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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Joint Budget Decision Session - Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education and Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities
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Date |
12 January 2021 |
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Present |
Councillor Orrell (Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education) and Smalley (Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities) |
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1. Declarations of Interest
The Executive Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda. They confirmed they had none.
2. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the Joint Budget Decision Session and subsequent Executive Leader Decision Session held on 14 January 2020 be approved as a correct record in each case, to be signed by the appropriate Executive Member/s at a later date.
3. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been two registrations to speak on agenda item 4 [Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26] at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
Cllr Webb challenged the proposed budget noting a number of concerns around the savings proposed and funding for a number of services. He welcomed the opportunity to work with the administration on the budget proposals.
Cllr Pearson explained how vital the library service was and welcomed the proposals to secure the libraries around the city, in particular the new permanent library for Haxby and Wigginton.
4. Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26
The Executive Members considered a report which set out the draft savings proposals, growth assumptions and capital schemes relating to their portfolios, providing an opportunity to receive feedback in advance of the presentation of the overall Financial Strategy to Executive on 11 February 2021.
The report outlined the national and local context of the overall strategy, highlighting the unprecedented financial challenges resulting from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which had generated an in-year financial pressure of £15m for the council. Revenue savings of £7.9m were required in 2021/22. Savings proposals for the two relevant portfolio areas were set out in Annex 1 to the report, with growth proposals in Annex 2 and capital schemes in Annex 4. Feedback received to date on the public consultation on those proposals was attached at Annex 3. It was noted that the budget consultation would continue until 31 January.
The Director of People reported that it had been a challenging time for the People Directorate, which had seen a rise in demand in service areas where demand was already high, namely in SEND and children’s social care (which was starting to plateau as more people accessed early help). She noted that officers were looking at different approaches to strengthen areas and to support people area. In relation to the Designated Schools Grant (DSG) she noted that a recovery plan for this would be examined due to the reduced offer from the government.
The Executive Members thanked officers for their work and speakers for their comments, noting the that early help would help families and recognising the varied role of the communities teams.
Resolved:
(i) That the feedback from consultation for Children, Young People and Education and Culture, Leisure and Communities portfolios, as set out in Annex 3 to the report, be noted.
(ii) That the following be agreed for inclusion within the overall Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 to be presented to Executive on 11 February 2021 and Full Council on 25 February 2021:
a) The 2021/22 revenue savings proposals for Children, Young People and Education and Culture, Leisure and Communities portfolios portfolios, as set out in Annex 1 to the report.
b) The 2021/22 revenue growth proposals for Children, Young People and Education and Culture, Leisure and Communities portfolios, as set out in Annex 2 to the report.
c) The new schemes for inclusion in the 2021/22 to 2025/26 Capital Programme as set out in Annex 4 to the report.
Reason: To ensure that stakeholders have the opportunity to feed into the budget process in advance of the finalisation of the Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26.
Councillor Orrell (Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education)
Councillor Smalley (Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities)
[The meeting started at 5.30 pm and finished at 5.57 pm].