Steve
Bishop, Strategic Director, presented the reports on the budget
process and the budget consultation proposals.
The
chairman invited Councillor Dudley Hoddinott to ask his three
questions on the council’s spending priorities. These were as
follows:
Question: The budget process appears similar to the process used
in 2011; will there be any feedback on last year’s
consultation process and how the results were taken into account
when setting the 2012/13 budget?
Question: Last year the consultation questions were very
generic. How will the consultation questions differ from the
generic questions asked last year?
Question: Will there be any consultation at this time on the
Community Infrastucture Grants and the Community Revenue Grant
allocation?
Answer:
A late paper had been tabled at the committee outlining the budget
consultation proposals and this paper provided the answers to the
questions above.
- The
consultation process will be improved, expanded and arranged
earlier to enable the council to make best use of the process and
to inform decision making.
- There
are potential topics for consultation but comments are sought on
other potential topics, including specific budget
proposals.
Further
questions were asked about consultation timing and methodology. The
main points which arose from the discussion were as
follows:
- The
consultation will start in October and run for six
weeks.
- The
council now has a consultation officer who is making the process
more user friendly.
- Consultation is a statutory requirement but the council wishes
to go beyond this requirement and make the process as useful as
possible for both residents and decision makers.
- The
council will not know the details of the government settlement
until December and so will not be able to use this information in
the initial consultation.
- The
consultation will consist of a six week, predominantly online,
survey and a discussion/focus group.
- The
results of the consultation will be in the public
domain.
- There
will be generic as well as specific questions in the
consultation.
- The
accuracy of the outturn relied on officer estimates and was based
on the latest information after quarter 3 to predict. It is hoped
to improve the accuracy of these estimates by identifying which
budgets the council has control over and which are subject to
volatile circumstances to improve budget monitoring.
- The
Scrutiny Committee were concerned that people who didn’t have
access to answering the survey on line would have an opportunity to
participate. The strategic director will find out what other
methods to be used (and subsequently confirms that
paper surveys, telephone assistance and other languages will be
provided if requested).
RESOLVED:
a)
Scrutiny Committee asked to see the budget
consultation questions before the questionnaire is made public.
This to be done by email.
b)
To request that the budget to come back to December
and February meetings of Scrutiny Committee.