Agenda item
Budget Scrutiny (2020/21 Draft Budget)
To begin the process of scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget by:
(i) considering the 2018/19 revenue and capital outturn positions (as context for the development of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the 2020/21 budget). These positions are set out under items 6 and 7 on the agenda for this meeting.
(ii) discussion of the planned methods for development of the MTFS and 2020/21 budget.
The Committee’s work programme provides for further scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget at its meetings on 17th September and 3rd December 2019, with an additional meeting of the Committee required in January 2020 to agree any recommendations it wishes to make.
Minutes:
The Committee was asked to begin the process of scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget by:
(i) considering the 2018/19 revenue and capital outturn positions (as context for the development of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the 2020/21 budget). Those positions were set out under items 6 and 7 on the agenda for this meeting.
(ii) discussion of the planned methods for development of the MTFS and 2020/21 budget.
The Committee’s work programme provided for further scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget at its meetings on 17th September and 3rd December 2019, with an additional meeting of the Committee required in January 2020 to agree any recommendations it wishes to make.
Assisting with the consideration of the item: Strategic Director of Corporate Services, Democratic Services Officer.
The above budget scrutiny process was further detailed by the Strategic Director of Corporate Services. Having been part of the process for several years, the Chair considered that budget scrutiny warranted a separate scrutiny panel or sub-committee to ensure a focused, detailed and comprehensive consideration that would be difficult at meetings of this committee. The Committee agreed that such an approach would be the most effective one. It noted that the Scrutiny Commission, at its first meeting, had agreed that a scrutiny panel could be set up if the Committee considered that to be the best approach to budget scrutiny. It also noted that a scrutiny panel would enable a wider membership than a sub-committee and, therefore, enable best use of financial skills and experience among scrutiny councillors.
RESOLVED
1. that a scrutiny panel be established to undertake scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget, in accordance with the Scrutiny Commission’s agreement to this at its first meeting on 3rd June 2019;
2. that the above scrutiny panel be chaired by Councillor Parsons, as Chair of the scrutiny committee responsible for budget scrutiny;
3. that the process for scrutiny of the Council’s 2020/21 budget and the meetings required to do so be decided by the Chair and Vice-chair of this Committee;
4. that, in due course, expressions of interest be invited from scrutiny councillors to sit on the above scrutiny panel, with membership to be decided in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, but that it be noted that the Committee would wish to make best use of scrutiny councillors’ financial skills and experience;
5. that advice be sought from the Democratic Services Manager in respect of the required reporting of the recommendations of the above scrutiny panel via the scrutiny structure and to Cabinet.
Reasons
1. The Committee considered this to be the most suitable and effective approach to budget scrutiny for the reasons set out above.
2. To enable the panel to be progressed.
3. To ensure the process is reviewed to ensure it is as effective as possible and to take account of previous experience of budget scrutiny.
4. To ensure a suitable panel membership for the most effective outcomes.
5. To ensure this matter is clear, can be included in the process and suitably scheduled. The Committee expressed a wish to see the Panel’s outcomes before submission to Cabinet, but it might also be a requirement that the Scrutiny Commission did so.