Issue - meetings

1.         Mr Shipton introduced the report and said that the outturn situation of the Unit’s budget was as expected.  Each of the County Council’s POSCs was being asked to discuss and decide how and when it wished to be involved in the setting of its budget, and whether or not each wished to establish an Informal Member Group (IMG) to look in detail at its budget options.

2.         Members expressed a range of views about the need for and value of having an IMG. Several Members felt it was not necessary due to the size and structure of the Unit budget; all were agreed on the value of clear and timely information; concern was expressed that if the Committee did not take control of a review of its budget, someone else might take on this control; it was difficult to decide on the need for an IMG without knowing what level of savings the Unit was being asked to make.

3.         The Chairman suggested, and it was agreed, that he and the Vice-Chairman meet with officers to find out the scale of the required savings, and then a decision be made by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on whether or not an IMG was necessary and, if so, set this up later.

4.         Mr Lynes agreed with the view that the Unit’s budget was very small, and pointed out that relationships are the key tool to regeneration success.  A small cut in budget would have a magnifying effect on the KCC’s ability to lever in funding from other partners/sources.  The Unit had already made cuts of between 15 and 18% of its budget.

5.         RESOLVED that:-

a)         the revenue and capital financial outturn for 2009/10, including rollovers for committed projects and changes to the capital programme, be noted;

            b)         the performance outturn for 2009/10 be noted; and

c)         the Chairman and Vice-Chairman meet with officers to find out the scale of the required savings, and then a decision be made by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on whether or not an IMG was necessary and, if so, set this up later.