Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

This report provides an update on the delivery of savings that were identified for the 2021/22 Financial Year.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, that provided an update on the delivery of savings that were identified for the 2021/22 Financial Year.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·                The 2021/22 budget approved by Council included approved savings of £40.717m in 2021/22 across 86 initiatives, increasing to £47.704m by 2024/25;

·                The current position for each directorate; and

·                Conclusions.

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

·                Did the reported reduction in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts impact on the delivery of front line services;

·                Was the ambitions to promote car journeys into the city centre contrary to the ambitions of the Climate Emergency;

·                The need to undertake Equality Impact Assessments for any proposed changes as a result of the budget;

·                Information was sought as to the number of families and single people in temporary homeless accommodation, noting the wider cost to public services that arise as a direct result of homelessness and a policy of invest to save should be adopted when agreeing the homelessness budget;

·                Noting that the Government had decided not to continue funding the Everyone In homelessness scheme; and

·                Why was the planned lease break for a building not actioned in 2021/22.

In reply the Deputy City Treasurer stated that any reduction in FTE posts had not impacted on the delivery of front-line services, adding these posts were ‘back office’ posts and was in keeping with the approach and model to delivering customer services. He commented that Equality Impact Assessments are always undertaken as part of any service redesign consideration. He stated that the issue of car parking needed to be considered in the context of wider strategic plans and ambitions for the city, making reference to the Mobility Hub to be delivered in Ancoats. 

The Chair requested that information on how Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) were used was included in future budget reports to the Committee. The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer commented that a wide range of data was used when considering all budget options and proposals in addition to EIAs, these included the State of the City Report and local ward data.

In regard to the issue of Homelessness the Executive Member for Housing and Employment stated that he would request that the data on the numbers of families and single people accessing temporary accommodation is circulated following the meeting. The Interim Director of Housing Operations stated that when considering the Homelessness Budget the emphasis was given to targeted investment to prevent incidents of homelessness recognising the comment from the Member regarding the additional demands on other services.  The City Solicitor commented that a report on Homelessness would be considered by the Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee at their December meeting.

The Deputy City Treasurer said that the issue relating to the lease break arose as a result of a timing issue and the building in question was still being used to accommodate staff returning to the office and the need to maintain social distancing. He advised that the building would be exited at the next break. In response to a question relating to income generation he said that options to maximise this were always considered and reviewed.

Decision

The Committee notes the report.