Meeting documents

Finance and Best Value Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 17th September 2007

Location Map

Venue : Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall



Item 1 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/PARTY WHIP


Summary:

Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

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Item 2 - MINUTES


Summary:

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2007, which were received or approved by the Council.

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Item 3 - FINANCIAL MONITORING STATEMENT


Summary:

This report provides a summary in tabular format of the current position of the Authority revenue accounts and General Fund balances. Further details can be found in the financial monitoring summary and service re-engineering summary reports elsewhere on this agenda.


Recommendation:

(1) That the contents of the financial monitoring statement be noted.

(2) That a further update be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 4 - MONITORING REPORTS


Summary:

In an effort to simplify the presentation of the monitoring reports to Overview and Scrutiny Committees, they are all being presented together as appendices to one report.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 5 - PROJECTED BUDGET 2008 - 2011


Summary:

This report updates the projected budgets for 2008-2011 to coincide with the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2007. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has stated that, following the CSR, the Local Government Finance Settlement will cover the period from 2008 to 2011 and that Local Authorities will be expected to budget on a three year basis.


Recommendation:

That the projected budget for 2008 to 2011 be updated and reported regularly to the Cabinet.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 6 - MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2008 - 2011


Summary:

This report provides an update of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2007/2010 that was agreed by Cabinet on 23 August 2006. The aim is to give Members a strategic overview of the period 2008/2011 highlighting the significant issues to be considered in conjunction with financial planning and informing future priorities. It was presented to the Cabinet on 6 September 2007.


Recommendation:

(1) That the Medium Term Financial Strategy covering the period 2008/2011 be noted.

(2) That regular updates of the financial projections for the period of the Strategy be reported to the Cabinet and to the Finance and Best Value Overview and Scrutiny Committee.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 7 - FINANCIAL MONITORING SUMMARY


Summary:

This is one of a series of reports submitted throughout the year presenting an overview of the financial performance of the Council. This report details the key variations for this financial year and provides a summary of the overall implications for the General Fund. It was presented to the Cabinet on 6 September 2007.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 8 - CAPITAL MONITORING SUMMARY


Summary:

This report provides Members with an update on the progress being made in delivering the capital programme for 2007-2008. It was presented to the Cabinet on 6 September 2007.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 9 - SERVICE RE-ENGINEERING SUMMARY


Summary:

This report provides Members with an update on the progress being made in achieving the service re-engineering savings contained within the budget for 2007/2008. Also included are details on the use of the service re-engineering reinvestment budget for 2007/2008. It was presented to the Cabinet on 6 September 2007.


Recommendation:

That the outstanding savings target of £2,883,000 be identified.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 10 - COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - USE OF RESOURCES ACTION PLAN


Summary:

This report provides an update on progress against the Use of Resources (UoR) action plan. This will be assessed in the forthcoming Use of Resources inspection to be undertaken by the Audit Commission and forms part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).


Recommendation:

That Members note the progress in delivering the Use of Resources Action Plan.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 11 - INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) STRATEGY


Summary:

This report presents a draft Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Strategy. The strategy will be continuously reviewed and the updated document will be returned to Cabinet periodically. It was presented to the Cabinet on 6 September 2007.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 12 - HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFITS - ANNUAL REPORT


Summary:

This report updates Members on the progress of the Benefits Service over the last year and outlines the challenges to be faced in the coming months.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 13 - TREASURY BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS


Summary:

This report informs the Committee of four contracts awarded for improvements to the Treasury Building, Cleveland Street, Birkenhead.


Recommendation:

That the report be noted.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHRONICLE (LGC) AWARDS 2007


Summary:

This report is to inform Members of the intention to submit an entry for the LGC Awards 2007. Attendance at the awards ceremony if the Authority is shortlisted should be referred to the Cabinet for approval of duty.


Recommendation:

(1) That Committee is requested to consider the question of attendance at the awards ceremony on 5 November 2007.

(2) That attendance be referred to the Cabinet for approval of duty.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 15 - CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PURCHASING AND SUPPLY - ANNUAL AWARDS


Summary:

Wirral has been short listed as part of the Merseyside Collaborative Procurement Group in the Best Public Procurement Project category by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, the winners of which will be announced at the Annual Dinner on 20 September 2007.


Recommendation:

That attendance at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Annual Ceremony be referred to Cabinet for approval of duty.


Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)

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Item 16 - ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS APPROVED BY THE CHAIR

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Agenda Published: 7 September 2007