Agenda item

Report to follow.

The Cabinet considered a Resources Report. The details were set out in the report.

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

a)    The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that there remained budgetary pressure for 2016/17 of £500k.  It had also been necessary to roll some of the programme over to the next financial year. Good progress had been made with a number of significant capital projects which had an important impact on the local economy. The county had the fastest growing economy in the country in terms of productivity. The Council was working with partner organisations to increase economic growth and attracting firms with highly skilled work forces. The informal hand-over of the EfW plant at Hartlebury was welcomed. The plant would provide waste security for many years as well as generating electricity to the National Grid. He paid tribute to the leadership of the project by Anthony Blagg. He also welcomed the additional funding for Adult Social Care up to 2019/20 but had urged the Government to recognise Adult Social Care as a growth pressure for councils into the medium term. No details had been received for the additional funds for school maintenance or the extended rights for free travel.

b)    The Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the EfW plant at Hartlebury was the biggest capital investment of its kind in Worcestershire and the most complex. Completion of the project within 2 days of the target date was a significant achievement for a project of this scale. The plant had been tested and had been in operation and providing power to the National Grid from October onwards.

c)    In response to a query, the Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the environmental impact of not sending waste to landfill was particularly important. Incinerator Bottom Ash would still be taken to Hill and Moor Landfill Site for recycling. The rest of the residue material would be used in the construction industry. As the amount of landfill space and landfill waste reduced, it was anticipated that Hill and Moor would eventually change use from a landfill site to a recycling facility.

d)    The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care commented that guidance from the Government on how the additional Adult Social Care funds could be spent was still awaited. The Leader of the Council thanked Sheila Blagg for her Leadership of Adult Social Care.

e)    The Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure commented that the Council had been very successful in securing the Local Growth Deal grants.

f)     The Cabinet Member for Localism and Communities commented that the improvements to the Southern Link Road were welcomed and had successfully kept traffic flowing in that area. The Department for Work and Pensions had signed off the libraries  which meant that the Council was able to keep all its libraries open.

g)    The Chairman of the Waste Credit Governance Committee queried whether recyclates were sent to the new EfW plant. The Cabinet Member for the Environment responded that tests of the material brought to the plant indicated that there was very little unsuitable material. It was therefore considered unnecessary to review procedures at the plant at this stage. The key issue was improving public awareness of recycling.

RESOLVED: that

a)    the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance's conclusions be endorsed concerning revenue budget monitoring up to 31 January 2017;

b)    the current progress regarding the savings and efficiency programme be noted;

c)    the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance's conclusions concerning capital budget monitoring up to 31 January 2017 be endorsed;

d)    Council be recommended to approve the changes being made to the 2017 County Council Budget as a result of Central Government's Budget 2017 and that the cash limits are updated accordingly; and

e)    the impact of the Actual Takeover by Mercia Waste Management Limited of the Energy from Waste Plant from its Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor be noted.