Verbal update and discussion with Executive Member for Finance and Resources and Head of Policy and Partnerships.
Minutes:
8.1 |
Councillor Cate MacDonald (Executive Member for Finance and Resources) thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide an update. She advised that this was to be an informal session, and that all views were welcome. She explained the intention was to work towards a prioritised budgeting system and wished to seek views and priorities from all Transitional Committees to feed into the budget process. |
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8.2 |
Also in attendance for this item were Eugene Walker (Executive Director of Resources) and Laurie Brennan (Head of Policy and Partnerships). |
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8.3 |
Eugene Walker wished to put some context to the budget process and noted that a report was brought to the Co-operative Executive in September 2021 which detailed the financial situation faced by the Council. He explained that last year’s budget was balanced despite many pressures. He noted that a number of services had been significantly affected due to lost income during the pandemic; a situation faced across the country. He advised that Government funding had assisted but that pressures on some services were still being faced, particularly adult social care, children’s social care and leisure services. Eugene emphasised the importance of understanding the challenge ahead and of setting clear priorities in planning forward to influence future budgets. |
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8.4 |
Laurie Brennan added that there was an increase in focus on issues contained in the One Year Plan that allowed the organisation to look more at longer term objectives over the next 3 to 5 years. This would assist in building a comprehensive forward plan with a strategic focus and a priority led budget. |
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8.5 |
Laurie noted that conversations had already begun with Transitional Committees to determine their critical priorities collectively. He added that activity would take place outside of this meeting to consider feedback in more detail. This would create foundations for future years. |
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8.6 |
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8.7 |
Councillor Cate McDonald thanked members for their comments and welcomed further feedback via email on any subsequent conversations between members of the Committee. |
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8.8 |
RESOLVED: That the Committee:- (a) notes the information now reported, together with the responses to the questions raised; and (b) thanks Councillor Cate MacDonald, Eugene Walker and Laurie Brennan for attending the meeting, and responding to the questions raised. |
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