Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues  raised by the OSC in relation to unrestricted business to be considered.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and responses, were tabled in respect of Agenda Item 5.2 (General Fund Revenue and Capital Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 to 2019/20) and Item 5.4 (Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2017/81). The questions were considered when each item was taken.

Councillor John Pierce, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), then addressed Cabinet to update them on the meeting of the OSC the previous week.

He reported that:

1.    Councillors had considered and reviewed the Council’s mid-year progress implementing the Strategic Plan and an update on performance of strategic measures at the six month stage.

2.    The Mayor had provided context and background to the report and alerted the committee to the development of the updated and refreshed Strategic Plan that will be approved by Cabinet along with the budget at its meeting in February 2017.

3.    The Mayor had indicated that the Strategic Plan would be aligned with the Outcome Based Budgeting approach and the rolling 3 year Medium Term Financial Plan and would impact on the nature of the performance management arrangements and form of the future monitoring reports. There will be a clear link between resource allocation and specific metrics designed to measure outcome achievement and contribution to the council’s key strategic priorities.

4.    The Councillors had noted the range improving performance activity in a number of key service and priority areas, however expressed concern at the continuing performance level regarding sickness absence management and requested further information in relation to the Waste Management contract and Special Educational Need provision, funding and performance.

5.    Pre decision scrutiny – Local Council Tax reduction scheme 2017/18

6.    The Committee had reviewed the basis for and associated consultation evidence which has been used to inform the development of the Local Council Tax reduction scheme for 2017/18. Information was provided on the historical and statutory basis for the scheme and the proposed strategic approach for 2017/18.In addition the requirement for the final scheme to be approved at the Full Council meeting on 18 January 2017.

7.    Councillors had raised a number of strategic approach and practical and detailed implementation questions and queries in relation to the proposed approach for 2017/18, a number of which were answered during the debate. Questions requiring further clarification are included later in this briefing.

8.    The Committee had supported in principle the suggested approach, particularly the current direction of travel and the commitment to continuing support for those households that qualify for 100 % reduction in Council tax liability.

Pre decision scrutiny – Fees and Charges 2017/18

9.    The Cabinet Member for Resources introduced this item and gave an overview of the strategic approach to fees and charges income for the coming year and the varied nature of the range of statutory and discretionary fees and charges levied by the council. Councillors asked a number of questions relating to the detailed nature of specific charges, including the historic basis for adult education charges and contractual relationship with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

Budget Scrutiny

10. He had introduced this agenda item highlighting the proposed approach to Budget Scrutiny this year and the key drivers for this approach including the scale of funding and service changes, the introduction of the Outcome Based Budgeting approach and the Transformation programme.

11. This initial session for the committee had taken a strategic approach looking at the overall budget package, key drivers for change and the proposed approach to transformation. This included review and consideration of the Mayors strategic approach and the links between the proposed budget, Medium Term Financial Plan, Treasury Management approach and the refreshed strategic plan.

12. The Committee had also reviewed the nature of the financial resources funding the budget including council tax and business rates, reserves policy, schools funding, Capital and HRA budgets and the robustness of the approach to risk.

13. There had also been a review of the range of budget pressures and proposed growth allocations along with an overview of the extensive range of savings proposals. The next part of the budget scrutiny process will be an informal workshop at 18.00 on 16 January 2017 at the Town Hall, which will be more focused on the in-depth review and scrutiny of a small number of key elements of the proposed budget.

14. The suggested focus and lens for the scrutiny work would be on the following priority areas:

·        Enabling Growth in the Borough and

·        Prevention and proactive initiatives.

In addition that the approach for the in depth reviews should be in determining: Firstly that the proposed outcomes are clear and appropriate and that the evidence base and rationale is robust, and to consider areas of significant risk and the robustness of the mitigation measures.