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Agenda item
Draft Corporate Plan 2017/18 to 2019/20
Minutes:
Councillor Forward proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Cartwright, that the recommendations set out in minute number 70 of Cabinet on 13 February 2017 be approved.
Councillor Rogers, the Right Worshipful the Mayor, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Beaver, and agreed unanimously as follows: -
RESOLVED that in order to facilitate full discussion on Cabinet’s proposal for the corporate plan and any proposed amendment to cabinet’s recommendations, Council suspends Rule 16.6(b) of Council Procedure Rules (only one amendment may be moved and discussed at any one time. No further amendment may be moved until the amendment under discussion has been disposed of) to permit the Deputy Leader’s motion and all amendments to be on the table and open for discussion at the same time.
Councillor Patmore proposed an amendment to the draft Corporate Plan, seconded by Councillor Cooke, as follows: -
Expenditure Reduction
What we want for Hastings by 2019:
While seeking to generate income to help us meet our mission objectives the council will also set up an Expenditure reduction Board to help the council make difficult decisions on how to balance future budgets by reducing council spending and not having to use reserves. To do this we must make more savings throughout the organisation in a much shorter time-scale than previously anticipated.
What will we be doing?
· An Expenditure Reduction Board (made up of the leader of the council, leader of the opposition plus key executive officers) will be set up to look at all aspects of council expenditure and how efficiencies and reductions in spending can be made.
· We will make a pledge that for every net £1 of income generated by our Income Generation Policy we will have to save 50p of council expenditure until the council doesn’t need to draw on reserves to balance the budget.
What challenges could we face?
· We need to make these changes quickly, which again will be a huge challenge for staff who are already fully committed to existing work.
· Reducing council spending and still providing core services the public expect the council to maintain.
· Making sure we have the resources to help the more vulnerable members of our community.
· Insufficient reductions implemented risking the council’s future sustainability.
How can we overcome these challenges?
· The outcome of the council’s strategic planning activity will be brought forward to reflect the urgency of the funding gap the council faces in the next three years.
· Staff reorganisation to ensure that key services are maintained.
· We will listen to the ideas of residents, staff and partners and reward ideas that save the council money.
· To work closely with the Income Generation Board so that we can meet the budget deficit from both sides.
The amendment was lost by 9 votes for, 21 against.
RESOLVED (by 22 votes for to 8 against, with 0 abstentions) that:-
1. The content of the documents attached to the Director of Corporate Services and Governance’s report to Cabinet form the basis of the council’s corporate plan 2017/18 – 2019/20, subject to the proviso that any significant amendment made to the council’s draft budget be reflected in the final corporate plan text;
2. Delegated authority be given to the Director of Corporate Services and Governance, after consultation with the Leader of the Council to make further revisions as is considered necessary to the plan prior to publication reflect decisions made on the council’s budget, and;
3. All who submitted views as part of the consultation process be thanked for their contributions.
The reason for this decision was:
The council needs to approve the corporate plan as it is a statement of Hastings Borough Council’s strategic direction to 2020.
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