Archived decisions

ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES SCRUTINY AND SELECT COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 14 December 2005.

PRESENT:

Councillors:

p M.J. Kendal (Chairman)

35 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9,10,11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. No interests were declared by Members on this occasion.

36 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 31 October 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

37 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman had no communications to make.

38 DEPUTATIONS

No deputations had been notified on this occasion.

39 BUDGET GUIDELINES 2006/07

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer to Cabinet (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on budget strategy for the coming year and further into the future. The report was supported by a presentation setting out the salient points, a copy of which appears as Item 6(x) in the Minute Book.

Particular attention was drawn to the abrupt changes in the funding formulae in the areas of education/children's services. The settlement again shifted resources away from authorities in the South East, such as Hampshire, and left the County Council with a financial situation that was difficult, but sustainable over the next 2 years, but after that in 2008/09 could lead to serious and very drastic grant losses. The next 2 years would therefore need to be used to develop strategies to cope with a possible funding abyss in the longer term. Members also felt that for 2006/07 they would like to explore the option of a 2.7% council tax increase.

RESOLVED:

That the following advice be offered to Cabinet.

(a) That the County Council should continue to explore the original option 2, leading to further £8m savings and a 2.7% council tax rise, as well as option 1 and the 4.7% council tax rise in the light of the financial settlement for the next two years as announced.


(b) That the savings required to achieve these council tax rates should ideally take the form of efficiency and cost reduction rather than service reductions.


(c) That in view of the serious longer-term funding shortfall, the County Council should initiate more synergies through cost-effective partnership working, shared resources and effective engagement with other authorities and organisations.


(d) That over the next two years a fundamental review be conducted as to whether the County Council could or should provide all services in the form that it currently does, with a focus on discretionary and non-statutory services.

40 SCRUTINY PANEL 3 - ICT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 7 in the Minute Book) and noted the progress being made by the Panel.

41 FOOD SERVICE PLAN

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which had been referred to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 6 December. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services responded to questions on sampling of organic and fair trade products. Further details were requested on overall costs arising from the section on financial allocations (4.1). The Committee endorsed the approach set out in the updated Food Service Plan and noted the report.

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