Issue - meetings

Projected Budget 2009-11

Meeting: 15/01/2009 - Cabinet (Item 332)

332 PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011 pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Finance presented the projected budgets for 2009-2011 to coincide with the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR).

 

At the request of the Leader of the Council, the Director of Finance updated the Cabinet on the position regarding the Icelandic Bank.

 

Resolved – That the projected budgets continue to be reported to the Cabinet in line with the agreed financial and performance management timetable.

 

 


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 98)

OBJECTION: SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND TRANSPORT (Cabinet minute 295 – 10 December 2008) (PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011)

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Sheila Clarke

Seconded by Councillor Karen Hayes

 

(1)  Council notes that the removal of the uniform grant will affect the most needy in our community especially at a time of such deep financial hardship, and the grant should be retained.

 

(2)  Council should instruct the Labour/ Liberal Democrat Cabinet to stop the further review of the cost of School transport. Parents of whatever faith have a right to choose the best school that meets not only their children’s needs but also their beliefs.  This Council should not be imposing barriers to this and again inflicting a further financial burden at this critical time.

 

(3)  Council therefore does not accept the budget saving of £30,000 and agrees that a further review of the cost of school transport should not take place.

 

Resolved:  That the matter be referred to the Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee (minute 77 above refers).


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 97)

OBJECTION: WIRRAL HOMES ADVERTISING (Cabinet minute 254 - 6 November 2008) (PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011)

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Blakeley

Seconded by Councillor Leah Fraser

 

(1)  This Council notes that the Housing and Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 18 November 2008, was not aware of the proposals with regard to the Strategic Asset Review (SAR), and the potential loss of many public buildings, when it considered this budget saving.

 

(2)  Council notes that, as a consequence of the SAR, there is potentially the loss of many locations, such as libraries, leisure centres, community centres and other public buildings that would have otherwise made available to the public the weekly Wirral Homes advert.

 

(3)  Therefore, Council believes that those people who are looking for housing, and who rely on the Wirral Homes advertisement being freely available, will be severely disadvantaged.

 

(4)  Council therefore does not accept the Cabinet’s recommended budget saving of £10,000.

 

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter and it was –

 

Resolved (24:39:2) – That the objection be not approved.

 

NB.  The following Councillors requested that their vote in favour of the objection be recorded:

 

Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, SL Clarke, WA Duffey, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, Mrs L Fraser, JE Green, J Hale, Karen Hayes, Paul Hayes, AC Hodson, PSC Johnson, J Keeley, I Lewis, SD Moseley, SR Mountney, C Povall, A Pritchard, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, Sue Taylor, GCJ Watt, and Mrs K Wood.

 

Councillor Kirwan requested that his abstention be recorded.


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 95)

OBJECTION: ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORT (Cabinet minute 254 - 6 November 2008) (PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011)

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Watt

Seconded by Councillor Sheila Clarke

 

(1)  Council notes that:

 

(i)  transport service users and their carers greatly value the standard and continuity of care currently provided by the in-house team;

 

(ii)  it is proposed to put the transport service out to tender without prior consultation with staff and without assistance for staff to produce an in-house bid;

 

(iii)  the fairness of any tendering process has been compromised by the publication of the current in-house costing in the report to Cabinet;

 

(iv)  the suggested saving arising from putting the transport service out to tender does not take into account the cost of compliance with TUPE regulations.

 

(2)  Council therefore does not accept the Cabinet’s recommended budget saving of £180,000.

 

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter and it was –

 

Resolved (24:39:2) – That the objection be not approved.

 

NB.  The following Councillors requested that their vote in favour of the objection be recorded:

 

Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, SL Clarke, WA Duffey, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, Mrs L Fraser, JE Green, J Hale, Karen Hayes, Paul Hayes, AC Hodson, PSC Johnson, J Keeley, I Lewis, SD Moseley, SR Mountney, C Povall, A Pritchard, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, Sue Taylor, GCJ Watt, and Mrs K Wood.

 

Councillor Kirwan requested that his abstention be recorded.


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 93)

OBJECTION: RECONFIGURATION OF THE YOUTH SERVICE (Cabinet minute 267 - 27 November 2008) (PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011)

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Sheila Clarke

Seconded by Councillor Karen Hayes

 

(1)  Council notes that, as a consequence of this reconfiguration of the Youth Service, seven as yet unnamed Youth Centres across the Wirral will be closed, and this Council rejects the loss of amenities for our young people, especially at a time when this Labour / Liberal Democrat Administration is closing down leisure centres, libraries and the highly rated Pacific Road complex.

