Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all Members and Officers to the meeting and he extended a particular welcome to representatives of the Citizens’ Panel and Anglesey Youth Council (Llais Ni).

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

To present the minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on the following dates –

·         13 November, 2017

·         14 December, 2017 (Call-in)

The minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 13 November, 2018 and 14 December, 2018 (call-in meeting) were presented and were confirmed as correct.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager incorporating the following -

•           The report of the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the proposed Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2018/19 (Appendix 1)

•           The key messages from the Public Consultation on the 2018/19 Budget proposals (Appendix 2)

•           The report of the Citizens’ Panel and Youth Council (Llais Ni) on the citizens’ response to the budget efficiency proposals and budget scrutiny arrangements (Appendix 3)

The report of the Scrutiny Manager was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report outlined the context to the 2018/19 Budget setting process along with the key issues and questions for Scrutiny in evaluating the final Budget proposals in light of the outcome of the public consultation thereon, and it incorporated the following documentation –

3.1       The report of the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the Medium Term Financial Plan and the proposed Revenue Budget for 2018/19.The report provided a position statement on the key financial considerations which have influenced how the final budget proposals have been shaped (Appendix 1)

The Portfolio Member for Finance thanked the Finance Service for its work since the outset of the 2018/19 budget setting process, and also Heads of Service, departments, and Elected Members for their contribution to a process which has taken many months and has involved debate, discussion and challenge. Thanks are also due to Llais Ni and the Citizens’ Panel for their participation in the scrutiny process. The Portfolio Member reported that the largest contribution to the Council’s budget comes in the form of Welsh Government (WG) funding and although the final settlement figure for Anglesey saw an increase of £0.888m (0.7%) from the provisional figure, it is not enough to fully respond to the effects of both general and pay inflation nor to meet the increasing pressure on the Council’s budgets, hence the need to find savings and to apply that requirement in as fair as way as possible across the Council’s services. At its meeting in November, 2017 the Executive approved a standstill budget based on the provisional WG settlement, the savings proposals put forward at that time and an increase of 5% in the Council Tax (with 1% of this increase earmarked for   Children’s and Social Care services being areas where the budget pressures are most acute). The report as presented refers to a revised standstill budget of £133.127m, based on a final WG revenue grant settlement of £95.812m, savings of £3.3m with the remainder being generated by the Council Tax. The challenge which the Council faces annually in seeking to balance its budget is a significant one. The continuing climate of austerity means that the need to find savings is ongoing with little certainty as to the nature and extent of future challenges. The Council must therefore consider all options in order to ensure that its services remain as efficient as possible within the resources available and with the least possible impact on Anglesey’s residents.

The Scrutiny Manager reported that this is the Corporate Scrutiny Committee’s second meeting dedicated to the 2018/19 Budget, the first having been in October, 2017 when the Committee scrutinised the initial budget proposals as presented at the time. The Committee in October asked the Finance Scrutiny Panel to look in detail at the budget proposals. Today’s meeting provides the Committee with a final opportunity to consider the budget proposals before they are presented to the Executive on 19th  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To receive a progress report on the work of the Finance Scrutiny Panel to date.

A report by the Scrutiny Manager incorporating a progress update on the work of the Finance Scrutiny Panel was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report provided a summary of the matters which have received the Panel’s attention over the course of December, 2017 and January, 2018 along with an updated version of the Panel’s work programme to March, 2018.

Councillor Robin Williams reported that the Finance Scrutiny Panel has now met on six occasions and during that time the Panel has looked at several aspects of Council expenditure and has received external specialist input by CIPFA Wales. Two reports have been commissioned by the Panel in relation to Children’s Services and the Learning Service being two areas where there is pressure on specific budgets and where there is consequent overspending. Those reports were presented to the Panel at its meeting on 2 February, 2018 and the Panel noted that both services are working on ways of bringing the over expenditure down as a priority. Whilst continuing to monitor Children’s Services and the Learning Service, the Panel will also be extending its financial scrutiny over the coming months to other areas to include Adults’ services, Leisure services and Waste services.

It was resolved to note –

•           The progress made to date with the work of the Finance Scrutiny Panel.

•           That processes pertaining to budget monitoring for 2017/18 and budget setting for 2018/19 appear to be on track thus far.

•           The financial scrutiny development programme for Panel members which is being delivered by CIPFA Wales.

•           The Panel’s concern regarding the overspend in Children’s services and the Learning service. The Committee notes also that as a first step the Panel has invited the Assistant Chief Executive, Head of Children’s Services and Head of Learning to provide an explanation of the financial situation in both services along with the mitigation measures proposed to be put in place to control the overspend and further notes that the Panel will report back to the Committee on its findings in due course.

NO ADDITIONAL ACTION WAS PROPOSED

To present for information and review, the Committee’s current Forward Work Programme for 2017/18.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager incorporating the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to June, 2018 was presented for review and comment.

The Chair updated Committee with regard to the following –

•           That the items on the Committee’s agenda for the 12 March, 2018 meeting will include the Corporate Scorecard for Q3 2017/18; the Schools’ Modernisation Programme in the Seiriol area; the Schools Modernisation Programme in the Llangefni area (Talwrn & Y Graig); Child Care/ Play Sufficiency Assessment and the Forward Work Programme.

•           That the Committee’s 9th April meeting may be re-scheduled for later in the month on a date to be confirmed.

It was resolved to accept and to note the Forward Work Programme with the changes as reported.

NO ADDITIONAL ACTION WAS PROPOSED