Contact: Jon Pittam, ext 7400, email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

· to allocate £1.25m, from the budgeted contribution to the job evaluation transitional costs reserve, to Social Services for the cost of market supplements, (subject to: all other pressures and priorities being contained within Social Service's cash limit in 2004/05; and not allocating £0.7m to new projects in 2004/05 until the revised estimates and 2005/06 budget guidelines are first reviewed by Cabinet).

· to allocate £100,000 from balances to the pilot local area committee for Havant and £25,000 from balances for consultancy fees to review the revised scrutiny and area committee arrangements

· that the Executive Member, Policy and Resources determines the allocation from the contingency for the corporate start up costs for Every Child Matters to cover initial consultancy costs

· to add a potential VAT refund to balances and to set aside continuing additional income as a contribution towards efficiency savings for 2005/06

· to agree the development of options to avoid breaking the 5% partial exemption limit on VAT.

· to note other recent developments.

1 Reasons

1.1 Resource allocations need to be made to finance Cabinet decisions. The Cabinet also monitors and considers budget developments during the year.

1.2 The proposals reflect the Corporate Strategy especially:

· Aim 5 - improving services

· Aim 6 - developing councillors and staff.

2 Other options considered and rejected

2.1 Costs of market supplements could be assimilated within the Social Services cash limit, depending upon priority choices. All additional resources could be retained towards savings targets.

3 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted

3.1 Not applicable.

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

4.1 Not applicable.

5 Reasons(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

5.1 Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

............................................. ............................

Councillor T K Thornber