The committee will receive an oral report on the outcomes from this review.
Minutes:
The Chairman invited Mr Palmer to provide feedback from the Budget Task & Finish Group (T&FG).
Mr Palmer began by explaining that the T&FG included Members from both this Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Mr Palmer reported that the group originally scheduled for December 2020 were not able to meet until a week prior to the budget being presented to Cabinet with the papers provided the day before the meeting was held, which was considered to be unsatisfactory by the group. Mr Palmer commented that he wished on behalf of the group to propose for this year, that the meeting was held in September to ensure it had appropriate input into the budget setting process, adding that he also believed that the group should have a firmer role, a review of the Terms of Reference was required, and an improved understanding of the process. Mr Palmer also referred to the potential difficulties which may arise from Covid-19, and the need to define the role of the group. Mr Ward explained that the purpose of the Budget T&FG was to receive a briefing from officers on the Cabinet’s Draft Budget. The briefing provided an opportunity for a fuller understanding, but at that stage it was a Cabinet draft proposal. With regards to how the budget was formulated, there were several stages, the first of which took place in September or October, with a Cabinet strategy day at which the emerging pressures and how the Cabinet would wish to address them, were discussed. This formed part of the financial strategy paper which was considered by this Committee prior to the Christmas period and was at that point a high level strategy, and a detailed budget would not be available at an earlier stage.
The Chairman sought clarification regarding whether there was a mechanism by which those allocated to the T&FG could put forward different views, considering this was a Cabinet draft budget. Mr Ward responded that the only mechanism was by the normal motions procedure at full Council and added that all political groups were able to vote in relation to the budget at full Council. Mr Ward explained that he had contacted all group leaders to request under the motions procedure sight of any alternative budget proposals to allow officers time to provide advice regarding their validity and whether they were achievable. The draft budget was developed by the governing group through the Cabinet mechanism and any member who wished to influence the budget would be required to engage with the leader and relevant cabinet member and consult officers on any technical aspect. Mr Ward also confirmed that the minutes from the T&FG could be shared with the Members of the Committee.
With regards to the process and associated timeline, Mr Ward explained that the budget process began in the autumn with a review of the Council’s five year financial strategy and was brought to this Committee, then to the Cabinet and finally full Council. Mr Ward concurred that there was scope to engage more with opposition groups and previously the current Leader had invited the Leader and Deputy Leader of the opposition to strategy days. A wider focus could be achievable but would not include the level of detail that was available at the T&FG as the details of the financial allocations the Council would receive were not provided until nearing the Christmas break. Much of the budget was a summation of the policy decisions made throughout the year and as such should not present unexpected information to Members. It would be possible to engage with opposition groups when formulating the financial strategy and Mr Ward reminded Members that there was a political emphasis to the budget and groups were not required to share their strategy.
The Chairman summarised that the name of the T&FG led Members to believe they would be given an opportunity for input rather than receiving information, that the T&FG could be given a broader forum, and he requested clarification regarding whether there could be provision for a meeting for the opposition to present their views. Mr Ward responded that these were valid points. Following the Cabinet Strategy Day the Leader had held a briefing with all group leaders and with both the Chief Executive and Mr Ward present, and this included the emerging financial pressures. Mr Ward concluded that he would examine this request further and consult with group leaders and senior leadership team on this matter outside the meeting.
The Committee noted the verbal report.