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Corporate Scrutiny Committee
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7 July 2025 |
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Report of the Director of Governance
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Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy Scrutiny, Task and Finish Group
Summary
1. This report presents the information in relation to a planned Task and Finish Group into the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Scrutiny. Members should consider and decide whether or not to endorse the proposal contained at Annex A.
Background
2. Following a budget proposal report which was brought to Corporate Scrutiny in June 2025, Members resolved to instigate a Task and Finish Group.
3. The group is to provide financial scrutiny of both budget setting and the MTFS.
4. Membership of the Task and Finish Group is yet to be determined.
Aim
5. The aim of the review is to make recommendations as to how the council and partners can most effectively make use of limited financial resources.
Objectives
6. It is proposed that the Task & Finish Group seeks to scrutinise the Council’s finances from budget development and planning to the delivery and oversight of that budget in year to:
· Ensure there are clear links between budget setting and strategic plans
· Challenge how resources are allocated, used and their impact.
· Identify evidence-based options for reducing costs, generating income or introducing new models of delivery.
· Evaluate how the budget is allocated to achieve strategic and operational objectives and service planning.
· Ensure targets on performance are aligned within the budget available to deliver them.
· Provide additional and transparent challenge to the Executive’s management of Council’s finances.
Consultation and Methods
7. There will be some initial desk-based research to ensure that members of the Task & Finish Group are familiar with financial scrutiny best practice.
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This will be followed by interviews
with officers and relevant Executive Members.
9. There will need to be engagement with residents.
Timeframe
10. A review of the outcomes of the public consultation and recommendations to Executive should be completed by the Corporate Scrutiny meeting, 17 January 2026.
Options
11. Members should consider the following options:
a. Endorse the draft remit, objectives and timeframe as proposed;
b. Amend the draft remit, objectives or timeframe;
c. Add further objectives the Committee agrees are relevant.
Analysis
12. There is no analysis at this stage.
Council Plan
13. The MTFS aims to ensure that, as far as possible, resources are aligned to the Council’s priorities.
Implications
14. There are no implications to be addressed at this stage in the process. Any relevant implications will be identified by the Task & Finish Group during their review.
Risk Management
15. Any identified risks associated with the findings from this review will be included in the draft final report arising from this review.
Recommendations
16.
The Committee is asked to:
i. To consider and agree the membership of the Task and Finish Group.
ii.
Consider and endorse the proposed
remit, objectives, and timeframe for a Task and Finish scrutiny
review of the budget setting process and MTFS.
Reason: To enable the Task and Finish Group to proceed with
work on the agreed review in line with scrutiny procedures.
Contact Details
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Author: |
Chief Officer Responsible for the report:
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Jane Meller Democracy Officer Democratic Governance
Guy Close Democratic Services Manager Democratic Governance
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Bryn RobertsDirector of Governance and Monitoring Officer
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Report Approved |
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Date |
27 June 2025 |
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Wards Affected: |
All |
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For further information please contact the author of the report |
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Background Papers: Report to Corporate Scrutiny, 09 June 2025, Budget Setting Process and Scrutiny