Agenda item

To consider key themes and priorities for Environment, Culture and Communities as outlined in the Council’s Draft Budget Proposals for 2016/17.

Although there was a need for further savings to be identified following notification of the Government grant settlement, the Panel was invited to scrutinise the firm budget proposals before it. The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities presented a report on the key themes and priorities for Environment, Culture and Communities as outlined in the draft budget proposals for 2016/17.  The initial preparations for the budget had focussed on the Council’s Commitment Budget for 2016/17 – 2020/21, bringing together existing expenditure plans, taking account of approved commitments and the ongoing effects of service developments and efficiencies that were agreed when the 2015/16 budget was set.

A number of changes were proposed to the Commitment Budget since it was last considered by the Executive, amounting in total to an increase for the Council of £1.032m.  Of particular interest to the Panel were a departmental saving resulting from the Street Lighting Invest to Save Scheme (-£0.175m) and updated Waste Disposal projections based on the latest tonnages for recycling (£0.179m).  The Panel also noted the draft revenue budget pressures for the Department totalling £263,000 for 2016/17, although these were more than outweighed by savings proposals amounting to £1,161,000.

Arising from questions and discussion, the Panel noted the following in relation to the budget pressures and savings proposals:

• In response to the reduction in income at Bracknell Leisure Centre (due to competition from small scale local gyms), plans were in hand to enhance the offer included within the Platinum Card package through discounts on catering and other facilities and working with staff to improve the all round customer experience for users.  Officers were recommended to publicise the new package as widely as possible, and particular mention was made of obtaining copy in ‘Town & Country’ and other local newssheets.
• An outline of the duties of the posts of Strategic Planner (New Communities) and Development Engineer was given, together with reasons for continued funding for them.
• The dispute in relation to the waste Contract had been settled and the additional recyclate income was now assured.
• The additional income from increasing charges for brown bin emptying relied in part on continuing to sign up new customers for the service.
• The increases in Cemetery and Crematorium fees and charges were felt to be reasonable and had been set taking into account the fees charged by neighbouring authorities and the quality of the service offered in Bracknell Forest which was valued and appreciated by users.
• The e+card savings arose from lower running costs rather than any reduction in the discounts offered.

Turning to the Capital Programme, the Panel noted that total capital spending proposed for Environment, Culture and Communities in 2016/17 amounted to £20.185m (of which £4.733m was external funding).  The most significant project was the Coral Reef Transformation at an estimated £8.358m in 2016/17.  The tender process for the project had been reset with prices from contractors now due in by 8 March 2016.  The acquisition of the former Magistrates Court building would increase the Council’s landholding to support a possible future phase of town centre development.  Referring to the new schemes in the programme, Members requested further information on the location of the amenity land adjacent to Crowthorne Road where it was proposed to fell ageing pines and replant native, deciduous trees, and the sites of the road junctions earmarked for traffic signal preventative maintenance.  The Panel expressed its support for the Invest-to-Save scheme to provide an additional chapel at the Easthampstead Cemetery and Crematorium.