Agenda and minutes
Venue: The Paralympic Room, Buckinghamshire Council, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF. View directions
Contact: Leslie Ashton
Media
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Apologies for absence / Changes in membership Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors T Egleton, K Wood and M Walsh. |
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Declarations of Interest Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 to be confirmed as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Public Questions Public questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire to put a question to a Select Committee.
The Committee will hear from members of the public who have submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners and responsible officers will be invited to respond.
Further information on how to register can be found here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/get-involved-with-council-decisions/select-committees/
Additional documents: Minutes: No public questions had been received. |
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Chairman's update Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman provided an update on budget scrutiny activity that had taken place since the last meeting. Two briefing sessions had been held in November relating to the Adult Social Care and Children’s and Education areas of the budget respectively, recordings of the sessions had been circulated to committee members. A further private briefing would be held virtually with the section 151 officer on 21 December to give an update on the draft budget position and it was hoped that members could attend. The Section 151 officer would also hold a virtual briefing for Members on 5 January, a week prior to the formal sessions to highlight key areas in the budget and assist members with queries on the supporting paperwork. As a reminder if any members knew that they would be unable to participate in the budget scrutiny inquiry group they were asked to make the Chairman and Scrutiny Officer aware.
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Better Buckinghamshire update PDF 757 KB The Unitary transformation programme leading up to vesting day focused on ensuring that the new Council was operational on 1st April 2020. Subsequently, the Better Buckinghamshire programme was developed to enable the Council to achieve the ambition detailed in the unitary business case, and to realise the benefits from achieving this. This programme is leading a series of service reviews to modernise and optimise services for the Unitary Council, driving innovation and improving customer experience. Members are invited to comment on and note the contents of the report.
Contributors: John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets Roger Goodes, Service Director for Policy and Communications Matthew Everitt, Assistant Director for Service Improvement Richard Ambrose, Service Director for Corporate Finance (s.151 Officer)
Papers: Better Buckinghamshire update report Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a report on the Better Buckinghamshire Programme. Councillor J Chilver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets presented the update and summarised the report which was appended to the agenda pack.The Better Buckinghamshire programme was developed to enable the Council to achieve the ambition detailed in the unitary business case, and to realise the benefits from achieving this. The programme includes a series of service reviews to modernise and optimise services for the unitary council, driving innovation and improving customer experience.
The Cabinet Member highlighted the following key points:
During discussion, comments and questions raised by the Committee included:
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Work Smart Programme PDF 804 KB The Work Smart Programme is the workstyles strategy based on a hybrid model of working. The covid pandemic has offered a unique opportunity to re-think ways of working with the aim to combine the benefits seen from remote working – reduced travel time, efficiency through technology and improved work/life balance, with the advantages of a workplace – face-to-face communication, team interaction and collaboration. The Committee are invited to comment and provide input on the work undertaken and planned.
Contributors: John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets Sarah Murphy-Brookman, Corporate Director for Resources John Reed, Service Director for Property and Assets
Papers: Work Smart report Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a report on the Work Smart Programme which was the programme created to focus on the design of a future working model which met the needs of the Council going forward, as well as reducing costs in line with the unitary business case.
Councillor J Chilver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets presented the update, highlighting the following key points:
During discussion, the following questions and comments were raised by the Committee:
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Budget Performance Monitoring Q2 PDF 605 KB The Quarter 2 Budget Monitoring Report as presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 9 November is attached for the Committee to consider.
Contributors: Mr John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources Mr Richard Ambrose, Service Director for Corporate Finance (Section 151 Officer)
Paper: Q2 Budget Monitoring Report
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets presented the Q2 Budget Monitoring Report which had been presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 9 November. Councillor J Chilver summarised the report which reflected the business as usual and Covid pressures faced during that period. An appendix provided further detail for each Portfolio and information about performance relating to overdue debts and late payments of commercial debt.
At the end of the Q2, an overall nil variance was forecast for the revenue budget 2021-22 after allowing for £4.8m of corporate mitigations. This was a favourable movement of £0.5m since Q1.
The nil variance comprised: (i) £4.9m adverse variance on Portfolio Covid related spend (£6.7m adverse August). (ii) £0.1m favourable variation on Portfolio BAU (£0.9m adverse August). (iii) £2.8m favourable variation on Corporate Contingencies (£4.0m August). (iv) £0.9m favourable variation relating to Covid Sales Fees and Charges compensation scheme. (v) £1.1m favourable variation on Corporate Budgets, principally capital financing costs.
Figure 1 (Cabinet report) detailed high level information for each Portfolio.
The total Portfolio net revenue forecast variance was £4.8m adverse (1.1% of the total Portfolio budget). Significant risks to the Revenue forecasts had been identified, a proportion of which were likely to materialise. These and any new pressures could potentially be covered by a number of contingencies that were not yet fully committed and could be used, if required. Appendix 1 provided further detail on the revenue forecast outturn by Portfolio.
Figure 2 showed performance, by Portfolio and against savings targets, for the £13.2m of savings that had been incorporated into the 2021-22 revenue budgets.
Figure 3 provided information on the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF), funding provided to local authorities to help reduce the spread of coronavirus and support local public health. Buckinghamshire was expected to benefit from £15.9m of funding spread over three financial years. The approved spend was for £6.125m in each of 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Capital Budget Outturn Capital slippage had increased between Q1 and Q2 from 1.6% (£3.0m) to 7.9% (£14.8m). Whilst this was currently below the corporate target of 10% there was an expectation that slippage may increase further in future months because there were reduced opportunities to catch up on delays as the year progressed. Details were provided of a number of specific circumstances that had impact on the progress of capital projects. Further details for each portfolio were found in Appendix 1.
During discussion, the following key points were raised by the Committee:
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Budget Scrutiny Inquiry Group Scoping Paper PDF 617 KB The Committee will discuss the budget scrutiny inquiry group proposals.
Contributors: All Committee Members
Papers: Budget Scrutiny Inquiry Group scoping paper attached Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a scoping paper and noted the proposed approach to the budget scrutiny inquiry taking place in January 2022. |
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The Committee will discuss the work programme and agree the items for the next meeting.
Contributors: All Committee Members
Papers: Work Programme attached Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received an up to date version of the work programme to cover the remainder of this municipal year. Members were advised that items had been scheduled for the most appropriate meetings where member input would be most valuable. The Committee was advised that there were no items provisionally scheduled for the April meeting as yet, and there was agreement that the budget scrutiny sessions in January may highlight areas that should be looked at in April.
Resolved: That the work programme be noted.
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Date and time of the next meeting The next meeting will take place on Thursday 17 February 2022 at 2 p.m. Additional documents: Minutes: Thursday 17 February 2022 at 2 p.m. |