Agenda item

Budget 2017/18: Service Dashboards and Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAS)

Minutes:

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out updates to the 2017/18 budget within the existing framework of the 10-year budget and savings plan.  The report also presented proposals that had been identified which needed to be considered, together with further suggestions made by the Advisory Committees, before finalising the budget for 2017/18.

 

The major message of the report was that the Council was able to remain financially self-sufficient.

 

The budget agreed by Council in February included £100,000 of new savings or additional income per annum and the Advisory Committees were being asked to make suggestions to Cabinet that would achieve the £100,000 required for next year. Two Member Budget Training sessions had recently taken place with the intention of increasing, or refreshing, Members knowledge of the budget process and to enhance the discussions that would take place at this round of Advisory Committees.

 

The Chief Finance Officer reminded Members that over £6m had already been agreed to be saved between 2011/12 and 2017/18 made up of over 130 items and over £10m had been saved since 2005/06.

 

Members reviewed and discussed Appendix D which contained the growth proposal put forward by the Portfolio Holder and Chief Officers, and the Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) in Appendix E. 

 

Members also considered and gave their individual ideas for growth and savings items.  The Chief Finance Officer summarised the suggestions put forward and Members considered whether there was anything they wanted taken forward as potential growth or savings suggestions. A number of growth and savings items were suggested and discussed:

 

Growth:

Community awards and projects arising from them,

Development of Local Government apprenticeships for SDC and re sale to other councils,

Skills and training signposting for businesses, and

Offer more paid for training sessions for businesses.

 

Savings:

Invest in more electric bikes and cars,

Improved use of technology for external information provision,

Administration expenses,

Greater engagement with local businesses on projects,

Car parking in Sevenoaks town,

Advisory/consulting offering to other councils,

Encourage more volunteering and outreach with community projects,

West Kent Partnership LEADER,

Measure Officer man-hours,

Build a second hotel for a different market.

 

Action 1: For Chief Officer Communities and Business to circulate information on the West Kent Partnership including targets and their aims

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty and that individual equality impact assessments had been completed for all Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) to ensure the decision making process was fair and transparent.

 

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that

 

a)     the growth proposal identified in Appendix D applicable to the Advisory Committee (SCIA 15) be agreed;

b)     the following suggestions be discussed further by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Chief Finance Officer, before putting suggestions forward to Cabinet

Growth

Community awards and projects arising from them,

Development of Local Government apprenticeships for SDC and re sale to other councils,

Skills and training signposting for businesses, and

Offer more paid for training sessions for businesses.

 

Savings

Invest in more electric bikes and cars,

Improved use of technology for external information provision,

Administration expenses,

Greater engagement with local businesses on projects,

Car parking in Sevenoaks tow,

Advisory/consulting offering to other councils,

Encourage more volunteering and outreach with community projects,

West Kent Partnership LEADER,

Measure Officer man-hours and

Build a second hotel for a different market.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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