Agenda item

To consider key themes and priorities for the Environment, Culture and Communities Department as outlined in the Council’s Draft Budget proposals for 2011/12.

The Panel received extracts from the proposed 2011/12 General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme reports relating to Environment, Culture and Communities which were agreed for consultation by the Executive on 14 December 2010. The covering report advised that further savings of over £1m remained to be found in addition to those identified in the 2011/12 budget proposals subject to consultation, owing to the lateness, complexity and scale of grant reduction of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities introduced the budget proposals which included detailed information on budget pressures and savings, proposed fees and charges, the Capital Programme and proposed Capital Schemes. The Director drew the Panel’s attention to the proposed Commitment Budget for 2011/12 to 2014/15.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:

• No areas had been removed from the Commitment Budget for Environment, Culture and Communities, however the Department’s commitments had been reviewed in detail and adjusted where necessary. It was agreed that the Director would provide further details of areas adjusted.
• The Borough Treasurer would provide Members with an update on the recovery of the Council’s investments in Icelandic banks.
• The rate of car parking charges was set to optimise income from the Council’s car parks whist ensuring no reduction in footfall for the Town Centre. Current charges were set in accordance with the market rate.
• It was expected that Downshire Golf Complex, Car Park Income and Easthampstead Park Conference Centre would experience a decline in income, however Downshire Golf Complex and Car park Income would continue to generate a surplus in 2011/12. Easthampstead Park Conference Centre would realise a loss for the first time primarily due to reduced business use.
• Alternative uses for Downshire Golf Complex had been considered in the past but had not been viable. Selling the Complex had been considered in the current fiscal year, however the Department had been advised that it was not the right time to release the asset to the market. The Downshire Golf Complex currently made an operational surplus for the Council.
• Easthampstead Park Conference Centre had previously been run by a private contractor, however this had not been profitable and Bracknell Forest Council had taken over management of the Centre. The Conference Centre was currently held jointly by the 6 unitary authorities in Berkshire on a 20 year contract, which commenced in 1998, after which the Centre would fall to this Council when the possibility of private sector management would be investigated.
• There would be a further reduction of £55,000 in the grant to the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership. The Partnership had been reorganised and efficiencies made which meant the same service would be received by Bracknell Forest without a reduction in road safety.  The Partnership would be retaining speed cameras as they were considered to be a valuable safety feature.
• A £30,000 cost for dog control was due to an increase in the number of stray dogs, which the Council was legally obliged to rescue and home, and was not related to the post of Dog Warden which had been deleted as part of last year’s budget savings.
• Opportunities to make reductions to the Council’s Arts Development function had been pursued. The Council would be working closely with partners such as South Hill Park to deliver the arts function in Bracknell Forest.
• Additional income received by Forest Care was as a result of the service taking on new corporate clients such as neighbouring local authorities and an increase in client numbers.
• The Commitment Budget contribution to the Sandhurst Freedom March in 2012 had been agreed by the Executive previously.
• The fees for Development Control reflected current market rates and could be revised next year to meet costs when local fee setting would commence. It was intended that local fee setting would take account of retrospective planning applications.

The Panel noted the draft budget proposals for 2011/12 and agreed that comments made in relation to the Environment, Culture and Communities Department Budget would be passed on to the Executive.