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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Please enter the building through the Contact Centre entrance via the seafront.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillors Bacon, Roberts and Hay (Substituted by Cllr Pragnell)
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
None
Minutes of the last meeting 18/10/23 PDF 96 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 18th October 2023 be approved as a true record.
Budget Savings Proposals PDF 125 KB
Jane Hartnell (Chief Executive)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Barnett as the Leader of Hastings Borough Council explained to the committee it makes sense to have the principles of the budget agreed now that its prudent, realistic and sensible to bring the budget planning forward to December. There is a £4m deficit for 24/25 and this budget planning looks to find saving to meet that deficit. The shared service plan will be to look for partners locally and nationally, where we can work together and deliver a decent standard of service. Councillor Patmore asked what public responses have been received. Councillor Barnett answered that the responses sent directly to him have been mostly positive.
The committee asked questions:
How can you state that the restructure retains the ability to grow through income generation and grant funding when there will be no capacity to do either?
The Chief Executive explained this is related to the economic development and regeneration area and capacity and if government provides appropriate funding for management of initiatives, we can grow a team to deliver them.
Can you clarify role of Customer Services Officer and their possible relation to signposting residents to emergency housing advice?
The Chief Executive answered that not filling the post that is proposed is because of the introduction of the Citizen’s Access online system, which means residents can upload documents and not all will need to come to Muriel Matters House to hand them into officers who currently upload them.
Councillor Hilton suggested a report after 6 months to review Citizens Access.
Councillors Pragnell asked regarding the vacant Planning post and if it will have an impact on service? The Chief Executive answered that all vacant posts will reduce quality of services across the organisation.
The report states that a ‘service delivery model transformation’ team will be established. Will these be new members of staff and where is the funding coming from? 40% saving in first year is very ambitious. Will you be establishing basic levels of performance and quality of service that needs to be achieved by these shared services?
The Chief Finance Officer answered that the right team needs to be put in place and there is some funding available from Government. Costs will be shared where they can.
Councillor Turner asked regarding the shared services and the Chief Finance Officer explained governance and pay structures will have to be reviewed with the partners.
Councillor Pragnell asked regarding the confidence in the projected savings from sharing services. The Chief Executive explained the difference now is that many more partners are looking to share services as a means of coping with less funding.
Councillor Foster asked regarding the process mapping and if this work is completed with other partners and what is the time scale? The Chief Executive explained process mapping has been completed for several years. The Chief Finance Officer answered that if the right approach is taken then the proposals are achievable.
Councillor Hilton asked to have a sensitivity analysis included as only 80% of savings were achieved ... view the full minutes text for item 4.
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