Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the implications for the Council of the Government’s efficiency targets.

A further report was requested on the implications for the Council once guidance on the efficiency review has been received.

By means of a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with developments relating to the Government’s (Gershon) Efficiency Review and the Revenue Support Grant.  Having noted that the figure quoted in paragraph 4.2 of the report as representing the  level of savings which exceeded MTP assumptions should have read £300k instead of £600k, Executive Councillors expressed their dissatisfaction with regard to the imposition of the approach to efficiency targets which failed to recognise or differentiate between authorities like the District Council, which had made sustained and successful efforts to achieve excellence in their performance and others where the scope for efficiencies and savings was much greater.

The Cabinet also was informed that an announcement on the Council’s revenue support grant for 2005/06 had been delayed until the following week.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that a further report be submitted when further information is available on the efficiency review.

To consider the report by the Director of Commerce and Technology on the progress of the review of the Medium Term Plan, which was deferred at the last meeting.

In the context of the forthcoming Government requirements for efficiency savings, it was decided to give further consideration to the matter at a future meeting before making recommendations to the Council on the Medium Term Plan 2005 – 2010.

Further to Minute No. 77, the Cabinet gave further consideration to the report by the Director of Commerce and Technology reviewing the Medium Term Plan 2005 – 2010 and acknowledged the requirement for their deliberations to be concluded in sufficient time for a recommendation to be submitted to full Council on 16th February 2005.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration summarising the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on the Medium Term Plan 2005 – 2010, which appears as the next item on the Agenda.

A report by the Head of Administration summarising the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) was received and noted.

A report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on the Medium Term Plan at its meeting held on 9th November 2004, was received and noted.