The Executive Leader Councillor J D Ablewhite to address the Council on the State of the District.
(The Chairman will invite the Leader(s) of the Opposition to respond to the address. A Member may speak once in the ensuing discussion.)
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the Vice Chairman invited the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite to address the Council on the State of the District. In support of his presentation, a summary of the Annual Report 2013/14 and salient facts had been laid on the table (a copy of which is reproduced in the Minute Book).
In general terms, Councillor Ablewhite reminded Members that it continued to be a significant challenge to deliver services within a decreasing budget. However, despite this position, the District Council had not increased Council Tax in the current year and intended to retain this position in the next financial year and aspire to freeze Council Tax for a four further years.
Although a difficult year, Councillor Ablewhite added that the Council had improved its financial position such that it was now better placed to evaluate the options for the future having regard to feedback received during consultation with residents and businesses.
Having also mentioned the restructuring of the Senior Management Team and the business approach being taken towards management of One Leisure, Councillor Ablewhite proceeded to highlight the achievements of the Council in 2013/14 by reference to the key priorities – strong local economy, enabling sustainable growth, improved quality of life and working with our communities. (A copy of Councillor Ablewhite’s full address is reproduced in the Minute Book.)
The Leader of the Principal Opposition, Councillor K J Churchill was invited to respond. Councillor Churchill acknowledged that the Council had enjoyed a good year despite losing several experienced Members of staff and receiving reduced levels of Government grant. He commended the Council’s direction of travel making particular reference to zero based budgeting, the ‘Facing the Future’ exercise and control of expenditure on consultants. However, Councillor Churchill was of the view that District residents now received considerably less service than previously and whilst savings had emerged from change, these were not generally for the better. In terms of the budget, he looked forward to the Members’ Seminar to be held in early October. Whilst welcoming the Council’s approach, in principle, Councillor Churchill expressed concern that dedicated staff were being allowed to leave the authority to the detriment of the service, at the reduction of Democratic Services support and the number of Council meetings, the deletion of the opportunity for the opposition to lead the Council’s debate, his perception of a less effective planning enforcement service and the decrease in the number of completed Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs).
In terms of proposals for the future, Councillor Churchill suggested that consideration should be given to a review of the number of Councillors so that one Councillor would represent one ward and to the opportunity to build accommodation for homeless people and reduce the amount spent on bed and breakfast accommodation. Councillor Churchill also raised his concern that the views of the Overview & Scrutiny Panels were largely ignored by the Cabinet. Despite the matters he had raised, Councillor Churchill agreed with the Executive Leader’s assertion that Huntingdonshire was a good place to live but he contended that the District Council should seek to make it even better.
Councillor Ablewhite challenged Councillor Churchill’s assertion that the number of completed DFGs had declined and argued that the Council’s financial position was such that it could respond to whatever level of Government grant was allocated. He confirmed that town centre economies remained hugely important to the District and reaffirmed the level of investment that the Council had already committed to Huntingdon and St Neots. In terms of costs associated with bed and breakfast, Members were reminded that the Council had been proactive in setting up a joint scheme with Luminus to reduce the overall cost of bed and breakfast and were looking at other ways of reducing costs still further to avoid placing anyone in temporary accommodation. Councillor Ablewhite refuted the suggestion that the views of the Overview & Scrutiny Panels had not been taken into account by the Cabinet and he specifically recalled instances which demonstrated that the Cabinet had listened. Finally, and in terms of DFGs, Councillor Ablewhite reminded the Council that the Cabinet had increased the budget year on year such that the Council now set aside £700,000 for the purpose.
Whilst looking forward to receiving the Executive Leader’s address in writing, Councillor M F Shellens questioned how the District Council would continue to maintain expenditure on services with reduced resources.
In response to the latter, Councillor Ablewhite urged Members not to underestimate how much the Council could save by sharing services in neighbouring authorities, by looking at innovative and creative ways to undertake services and by managing its property portfolio more effectively.
Actions:30 minutes