 

(2)  Council should instruct the Labour/ Liberal Democrat Cabinet to come clean with both our young people and our staff and name the Youth Centres which are to be closed

 

(3)  Council therefore does not accept the Budget saving of £150,000

 

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter and it was –

 

Resolved (24:39:2) – That the objection be not approved.

 

NB.  The following Councillors requested that their vote in favour of the motion be recorded:

 

Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, SL Clarke, WA Duffey, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, Mrs L Fraser, JE Green, J Hale, Karen Hayes, Paul Hayes, AC Hodson, PSC Johnson, J Keeley, I Lewis, SD Moseley, SR Mountney, C Povall, A Pritchard, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, Sue Taylor, GCJ Watt, and Mrs K Wood.


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 75)

Cabinet minute 267 - Projected Budget 2009-11 (27 November 2008)

Projected Budgets 2009-2011 (27 November)

 

Recommendation  That

 

(1)  Cabinet recognises that the recession is having an impact on many of Wirral’s families and it is essential to do everything possible to ensure that Wirral’s council tax payers are not faced with the additional burden of high council tax increases.  In order to further reduce Wirral’s budget gap, and in the light of the reports and Cabinet recommendations on the Insurance Budget (Item 15), the Highway and Engineering Services Procurement Exercise (Item 9), and the Reconfiguration of Youth Services (Item 16), Cabinet recommends the following:

 

Children’s Services

 

£

The Schools budget be charged with the full cost of insurance, reflecting the risks assessed by the insurer and that the mechanism for doing this is agreed with the Schools’ Forum.

400,000

The Reconfiguration of the Youth Service is agreed in line with the report and consequential savings accepted as outlined in the recommendation.

150,000

Technical Services

 

£

The revenue savings of £320,000 arising from the HESPE exercise as outlined in the report be accepted.

320,000

Finance.

 

£

The sum of £140,000 of increased income from Wirral Partnership Homes following the closure of their cash offices be accepted.

140,000

(2)  Cabinet asks that the efficiencies contained within this motion be referred to the relevant Scrutiny Committees * for urgent consideration before Council meets on December 15th.  Should this prove impossible in any instance, then, because it is considered to be in the Council’s best interests to implement proposed savings as early as possible, Cabinet asks Council to approve those items which have not been considered by scrutiny committees where there is all party support and, in so doing, to suspend paragraph 2(a) of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rulesand to deal with the proposals in accordance with paragraph 2(b), i.e. where there is no such agreement, absence of which should be indicated by the lodging of an objection within the timescale set by Standing Order 7(2), Council is asked to refer the relevant item to the appropriate overview and scrutiny committee for discussion and subsequent referral to the next Council meeting.  Items already discussed by the relevant Scrutiny Committee will be dealt with in the normal way; and

 

(3)  this motion is subject to any statutory requirements on staffing issues.

 

* see item 8 below

Minutes:

Resolved  – That

 

(1)  it be recognised that the recession is having an impact on many of Wirral’s families and it is essential to do everything possible to ensure that Wirral’s council tax payers are not faced with the additional burden of high council tax increases.  In order to further reduce Wirral’s budget gap, and in the light of the reports and Cabinet recommendations on the Insurance Budget (Item 15), the Highway and Engineering Services Procurement Exercise (Item 9), and the Reconfiguration of Youth Services (Item 16), the following matters be approved:

 

Children’s Services

 

£

The Schools budget be charged with the full cost of insurance, reflecting the risks assessed by the insurer and that the mechanism for doing this is agreed with the Schools’ Forum.

400,000

The Reconfiguration of the Youth Service is agreed in line with the report and consequential savings accepted as outlined in the recommendation*

150,000

Technical Services

 

£

The revenue savings of £320,000 arising from the HESPE exercise as outlined in the report be accepted.

320,000

Finance.

 

£

The sum of £140,000 of increased income from Wirral Partnership Homes following the closure of their cash offices be accepted.

140,000

 

* see also Minute 92 below.


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 74)

Cabinet minute 254 - Projected Budget 2009-11 (6 November 2008)

Projected Budgets 2009-2011 ( 6 November)

 

Recommendation -

 

(1)  In the light of the continued urgent need to close Wirral’s £21million budget gap and avoid placing an unreasonable burden on Wirral’s council tax payers, and in the light of the recommendations on Item 4 (Progress towards the Transformation of Adult Social Services) and Item 8 (Procurement Efficiencies), Cabinet recommends the following to Council:

 

Adult social services

 

£

In line with Cabinet report on item 4, paragraph 13.2, adopt the Fair Price model of Supported Living with Independent Supported Living Providers.

650,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 13.3 put in house Supported Living Services out to tender. This is a half year saving from September 09 to allow time for process.

347,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 7.2 put all Adult Social Services Transport services out to tender. This is a part year saving to allow time for the process.

