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 reminding 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 and savings proposals put forward by the Portfolio Holder and Chief Officers, and the Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) in Appendix E.  Consideration of the reduction in the SENCIO  Management fee had also been considered as part of Minute 21 above.

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.   It was discussed that potentially there needed to be a future further growth item in relation to the HERO service.

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 6) be agreed;

b)     the savings proposals identified in Appendix D applicable to the Advisory Committee (SCIA 7) be agreed; and

c)     there were no further suggestions for growth and savings from the Advisory Committee at this time.