Issue - meetings

Council is asked to consider Cabinet’s recommendations in response to the reductions in funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the emergency reductions of £6.2 billion in public spending and the further announcements in the emergency budget presented to Parliament on 22 June 2010.

Discussion:

This report set out a number of proposals in response to the reductions in funding announced by the Government following the emergency budget reductions of £6.2 billion in public spending and the further announcements in the emergency budget presented to Parliament on 22 June 2010. The Cabinet considered a report on the proposed budget reductions on 29 June 2010.

It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been carried out on the proposals and this was summarised in paragraph 5 of the report with the screening form set out in appendix 5 to the report.

Councillor Jarrett, supported by Councillor Rodney Chambers, proposed the recommendations as set out in the report noting that the reference to paragraph 3.5 in recommendation 7.1 should read paragraph 3.7.

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council’s constitution at the request of six Members, a vote on the proposal was recorded as follows:

For:

Councillors Avey, Baker, Janice Bamber, Ken Bamber, Brake, Brice, Bright, Bhutia, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Filmer, Griffin, Gulvin, Haydock, Hewett, Hicks, Jarrett, Kemp, Mackinlay, Maisey, Mason, O’Brien, Reckless, Royle, Wicks and Wildey – 32

Against:

Councillors Bowler, Burt, Gilry, Godwin, Griffiths, Harriott, Hubbard, Maple, Murray, Shaw, Smith and Stamp – 12

Abstain:

Councillors Crack, Tony Goulden, Val Goulden, Juby, Ruparel and Sutton – 6.

Decision:

(a)               The Council agreed the package of measures to redress the budget shortfall as set out in the appendices and summarised in the table at paragraph 3.7 in the report.

(b)               The Council approved the use of reserves accruing from the underspend in 2009/10 to fund any necessary once-off costs in implementing the changes.

(c)               The Council authorised the relevant Director or the Chief Executive:

(i)                 Where specific posts within the general service area have not yet been identified as potential redundancies, to identify such, in line with the package of measures set out in the appendices and to commence consultation on those specific proposals.

(ii)               In all cases to consider the consultation responses received in respect of proposals relating to their Directorates and to determine final redundancy proposals.

This report provided details of the recent announcements made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the emergency reductions of £6.2 billion in public spending and the further announcements in the emergency budget presented to Parliament on 22 June 2010 and provided details of the Council’s proposals in relation to the implications for Medway’s budgets.

The Cabinet considered this as an urgent item as the immediate reductions applied to the current budget and any delay in implementing recommendations increased the pro rata impact for the remainder of the year, and made achievement more difficult.

The Mayor, in the absence of the Chairman of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, agreed that the taking of these decisions could not be reasonably deferred, in accordance with Rule 16 (Special Urgency) of the Access to Information Rules (Part 2 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution).

The Vice-Chairman of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in the absence of the Chairman, agreed to waive call in on recommendation 7.2 in the report on the basis that this matter is reasonable in all the circumstances and to it being treated as a matter of urgency in accordance with Rule 16.11 of the Overview and Scrutiny Rules (Part 5 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution).

Reasons:

The budget reductions announced by the Government require changes to the budgets agreed by Council so as to avert an overspend occurring and bring the planned expenditure for the Council back in line with the funding available.