A presentation will be given providing details of the efficiency savings to be made for Bury Council’s budget over the next three years, to 2020.
Minutes:
Councillor Rishi Shori, the Leader of the Council and Deputy Executive of Resources and Regulation Steve Kenyon attended the meeting as part of the Council’s budget process to consult residents on the budget options for the next three years. As part of a new strategy the Council would produce a three year budget approach to 2020, instead of the usual fiscal year plan.
It was explained that the main objectives of proposals were to lead, shape and maintain a prosperous Bury that was fit for the future.
Councillor Shori reported that Bury was a popular place to live and the town centre was the third most popular in Greater Manchester after the Trafford Centre and Manchester City Centre. Bury Council was the biggest employer within the borough as well as the biggest provider of services in the town with a £448 million turnover.
Steve Kenyon explained how the Council received funding and reminded residents that there had been a reduction of £65 million in Government funding since 2010 with a further £32 million to be cut up to 2020.
The point was made that if Bury Council had been funded on a per head basis to the same level nationally it would have an extra £9 million and if it had been funded per head to the same level as Greater Manchester it would have received £18 million extra.
Details were given on how the Council spends its money:-
• Adult Social Care £46.8 million
• Looked after Children £10.6 million
• Waste Disposal £12.5 million
• Highways £6.4 million
• Refuse Collection £4.0 million
• Libraries £2.4 million
• Parks & Open Spaces £2.2 million
• Sports & Leisure £1.2 million
The meeting was also informed that there were other demands on Council services resulting from a population living longer but needing added support in later life. In addition there were other unknown variables to consider such as inflation, rises in energy prices and other levies. The Council was constantly looking for efficiency savings and were planning to transform services across the three Council Departments:-
Resource and Regulation – Proposed cut of £7.3m
Children, Young People and Culture – Proposed cut of £7.7m
Communities and Wellbeing – Proposed cut of £17.7m
· Resource and Regulation – proposed cuts of £7.3 million in areas including, reconfiguring back office services, collaborative working with other public bodies, continued rationalisation of Council property, income generation, Highways asset management, Treasury Management/ Investment activity.
· Children, Young People and Culture – proposed cuts of £7.7 million in areas such as Development of Early Years provision and the Fostering and Looked After Children Service, Service reviews, Management restructure and changes to School Funding Regimes.
· Communities and Wellbeing – proposed cuts of £17 million in areas such as reviewing Operational and Leisure and Wellbeing Services, focusing on bringing together Health and Social Care Services and Joint Commissioning and to review the Organisational and Transport arrangements.
It was explained that the Council would continue to deliver statutory services but would also have aspirations to tackle inequalities and support life chances. The Council could not raise the Council Tax by more than 2% and the Social Care Precept by more than 3%.
The Chair invited questions and comments.
Mr Marshall asked would the Planning Service remain self funding after the next budget. Councillor Shori confirmed that it would.
Mr Marshall asked if the additional housing numbers included in the GM Spatial Framework proposals would have a direct impact on Council Tax income.
Councillor Shori stated that there would be no impact on Council Tax. The incoming GM Mayor would be required to make a decision on how the final version of the GM Spatial Framework would look. Bury Council was very proactive on the development of brownfield sites in the borough. The GM Spatial Framework would not have any impact on development in Bury Council until 2021.
Reference was made to the centralisation of services and the Leader of the Council was asked not to centralise the township forums. The meetings were valued and well attended. It was explained that the township forums would not be centralised.
A member of the public asked for an update on proposals for the development of a leisure centre in Radcliffe. It was reported that the Council was committed to the project however there were issues regarding the demolition of the existing building due to asbestos being present in the fabric of the building. In addition funding a new centre would be difficult due to the current financial climate.
The Leader of the Council was asked if the Council had the capability to deal effectively with the damage as a result of future flooding in view of the 2015 floods.
Councillor Shori reported that the Council had a reserve available for use in emergencies such as the 2015 floods. He informed the meeting that the Council was still waiting for £1.3 million repayment from the government for money spent on emergency works required last year. An additional request had been made to the government for new flood defences throughout the borough.
Reference was made to the dividend payout to the Council received for its shares in Manchester Airport and how much this would be. Steve Kenyon reported that the dividend would be in the region of £2.9 million and this had been included in the budget calculations for 2016/17.
It was agreed:
That Councillor Shori and Steve Kenyon be thanked for their attendance at the meeting and presentation.