The Chair presented a report by a Scrutiny Officer informing of a Scrutiny Workshop held on 5 December 2019 when Members had considered the 2019/20 budget proposals being put forward in respect of its remit. Attached to the report was a further report that detailed the proceedings of the Workshop.

The Workshop had provided Members with the opportunity to examine in greater detail a number of budget proposals. The budget proposals selected for further examination had been identified by the Chair and Group Spokespersons as those deemed to be of greatest significance in terms of value and the public interest.  The report summarised the proposals scrutinised and the comments and suggestions of those Members who had been in attendance at the Workshop.

Those Members who had attended the Workshop were in agreement that the proposed budget savings options were measured and achievable.  They had also agreed that the £20m invested last year had stabilised services and the focus was now on investing in the longer term and reducing this figure.

Members had also agreed that they wanted to look closer at the cost of placements for looked after children, and it had been proposed that this be added to the Committee’s Work Programme.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the report on the Workshop (Appendix 1 to the report) be agreed as the Committee’s formal response to the 2019/20 budget proposals; and

(2)  the report and its appendix be referred to the Cabinet for consideration at the time when it is making recommendations to the Council in respect of the Council’s Budget for 2019/20.