Agenda item - Worcestershire Regulatory Services Budget 2014 / 2015

Agenda item

Worcestershire Regulatory Services Budget 2014 / 2015

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which detailed the proposed revenue and capital budget for Worcestershire Regulatory Services for 2014/2015.

 

The Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Resources, Bromsgrove District Council introduced the report and in doing so reminded Members of the lengthy report presented at the last Joint Committee meeting which detailed the costs associated with the “Health and Well Being” service and the duplication of these services across the County.  It was agreed that within the Statement of Partner Requirements the functional activity of “Health and Well Being” would no longer be provided by Worcestershire Regulatory Services with effect from 1st April 2014.

 

The Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Resources, Bromsgrove District Council introduced the report and asked Members to note that the Worcestershire County Council (WCC) budget of £1,560,766 was subject to variation following discussions in relation to the proposed reduction for 2014/2015.  As Members were aware WCC had recently presented a number of reductions to their budget over the next three years.  Included within the proposals was a significant reduction to the Regulatory Services (mainly Trading Standards) funding of £1.5 million.  This cut was not factored into the current budget position.  Due to the number of issues that this raised for WRS, the WRS Management Board had requested that a small working group comprising of Financial and Operational officers be tasked to examine the budget requirements and the financial costs associated with the delivery of savings.

 

The budget, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, was the position excluding any reduction from any partner authority.  It was proposed that this was used as the basis for discussion with WCC with the aim to plan the required savings level for 2014/2015.  Therefore there may be a variation to this budget and as a result of these discussions it may prove necessary to hold a special Joint Committee meeting in January 2014 to approve the revised 2014/2015 budget.

 

The Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Resources, Bromsgrove District Council responded to Members concerns with regard to approving the WRS Budget 2014/2015 for their participating authority.  Councillor Mrs. L. Denham Worcester City Council informed Members that Worcester City Council had not yet published their draft budget proposal position for 2014/2015 and could also be looking at potential savings on their contribution to WRS. 

 

Further discussion followed on the impact of the proposed reduction from WCC on partner authorities and the commitment from partner authorities to approve the budget as presented.

 

Mr. I. Pumfrey, Chairman, WRS Management Board responded to Members concerns and highlighted that the Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership agreement protected partner authorities from any effects due to the financial WCC changes.  Therefore the allocation, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, showed the final Budget for the six participating Councils to include the savings as reported.

 

Further discussion followed on the savings WCC were looking to achieve and the challenging times ahead for local authorities that were not anticipated.  Mr. I. Pumfrey, Chairman, WRS Management Board responded to Members’ questions with regard to the substantive one off costs and additional costs to be met by WCC, reiterating that the Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership agreement protected the other member authorities against any negative impact and that any substantive or one off costs would have to be met by WCC.  Members were further informed that the WRS Management Board understood, that over the next three years, partners may want to reduce or vary their contributions, and would therefore  be looking at ‘ground rules’ for those partners seeking changes to their budget contribution and service arrangements in order to make the process more manageable and transparent.

 

An alternative and additional Recommendation was put forward and the Chairman encouraged further debate on this.  Following further discussion it was

 

RESOLVED:

(a)          that the revenue budget allocations for 2014/2015 for the District Councils, as detailed below be approved;

 

Bromsgrove

£492,193

Malvern

£415,639

Redditch

£581,474

Worcester City

£600,755

Wychavon

£754,516

Wyre Forest

£574,347

 

£3,418,924

 

(b)          that the Worcestershire County Council budget of £1,560,766 was subject to variation following discussions in relation to the proposed reduction for 2014/2015, be noted, and

(c)                that an officer working group be set up to look (collectively) at the constraints and savings of all partner authorities and include in the three year financial plan.

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