Agenda item

To consider the Council’s draft budget proposals for 2012/13:

a)      Corporate Services Department

b)      Chief Executive’s Office

c)      Feedback from Overview and Scrutiny Panels and overall conclusions

The Commission considered the Council’s draft budget proposals for 2012/13, the following points were made:

• The Borough Treasurer informed members that virements were used to accommodate changes that arose in the financial year. A Virement Scheme was detailed in the Constitution and all virements were considered carefully. The Executive Member for Finance, Assets and Resources assured members that he monitored virements carefully. Monitoring of all virements was also carried out by the Council’s Corporate Management Team.
• The Borough Treasurer reported that at the end of February the funds held by the Icelandic bank would be remitted to the Council in a variety of currencies, including Icelandic Krónur.

a)      Corporate Services Department

·         The Director of Corporate Services reported that the Depot had lost income in the last year and had become less occupied; it was also likely that the level of rent secured would be lower in future years.

·         Every area of the Department had contributed to savings, in addition Corporate Services was the only department that had made savings year on year and had not had any growth.

·         In response to members’ queries, the Director of Corporate Services reassured members that the budget would be constantly under review to see if efficiencies or savings could further be made.

·         The Director of Corporate Services reported that at present the Customer Services Contact Centre aimed to respond to calls within five rings. There would be a reduction in the staffing of the contact centre and use of the upgraded telephony system to provide automated call transfers. It was noted that following a national benchmarking exercise, the Council’s response times were above average.

·         The Director of Corporate Services stated that she would seek clarification from the Borough Solicitor around fees paid for Section 106 Agreements and report back to members.

·         The Director of Corporate Services agreed to provide members with details around what was included in street indexes as described on page 39.

·         The Director of Corporate Services referred to page 63, the Capital Programme and stated that a member’s survey around IT was currently underway, it was clear that some investment in members’ IT was necessary. The CRM system was in need of upgrade and a new system was required for Asset Management. In addition, at the Great Hollands Community Centre there was a room at the back of the building which could be used by the community if it was made into a useable space.

·         The Director of Corporate Services stated that the power generator as detailed on page 66 would provide uninterrupted power supply for the Council’s IT systems and officers had been able to persuade power suppliers that the Council should be considered as a priority user as the Council supported vulnerable people.

·         The Director of Corporate Services assured members that the most competitive price for replacing laptops would be sought.

·         The general principle is that services to schools are charged for in a cost-neutral manner.

·         The contingency budget is held centrally. The contingency required depended on inflation and various other factors, and it was proposed to be held at the same level as in 2011-12.

b)      Chief Executive’s Office

·         The Assistant Chief Executive reported that there had been many changes to the way the Office operated, a performance post had been deleted and an Economic Development Officer was to be recruited. Recruitment to the vacancy of Head of Performance and Partnerships was underway, at a lower salary level than previously. Overall there had been a significant reduction in the size of the team. An Economic Development Officer was required to undertake some of the priority work of the Council such as work with the Economic Skills Partnership, focus on inward investment and retaining businesses.

·         Town and Parish councils in Bracknell Forest were not being asked to contribute match funding for the Broadband initiative.

c)      The Chairmen of each of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels provided feedback on their Panels’ consideration of the budget proposals.

·         It was noted that car parking charges would be introduced at Coral Reef and the Look Out.

·         Members noted that the main town centre library was in need of upgrade in addition to the recently completed re-roofing, and measures to increase footfall in the library were necessary. The outside look of the building needed to be improved, this had been raised with the Director, and there were funding implications.

·         The distinction between services provided by volunteers, and by voluntary sector providers was noted.

The Commission agreed that the draft budget be recommended to the Executive, alongside the comments made above.