Agenda item

Report reference: SC085 and CAB3388

Recommendation

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3388 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 9 February 2023.

Councillor Power, Cabinet Member for Finance and Value introduced the report, ref SC085 and CAB3388 which set out proposals for the General Fund Budget 2023/24, which was available here. 

The report recommended that the committee comment on the proposals within the cabinet report, ref, CAB3388 which was to be considered by the cabinet at its meeting on 9 February 2023.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report and in summary, questions relating to the following matters were raised.

1.    The charging of staff time for the Winchester Town Forum account.

2.    The ongoing support for the voluntary sector, currently drawn down from the homelessness reserve.

3.    Further information was sought concerning carbon offsetting and the use of the Greener Faster fund.

4.    Details of the regeneration investment profile.

5.    Clarification regarding the proposed changes to staff pay scales.

6.    The funding and implementation of improvements to the waste and recycling service

7.    Understanding whether service contracts included the provision to lower charges.

8.    The progress made in achieving the savings from the strategic budget review.

9.    Further information regarding the proposals concerning regeneration project staff.

10.Further information to understand expected improvements as a result of the Greener Faster reserve.

11.Further details regarding the function and cost of the Bone store.

These points were responded to by Councillor Power, Cabinet Member for Finance and Value, Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management, Councillor Porter, Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan and Liz Keys, Corporate Head of Finance accordingly and were noted by Councillor Power, Cabinet Member for Finance and Value.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted

2.    That officers note the two points of detail below:

·       An amendment be made to page 102, paragraph 13.12 c, this should read "in" not "if".

·       An amendment be made to para 13.4, reference to appendix a should be appendix b.

That cabinet considers all the committee’s comments raised during the discussion of the item.