Agenda item

Agenda item

Neighbourhoods Directorate Budget Proposals 2021/22

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

 

This report provides a further update to the Scrutiny committee on the savings proposals being proposed as part of the 2021/22 budget process and reflects any feedback from the November Scrutiny committees. The savings proposals will be considered by all six Scrutiny Committees for those areas within their remit, prior to going out to public consultation. 

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided a further update to the Scrutiny committee on the savings proposals being proposed as part of the 2021/22 budget process and reflected any feedback from the November Scrutiny committees. The savings proposals would be considered by all six Scrutiny Committees for those areas within their remit, prior to going out to public consultation. 

 

The Committee was invited to consider and comment on the savings proposals identified prior to being considered by Executive.

 

The main points and themes within the report included: -

 

·         Funding announcements in the government’s spending review on 25 November 2020 and provisional local government finance settlement on 17th December 2020 suggested the Council would not be facing the worst-case scenario for 21/22, which was a shortfall of around £100m;

·         It was now expected that savings in the region of £50m, as previously identified, would be sufficient;

·         Providing a further update to the Scrutiny committee on the savings proposals being proposed as part of the 2021/22 budget process and reflected any feedback from the November Scrutiny committees;

·         Savings within the overall Neighbourhoods directorate included proposals of £7.376m requiring an FTE (full-time equivalent) reduction of 2.  Due to lead in time around investments etc, the £7.376m would be phased over the period 2021/22- 2024/25, with an initial £6.683m being delivered in 2021/22;

·         Charging residents for replacement waste bins would not be considered for 2021/22;

·         Outlining the Budget Savings Proposals; and

·         Noting that as part of implementing the savings proposals an Equality Impact Relevancy Assessment would be undertaken for each of the proposals.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         Welcoming the withdrawal of the option to charge residents for the replacement of waste bins;

·         Further information was requested on the proposals for the animal welfare service;

·         Stating that the Government had failed to fund local authorities appropriatley over many years and had failed to reimburse Councils for the additional finincial presuures incurred as a result of COVID-19; and

·         Further information was sought on the reported introduction of new charges for providing advice to businesses.

 

The Deputy Leader stated that he agreed with the comments from the Members regarding the ongoing failure of the Government to adequately fund the Council. He stated that rather than fairly fund services they were relying on Councils to introduce a rise in the Council Tax charge. He stated this was a punitive and regressive approach adopted by the Government. He stated that despite this the Council remained committed to delivering the best services on behalf of the residents of the city with the funds that were available.

 

In regard to the removal of any proposal to charge residents for the replacement of waste bins in this round of budget considerations, the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods stated that the importance of this was recognised and how this contributed to the Councils recycling targets and the impact on the levels of flytipping. He stated that whilst any cuts to services were always unpalatable, he expressed caution that this option may need to be revisited in future years budget considerations, adding that the Committee would be kept informed of any future proposals.

 

The Head of Compliance, Enforcement and Community Safety stated that if the animal welfare service proposal was agreed, work would be progressed to develop a service specification prior to the tendering of this contract.

 

The Head of Compliance, Enforcement and Community Safety also provided examples of the type of opportunities that existed to generate revenue through providing advice to businesses e.g. in respect of a food business providing a pre-inspection visit to advise on measures needed to ensure compliance before the official inspection and rating.

 

The Chair stated that an audit of all road safety measures around schools should be undertaken and capital funding be used to fund the delivery of appropriate signage and road markings to improve road safety around all Manchester schools where any deficiencies were identified.

 

Decision

 

The Committee;

 

1. Endorse the savings proposals identified to the Executive;

 

2. Recommend that the Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport considers undertaking an audit of all road safety measures around schools and capital funding be used to fund the delivery of appropriate signage and road markings to improve road safety around all Manchester schools where any deficiencies are identified.

 

Supporting documents: