remarks from the Leader, Cabinet Member for Finance, Associate

Director of Finance and any input from the Corporate Directors

·         The meeting of the Financial Planning Task Group from 27 January (written report to follow)

·         The views of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Select Committees

The Financial Planning Task Group will have gained knowledge throughout the year whilst undertaking budget monitoring on the issues that have caused

pressures, the underlying reasons and mitigating actions. They will have taken a view on the robustness of the responses including variations made and on the overall effectiveness of budget management. It is important that this knowledge from the current year and how these matters will be addressed for 2017/18 are included in today’s debate.

Likewise, the Select Committees, through the reviews they have undertaken in terms of policy development and service variation during the year, will have

been aware of the financial implications (and commitments given or efficiencies expected) of each. The committees will have had ongoing dialogue with their respective cabinet members, portfolio holders and senior managers regarding implementation so it is important that an opportunity is given to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Select Committees to comment on whether these commitments and efficiencies have been reflected in the budget proposals.

Having heard from those with a direct responsibility and interest, the Chairman will open out the debate to the Management Committee members to make enquiries of the Executive representatives based on the Financial Plan Update report (see next item) and what has been said. As in previous years, the Committee is asked to focus on the main strategic and policy issues and not those that sit at an operational officer level.

The Chairman will look to gain consensus to the key points made as the

meeting moves through the debate. These key points will be listed in the

minutes and form a report to Cabinet on 7 February and Council on 21

February.

An additional meeting of the Committee to scrutinise any opposition group or other amendments to the budget before Council has also been arranged for 14 February.

The procedure for the meeting was noted.

A report from the Associate Director of Finance on the Council’s Financial Plan Update for 2017/18 has been circulated to all councillors.

It can be accessed at the following link

The draft Wiltshire Council Financial Plan Update for 2017/18 was presented by Councillor Richard Tonge, Cabinet Member for Finance, and Michael Hudson, Associate Director of Finance, ahead of its submission to Cabinet on 7 February and Full Council on 21 February 2016.

It was noted that Council on 18 October 2016 had approved a Medium Term Financial Plan and Efficiency Statement 2017-2020, an agreement with central government to secure details of four years of funding settlements, with the council committing to specific efficiency targets. The Committee had considered details of that plan on 10 October 2016, which included assumptions of 1.99% annual rise in Council Tax and 2% Social Care Levy. The proposals for 2017/18 were considered within the framework previously agreed, though since the agreement it had been stated councils could bring forward an additional 1% increase in the Social Care Levy, which it was proposed be accepted.

Details of the income and proposed expenditure were provided. It was confirmed under the proposals the council would set a balanced budget. A report from the Financial Planning Task Group was also received and considered.

The Committee, along with other members in attendance including all members of the Executive, discussed the proposed budget, and clarification was sought on many issues from the attending Cabinet Members and Corporate Leadership Team, with details contained in the report as appended to these minutes. Particular focus was given to service budget proposals, how proposed savings would be achieved, impacts upon staffing levels, community grants and adult social care along with other topics as detailed in the appended report.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

a)    To thank the Financial Planning Task Group for its report and for its work throughout the year monitoring and scrutinising the finances of the council; and,

b)   To note that the process for scrutiny of the budget had been robust and added value.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.