Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways, Cllr Mike Rouse.

The Chairman referred to the death of Panel member Cllr Peter Griffiths and paid tribute to his services on the Panel and as a councillor in championing the causes he believed in, such as reducing congestion around Evesham.  A minute’s silence was held in his memory.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 24 January 2024). Further details are available on the Council’s website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

Previously circulated.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(Indicative timing: 10:05 – 10:55am)

The Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO) explained that the timing of this Panel’s discussion of the draft 2024/25 Budget coincided with publication of updated budget information for the Cabinet meeting on 1 February.

The Budget report to Cabinet, which had been published late the previous day, included an announcement from the Government of additional funding for children and adults. The exact funding was not likely to be confirmed until 2-6 February but was expected to be around 1% (up to £5m), which was helpful and would reduce the proposed use of reserves to around £12m.

The Panel was considering the draft budget information from the 10 January Cabinet Report and comments would be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) for consideration at its 29 January meeting. The DCFO confirmed that the latest budget position had not impacted on areas within the Panel’s remit, since the amendments related to Corporate Services and those for children and adults.

Changes in the updated report for the February Cabinet reflected information now received from the district councils in respect of council tax, and business rates, therefore at the current point in time, the Council’s budget shortfall had reduced from £20.4m to £7.2m.

The three main areas of budget pressures for this Council and nationally, related to social care for children, adults and home to school transport. The County Council and the district councils would continue to lobby Government for increased funding.

The proposed increase in Council Tax was £4.99%, therefore in terms of Band D Council Tax for counties (without Fire), Worcestershire ranked the third lowest and below average.

The Chairman sought clarification regarding the budget position for home to school transport (HTST). The Panel was advised that Budget for HTST had transferred to the Economy and Infrastructure (E&I) Directorate, and that the Strategic Director of E&I was the strategic lead for HTST. There were no changes to HTST in the report to the February Cabinet.

The Chairman made the point that in order to better understand the HTST situation, Scrutiny required a breakdown of data for home to school transport costs including numbers of children and individual journeys and a breakdown of costs relating to the mainstream provision and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Officers sought clarity on which Overview and Scrutiny Panel (OSP) would take oversight of HTST and the Interim Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager advised that the Children and Families OSP would lead on the review underway of HTST, while the Environment OSP would cover in-year budget monitoring. The Chairman advised that both Panel Chairmen were keen to keep one another updated, however as yet neither felt they had received sufficient data to understand the issues involved.

It was clarified that £5.9m of the £35m structural deficit, related to Adult Social Care.

Economy and Infrastructure (E&I) Specific Budget Information

The DCFO referred to the proposed areas of net revenue investment, totalling £8.5m, offset by targeted reductions of £1.7m, giving an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

(Indicative timing: 10:55 – 11:00am)

It was agreed to schedule the following:

·       Net-zero Policy Update (for 14 May meeting)

·       Streetscape Design Guide, including where it sits in the planning process (for 14 May meeting)

·       Informal Panel meeting to review the year (new date in June)

Cllr Marshall would circulate a report on streetscape design around air quality from a recent event to the Panel and the Assistant Director for Economy, Major Projects and Waste.