Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 234 KBVenue: The Guildhall, York
Contact: Jayne Carr Democracy Officer
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Declarations of Interest At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. Minutes: Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. No interests were declared. |
|
|
To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Member for Corporate Services and Advisory Panel held on 9December 2008. Minutes: RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair and Executive Member as a correct record. |
|
|
Public Participation At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Executive Member’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is Monday 19 January 2009, at 5.00 pm. Minutes: It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. |
|
|
To receive an update on the Resources Directorate items which are listed on the Forward Plan. Minutes: Members received an update on the Resources Directorate items currently listed on the Forward Plan.
Consideration was given to the items that were due to be considered at the EMAP meeting on 17 March 2009.
Members agreed that, having received the Resources Directorate Plan, they did not require copies of the service plans to be presented to them.
RESOLVED: (i) That the arrangements for dealing with write-offs be delegated to the Head of Finance in consultation with the Executive Member.
(ii) That, unless further items arose which required the consideration of the Advisory Panel, the meeting on 17 March 2009 be cancelled. |
|
|
Resources Budget Proposals This report presents the 2009/10 budget proposals for the Resources Directorate. Additional documents:
Decision: Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised:
(i) That the budget proposals were in line with the Council’s priorities.
(ii) That the budget proposals for savings and growth contained within the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive on 16 February 2009 for consideration together with Members’ comments.
(iii) That the budget proposals for the revenue budget contained within the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive for consideration together with Members’ comments.
(iv) That the budget proposals for the Resources Directorate for 2009/10 contained in the report and including: · 2009/10 Base Budget as set out in paragraph 7 of the report · Savings proposals as set out in Annex 2 of the report · Fees and charges as set out in Annex 3 of the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive for consideration together with Members’ comments.
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: As part of the consultation for the 2009/10 budget setting process. Minutes: Members received a report presenting the 2009/10 budget proposals for the Resources Directorate. The report included:
As part of the consultation process, Members of EMAP were asked for their comments or alternative suggestions on the proposals shown in Annexes 2 and 3.
Consideration was given to the proposed budget allocation of £350k for the IT Development Plan. It was noted that the funding was based on a required budget level of £450k, as agreed by the Executive on 2 December 2008. However, since there was regularly slippage on this budget, a one-off credit of £100k was proposed to reflect this. Members queried whether it would be possible to further increase the credit in view of the previous level of slippage. Officers explained that changes had been made to the way in which schemes were planned and monitored in order to improve delivery and that major projects such as the planned upgrade to Citrix would need to be delivered. If the funding was reduced even further there would be concerns as to whether it would be possible to implement the plan effectively.
Clarification was sought as to the basis on which the figure for pay inflation had been set at 2.25%. Officers explained that the negotiations for the 2009/10 settlement had not yet started but that a survey of unitary authorities had indicated that the majority were estimating awards of between 2%-2.5%.
Clarification was sought as to why the Capital Budget – 2008/09 to 2010/11 included funding allocated to the Admin Accommodation project when this was a turnkey scheme. Officers explained that the expenditure profile for the project would need to be revisited but that there were different models of turnkey schemes.
Members of the Labour Group reserved their position for Budget Council.
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised:
(i) That the budget proposals were in line with the Council’s priorities.
(ii) That the budget proposals for savings and growth contained within the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive on 16 February 2009 for consideration together with Members’ comments.
(iii) That the budget proposals for the revenue budget contained within the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive for consideration together with Members’ comments.
(iv) That the budget proposals for the Resources Directorate for 2009/10 contained in the report and including: · 2009/10 Base Budget as set out in paragraph 7 of the report · Savings proposals as set out in Annex 2 of the report · Fees and charges as set out in Annex 3 of the report be noted and referred to the Budget Executive for consideration together with Members’ comments. ... view the full minutes text for item 38. |
|
|
Resources Directorate Plan This report sets out the Resources Directorate Plan for 2009-2010. The Plan sets out the priorities for the Directorate, including key milestones and timescales. Additional documents: Decision: Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised:
(i) That the Resources Directorate Plan for 2009-2010 be approved.
(ii) That thanks be recorded to Director of Resources for producing the plan and for the work that he and the Assistant Directors were carrying out in leading on the developments within the Directorate.
Decision of the Executive Member
That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To provide strategic direction for the Directorate and to act as a consolidated reference point for Service Managers. Minutes: Members received a report setting out the Resources Directorate Plan for 2009-2010. The Plan set out the main priorities for the Directorate, including key milestones and timescales.
Officers gave an overview of the restructuring of the Directorate and the revised areas of responsibility.
Consideration was given to the Directorate Priorities as outlined in the report.
Officers were asked about the impact that the implementation of job evaluation had had on the Directorate. They stated that there had been a significant impact in some areas of the Directorate and that this may have implications in terms of recruitment and retention of staff. The appeals process was underway.
Members sought assurances that staff appraisals were being carried out within the Directorate and that appropriate support and development opportunities were in place for all staff, including frontline staff as well as those who carried out managerial roles. Officers confirmed that the Directorate was fully committed to carrying out Personal Development Reviews and meeting the development needs of staff. An important part of the training provision was delivered in-house and was tailored to meet the specific needs of staff. It was also recognised that there was a need to ensure that managers had appropriate managerial as well as technical skills in order to lead on the proposed changes in the Directorate. The Head of Human Resources was currently looking at issues in respect of workforce development, including the induction of new staff and the way in which Personal Development Reviews were being carried out within the Council.
Clarification was sought as to the figures regarding the Corporate Efficiency Programme. Officers stated the intention was to deliver £15m of efficiency gains in the next three years. It was anticipated that savings of £3m would be achieved in the first year and that this figure would increase as the programme developed.
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised:
(i) That the Resources Directorate Plan for 2009-2010 be approved.
(ii) That thanks be recorded to Director of Resources for producing the plan and for the work that he and the Assistant Directors were carrying out in leading on the developments within the Directorate.
Decision of the Executive Member
That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To provide strategic direction for the Directorate and to act as a consolidated reference point for Service Managers. |