Issue - meetings

Report FSD16046

Members considered the latest budget monitoring position for 2016/17 for the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio based on expenditure and activity levels up to 31 May 2016.  The total portfolio budget showed a projected overspend of £200k.

The Executive Director of Environment and Community Services informed Members that officers would look at ways to recover the £250k savings in relation to Community Libraries which would not be achieved in the current financial year (paragraph 5.4, page 27). 

The budget option had been agreed by the Executive and had been built into the 2016/17 budget.

The Head of Finance responded to a Member’s question about the number of bids received and the award of the preferred bidder status to Community Links Bromley.  Full details of the tender process were included in the Part 2 report presented to the PDS Committee on 26 January 2015.  As a mobilisation period of 3-6 months would be required to implement community management arrangements, should the contract be awarded, it was considered unlikely that any part year savings could be achieved this financial year.  Officers would look at ways to encourage earlier completion.

An update on Community Libraries would be submitted to a special meeting of the Committee in August/September 2016. 

In relation to paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 (page 27), Councillor Allen assumed that as a result of the increase in planning applications, more building control work would need to be undertaken.  The Head of Finance agreed to e-mail Members with further details concerning staffing, vacant posts and the reduction of hours worked in the Building Control Section.  However, it was later agreed that a report would be brought back to the next meeting with details of building control and it’s link with Planning.  It was noted that outside organisations were often hired to carry out building control work.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to endorse the latest 2016/17 budget projection for the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio.