Decision details

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which provided an update of progress against the strategy including some revision to the forecast financial savings.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that the risk register reflected an increase in severity of risk as well as an increase in likelihood. Red ratings for digital services had been flagged at Audit Committee and work was underway with external partners to minimise the risks, with follow up actions for PSN accreditation being reported to Audit Committee in the new year. With regards to budget implications from the reduction in expected savings, it was noted that targets were now in line with original estimates and still delivered what was set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Savings were still able to be delivered, it was the timescales that were changing and mitigations were being explored.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Approved the “digital-first” contact strategy, roadmap and associated IT operating principles;

2.   Noted that alternative options have been considered and rejected;

3.   Approved the proposed digital-first customer service standards;

4.   Agreed access to agreed investment funding as described in section 6.2;

5.   Noted the revised financial forecast including two new proposals to mitigate some slippage in savings delivery; and

6.   Agreed that the recommendations achieve the savings requirement within the MTFS in accordance with available resources and wider corporate strategy and reasons for recommendation(s).

Reasons for the decision:

The multi-year internal transformation programme has the objectives of both improving the quality of provision and delivering financial savings by reducing costs and driving digital.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.