180,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 14.1.d) fund the cost of Individualised Budgets from Reform Care Grant

1,500,000

Fund the Reform Team directly from the Efficiency Investment Budget in 2008/9

360,000

Fund Reform Team from Efficiency Investment Budget in 2009/10

518,000

Finance

 

£

Fund Change team from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2008/9

635,000

Fund Change team from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2009/10

635,000

Fund Procurement and Creditors from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2008/9

1,022,000

Fund Procurement and Creditors from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2009/10

1,022,000

Fund Customer Services Development from Efficiency Investment Fund

183,000

Fund Customer Services Development from Efficiency Investment Fund

183,000

Corporate Procurement Efficiencies

1,500,000

 

 

Regeneration.

 

£

Conference and Seminar Attendance

10,000

Reduction in Training

28,000

Maximising external grant

107,000

Reduction in advertising as a consequence of Wirral Homes’ decision to stop advertising in the Globe (Council’s contribution no longer required).

10,000

Review of administration.

138,000

 

Minutes:

Resolved - That

 

(1)  in the light of the continued urgent need to close Wirral’s £21million budget gap and avoid placing an unreasonable burden on Wirral’s council tax payers, and in the light of the recommendations on Item 4 (Progress towards the Transformation of Adult Social Services) and Item 8 (Procurement Efficiencies), the following matters be approved:

 

Adult social services

 

£

In line with Cabinet report on item 4, paragraph 13.2, adopt the Fair Price model of Supported Living with Independent Supported Living Providers.

650,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 13.3 put in house Supported Living Services out to tender. This is a half year saving from September 09 to allow time for process.

347,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 7.2 put all Adult Social Services Transport services out to tender. This is a part year saving to allow time for the process.*

180,000

In line with Cabinet report item 4 paragraph 14.1.d) fund the cost of Individualised Budgets from Reform Care Grant

1,500,000

Fund the Reform Team directly from the Efficiency Investment Budget in 2008/9

360,000

Fund Reform Team from Efficiency Investment Budget in 2009/10

518,000

Finance

 

£

Fund Change team from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2008/9

635,000

Fund Change team from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2009/10

635,000

Fund Procurement and Creditors from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2008/9

1,022,000

Fund Procurement and Creditors from Efficiency Investment Fund in 2009/10

1,022,000

Fund Customer Services Development from Efficiency Investment Fund

183,000

Fund Customer Services Development from Efficiency Investment Fund

183,000

Corporate Procurement Efficiencies

1,500,000

 

 

Regeneration.

 

£

Conference and Seminar Attendance

10,000

Reduction in Training

28,000

Maximising external grant

107,000

Reduction in advertising as a consequence of Wirral Homes’ decision to stop advertising in the Globe (Council’s contribution no longer required)*

10,000

Review of administration.

138,000

 

* see also Minutes 94 and 96 below.

 


Meeting: 15/12/2008 - Council (Item 77)

Cabinet minute 295 - Projected Budget 2009-11 (10 December 2008)

Projected Budgets 2009-2011 (10 December)

 

Recommendation -

 

(1)  Cabinet recognises the urgent need to ensure that Council Tax increases are kept as low as possible and therefore recommends the following savings to Council, taking into account items 6 and 25, in order to continue to narrow Wirral’s budget gap and protect Wirral residents from unnecessary financial burdens.

Children’s Services

 

£

Deletion of  posts held vacant for more than twelve months

80,000

Cease to provide uniform grants in the light of ready availability of inexpensive school clothing.*

30,000

Adult social services

Reduction in Residential and Nursing Home Fees Contract in line with agenda item 25

1,000,000

Review of Admin Support

100,000

HOUSING AND REGENERATION

Increase mobile cleaning team to facilitate mobile cleaning of all toilets at regular intervals.

70,000

CORPORATE SERVICES

Restore element of LAA reward grant to Council budget following decision of Local Area Agreement Board on November 19th.

1,400,000

Finance.

Transfer of Reserves and Provisions no longer required to the General Fund, with the proviso that £230,000 is set against the projected Housing and Regeneration overspend on Cultural Services. 

360,000

(2)  In order to ensure that the authority treats children of all faiths equally, the Director of Children's Services be asked to carry out a consultation exercise on changing the home to school transport policy with a view to removing the entitlement to free travel for new pupils attending Roman Catholic schools and to report back to Cabinet on the 23rd February 2009; and

(3)  Because it is considered to be in the Council’s best interests to implement proposed savings as early as possible, Cabinet asks Council to approve those items which have not been considered by Scrutiny committees where there is all party support and, in so doing, to suspend paragraph 2(a) of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rulesand to deal with the proposals in accordance with paragraph 2(b), i.e. where there is no such agreement, absence of which should be indicated by the lodging of an objection by 10am on Friday, Council is asked to refer the relevant item to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for discussion and subsequent referral to the next Council meeting.

