North Somerset Council

Strategic Planning And Economic Development

Policy And Scrutiny Panel

Tuesday, 21st November 2006

REPORT OF THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP

(to be read in conjuction with Agenda Item 6.1)

The SPED Budget Working Group has met three times to date, including two meetings with officers to receive briefings on specific services, including tourism. Further meetings are planned as the budget process continues. The Group members are cross party and comprise Cllrs Ap Rees, Clarke, Kraft and Webb.

As a result of the meetings to date the Working Group is unable to recommend to the Panel any major areas for savings that will not impact on front line services that are very important to the public. However we have identified some areas where we believe savings might be possible, subject to closer scrutiny.

1) Highways.

The Group believes there could be better prioritising of certain works in the highways sector, where we support the maintenance of the current highways budget but with more emphasis on actual highways repairs, rather than ancillary works. As examples Members have noted what is considered unnecessary expenditure on new road signage, removal of dead animals and other less critical works at this time of tight budgeting. The Group also commends to the Environmental Services Panel a switching off of street lighting on certain carriageways during quiet hours.

2) Strategic Projects.

The Working Group has identified this sector as representing a possible area for savings but has asked for a briefing from the relevant officer before making any recommendations.

3) Economic Development.

Members of the Group are questioning the value of this unit which has been reduced in size and may now be unable to meet the requirement of aggressively attracting jobs into North Somerset.The group believed the successes to date have actually been generated by the private sector. There is a view that if NSC cannot do the job properly then perhaps it shouldn't do it at all. Again a briefing has been requested.

4) Supported Bus Services.

The Group is concerned at the escalating costs of subsidies to private companies running bus services in the district. It suggests that NSC should consider withdrawing all such subsidies and using a proportion of the funding instead to pump prime new community transport and improve existing ones. The balance is identified as a budget saving.

5) Business Support.

The Group sees this area, which includes various non-essential services such as internal communications, as an area for consolidation and consequent savings.

6) Building Control

The Group understands that although this section breaks even it is not permitted to produce profit, and therefore questions the retention of the service which can be provided by the private sector. Whilst there may not be an immediate cash saving there would be a saving on office space and ancillary costs.

7) Development Control.

Whilst there may be certain efficiency savings to be made in this area, the Group concludes that no effective cuts are possible without impacting the front line service which the Council has recently striven to bring up to an acceptable standard.

8) Tourism/Destination Management.

The Working Group understands that, subject to the results of discussions and a future Council decision on amalgamating areas of tourism promotion with neighbouring authorities in Somerset, there are likely savings to be made in this area over the next two years or so. However these are unlikely to impact on the D&E budget in the short term, although some may begin to take effect in the latter part of FY2007/08.The Group believes the Panel should closely scrutinise these proposed changes before they are presented to the Executive, as they will affect the way in which we promote tourism in North Somerset, as well as ensuring they offer best value .

8) Conclusion.

The Working Group is concerned that previous cuts in the D&E Budget in the areas covered by our remit have already had an effect on the front line services and consequent public image of the Council in areas such as streets and open spaces, highways maintenance, tourism promotion and offers, and economic development. Further "salami slicing" across the range of public services will only result in a further erosion of those services.

The group therefore recommends that, if sufficient savings cannot be identified in the areas identified above, which in themselves will involve staffing reductions, then the Council must look to other high spending Directorates and their services to provide a greater share of budget cuts. The group particularly identified Strategic Housing and Education central services for such a review.

17th November 2006