Agenda item

Worcestershire Regulatory Services Budgets 2019-20 to 2021-22

Meeting of Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board, Thursday 15th November 2018 4.30 p.m. (Item 23/18)

Minutes:

The Executive Director, Finance and Resources BDC and RBC presented the budget for 2019/20 to 2021/22. A number of areas were highlighted in presentation of the report, including:

· A 2% pay aware across all staff for 2019/20 and a 1% award for 2020/21 and 2021/22.

· Pension back fund deficit paid in advance by all partners.

· The increase in employees’ budget which took account of the additional staff.

· Additional income for unavoidable salary pressures.

· Partner contributions, it was understood Wyre Forest District Council were looking to make savings for 2019/20 which may impact on the figures and necessitate this being revisited at the February meeting of the Board.

The Head of Regulatory Services advised that he had spoken to the Corporate Director: Economic Prosperity and Place, Wyre Forest District Council, to discuss how savings could be made without impacting on the statutory duties of the Council. This may mean a minor change to the percentages detailed in the report.

Councillor A. Feeney, Worcester City Council, highlighted that the amount previously agreed for the Gull Control had been £15k and asked that the report be amended accordingly.

Following presentation of the report, Members discussed a number of areas in more detail:

· The income increase without any increase in resources and whether this was achievable. Officers confirmed that this would be monitored as it was acknowledged there was the possibility that the income generated would plateau and if this became a concern then consideration would be made as to whether further funding needed to be made available.

· Members asked that in view of this whether it would be appropriate to report back to the Board and it was confirmed that Officers had planned to bring a report back to the September 2019 meeting.

· Concerns that only 1% had been factored in for salary increased in 2020-22. The Executive Director, Finance and Resources confirmed that this was the figure which had been used by Bromsgrove and Redditch as a base figure and should it be any higher then this would be picked up at a later date.

RESOLVED:

(a) that the gross expenditure budget of £3,506k as shown in Appendix 1 of the report be approved;

(b) that the income budget of £489k as shown in Appendix 1 of the report be approved;

Bromsgrove	£439k
Malvern	£386k
Redditch	£529k
Worcester City	£499k
Wychavon	£701k
Wyre Forest	£463k
Total	£3,017k

(d) that the revised partner percentage allocations for 2019/20 onwards be approved:-

	%
Bromsgrove	14.55
Malvern	12.79
Redditch	17.53
Worcester City	16.54
Wychavon	23.24
Wyre Forest	15.35

(e) that the additional partner liabilities in relation to three additional Technical Officers be approved;

Council	Tech Officer Primary Authority £000	Tech Officer Animal Activity £000	Tech Officer Gull Control £000
Redditch	5	2
Malvern	4	10
Worcs City	5	4	15
Bromsgrove	4	6
Wychavon	7	9
Wyre Forest	5	5
Total	30	36	15

and

(f) that, the approved level of budget allocations be advised to partner Councils through discussions with S151 Officers.

Supporting documents: