Members of the Committee are requested to bring their copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 20th June 2017.
Minutes:
The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 20th June 2017.
(5) Provisional Final Accounts 2016/17
Report FSD17054
A summary of activity on the Recruitment and Retention Fund for Children’s Social Care since 2010/11 had been circulated - funding of £817,200 had originally been allocated by the Executive on 2nd February 2010.The fund had been used in 2010/11, but due to underspends elsewhere in the Department it had not been used again until 2016/17. The fund was used for making “golden hello” payments, annual retention payments, permanent placement fees and the market premium. It was now proposed to top up the fund with £495,419 from some of the funding for Tackling Troubled families and Step Up to Social Work grants; it was anticipated that the fund would be used within 2 – 3 years, and consideration needed to be given to future funding. The Chairman commented that the availability of this fund might have an adverse effect on rigorous adherence to budgets in the Department and suggested that the matter be reviewed at the Education, Children and Families Budget and Performance Monitoring Sub-Committee.
It was noted that the overspend in Adults Services was largely due to ambitious savings targets not being realised. A Member raised concerns that unrealistic savings might lead to similar problems as had been identified in Children’s Services. The Chairman responded that failings in Children’s Services had been down to management, not funding; the Leader agreed that funding had not been a key issue for Children’s Services, although some additional funding had been required to produce the significant improvements recognised by Ofsted.
There was a provision for unsettled insurance claims of £1.7m. A Member commented that insurance claims were likely to rise, and the Director of Finance confirmed that this would need to be taken into account in the annual review of the Insurance fund.
A Member commented on the £130k underspend for On-Street Parking. It was explained that there had been some slippage in providing new on-street spaces.
A Member noted that there was a surplus on the Collection Fund, and suggested that this would enable the Council to make a more generous allocation to the Council Tax Support Scheme. The Director of Finance confirmed that collection rates remained high, and the number of properties had increased, but also commented that Government core funding reduction would have reduced by 75% by 2019/20 – some of this government funding reduction related to Council Tax Support. The Council would have to decide, for example, whether Council tax payers should subsidise the Scheme – a report reviewing the Scheme was due in July.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(6) Capital Programme Outturn 2016/17
Report FSD17053
The Committee considered a report on the final outturn for capital expenditure and receipts for 2016/17.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(8) Release of Government Funding for the Step Up to Social Work Programme
The Executive was recommended to release of ring-fenced funding for cohort 5 of the Step up to Social Work programme, the funding to be released in instalments over two financial years - 2017/18 and 2018/19.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(9) Submission of Bromley’s Draft Local Plan
Report DRR17/026
Members questioned the need to provide complete paper copies of the report and its appendices to all Members. The Director of Corporate Services accepted their concerns but reminded the Committee that all Members would be asked to make a decision on the Local Plan at the full Council meeting on 26th June, so it was important that they were all provided with the papers.
(12) Hollybank Short Break Provision for Disabled Children and Young People
Members noted a Part 1 summary of the Part 2 report for this item, considering the matter in more detail under Part 2 proceedings.
(13) Contract Award for Transport Services Framework
Report ED18004
Members noted a Part 1 summary of the Part 2 report for this item, considering the matter in more detail under Part 2 proceedings.