 

* Note: see also agenda item 10a (Matters for debate), part (13).

Minutes:

Resolved -

 

(1)  it be recognised that there is an urgent need to ensure that Council Tax increases are kept as low as possible and therefore the following savings be approved, in order to continue to narrow Wirral’s budget gap and protect Wirral residents from unnecessary financial burdens.

Children’s Services

 

£

Deletion of  posts held vacant for more than twelve months

80,000

Cease to provide uniform grants in the light of ready availability of inexpensive school clothing.*

30,000

Adult social services

Reduction in Residential and Nursing Home Fees Contract in line with agenda item 25

1,000,000

Review of Admin Support

100,000

HOUSING AND REGENERATION

Increase mobile cleaning team to facilitate mobile cleaning of all toilets at regular intervals.

70,000

CORPORATE SERVICES

Restore element of LAA reward grant to Council budget following decision of Local Area Agreement Board on November 19th.

1,400,000

Finance.

Transfer of Reserves and Provisions no longer required to the General Fund, with the proviso that £230,000 is set against the projected Housing and Regeneration overspend on Cultural Services. 

360,000

 

* see also Minute 98 below.

 


Meeting: 10/12/2008 - Cabinet (Item 295)

295 PROJECTED BUDGETS 2009-2011 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Minutes:

At the request of the Leader of the Council, the Director of Finance updated the Cabinet on the position regarding the Icelandic Bank and the letting of energy contracts.

 

The Director of Finance presented the projected budgets for 2009-2011 to coincide with the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR).

 

The Leader of the Council moved a motion, duly seconded and it was –

 

Resolved - That

 

(1)  Cabinet recognises the urgent need to ensure that Council Tax increases are kept as low as possible and therefore recommends the following savings to Council, taking into account items 6 and 25, in order to continue to narrow Wirral’s budget gap and protect Wirral residents from unnecessary financial burdens.

Children’s Services

 

£

Deletion of  posts held vacant for more than twelve months

80,000

Cease to provide uniform grants in the light of ready availability of inexpensive e school clothing.

  30,000

Adult social services

Reduction in Residential and Nursing Home Fees Contract in line with Item 25

1,000,000

Review of Admin Support

100,000

HOUSING AND REGENERATION

Increase mobile cleaning team to facilitate mobile cleaning of all toilets at regular intervals.

70,000

CORPORATE SERVICES

Restore element of LAA reward grant to Council budget following decision of Local Area Agreement Board on November 19th.

1,400,000

Finance.

Transfer of Reserves and Provisions no longer required to the General Fund, with the proviso that £230,000 is set against the projected Housing and Regeneration overspend on Cultural Services. 

360,000

(2)  In order to ensure that the authority treats children of all faiths equally, the Director of Children's Services be asked to carry out a consultation exercise on changing the home to school transport policy with a view to removing the entitlement to free travel for new pupils attending Roman Catholic schools and to report back to Cabinet on the 23rd February 2009; and

(3)  Because it is considered to be in the Council’s best interests to implement proposed savings as early as possible, Cabinet asks Council to approve those items which have not been considered by Scrutiny committees where there is all party support and, in so doing, to suspend paragraph 2(a) of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rulesand to deal with the proposals in accordance with paragraph 2(b), i.e. where there is no such agreement, absence of which should be indicated by the lodging of an objection by 10am on Friday, Council is asked to refer the relevant item to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for discussion and subsequent referral to the next Council meeting.

 


Meeting: 04/09/2008 - Cabinet (Item 174)

174 Projected Budget 2009-11 pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Finance presented a report on the projected budgets for 2009-2011 to coincide with the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR).  The report set out the budget summary for 2008/9, variations that had been identified for 2009/11, a number of other development and details of balances.

 

The Leader of the Council moved a motion, duly seconded, and it was -

 

Resolved - That

 

(1)  Cabinet notes the increased pressures on Wirral’s budget, including an estimated £9m increase in energy and fuel costs, which means that the target for efficiency savings now exceeds the original projections by over £7m;

 

(2)  Cabinet notes that substantial work is being undertaken to close this gap, particularly in the areas of Adult Social Services and Asset Management, and therefore states its intention to bring a packet of recommendations forward to Cabinet on October 16th and Cabinet on 6th November 2008 in order to make real and immediate progress on reducing the budget gap; and

 

(3)  Cabinet instructs Chief Officers to do everything possible to contain any potential overspends this year, and to continue to seek out further efficiencies over and above the original £13.7m target in order to close the budget gap.