Agenda item - Report of the Scrutiny Panel on the Societal Impact of the In-Year Grant Reductions

To follow

52.1    Councillor Watkins Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel on the Societal Impact of the In-Year Grant Reductions introduced the Panel’s report. The review had been completed in the shortest time of any review so far. He thanked the other two Panel members, Councillors Mitchell and Wakefield-Jarrett, the officers who gave evidence and scrutiny support.

52.2    Input to the scrutiny review from the Third Sector was very welcome and he was particularly grateful to the CEO of the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum for open and honest discussion with the Panel.

52.3 It was important to try to understand the process of making the decisions on budget reductions and although four former Directors were no longer with the Council, a timeline of the main events leading up to the decision had been provided. This appeared as Appendix A to the report.

52.4    The decisions on funding reductions had to be made quickly and it was difficult to see how the longer-term impact of the changed budgets would have been taken into account. Although the mid-year changes may be unlikely to happen again, the budget changes produced a 360 degree ‘ripple effect’ on the city and wider consideration of the potential impacts on society was needed in deciding on future reductions.

52.5    Councillor Mitchell emphasised that the evidence showed it was easier to find savings in areas where there was clear priority setting in advance and where there were good joint working relations with partners. The reductions were shown to be much more complex to manage where part of a service was contracted out.

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52.6    Councillor Young said the Cabinet would consider a detailed reply in due course.

52.7    RESOLVED That the Scrutiny Panel report on the Societal Impact of the In-Year Budget Reductions be endorsed.