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Poole Council. MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY. Budget & Council Tax Setting 2014/15. Cllr Elaine Atkinson Leader of the Council . Agenda. Background – A new budget process Background – Peer Review National Context – Why Austerity Needed
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Poole Council MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY Budget & Council Tax Setting 2014/15 Cllr Elaine Atkinson Leader of the Council
Agenda • Background – A new budget process • Background – Peer Review • National Context – Why Austerity Needed • National Context – 2015 Spending Review • Local Context – Where the money comes from • Local Context – Impact of Austerity on Poole • Local Context – Where the money goes • MTFP 2014 to 2018 (Part 1) • MTFP 2014 to 2018 (Part 2) • Next Steps
Background - New Budget Process • Budget process changed for 2014/15 onwards to reflect; • No Overall Control • Overview & Scrutiny of MTFP not adding enough value • Changes • Cross Party Budget Steering Group established • Efficiency & Effectiveness O&SC responsible for overall scrutiny of the budget • Other Overview & Scrutiny Committees • Consider significant changes in policy or service levels (E&E OSC considered Business Case to deliver revenue & benefit services in partnership with 3 other authorities)
Background - LGA Peer Review • Bill Roots previous CX & Director Finance at Westminster City Council undertook Financial health check, conclusions; • Poole has managed to avoid full impact squeeze so far • Careful financial planning, effective management, prudent resource assumptions, use reserves. • Options are running out • Decisions will become more contentious • Financial gap is enormous particularly authority Poole’s size • We need to develop outline options to bridge gap • Suggests Budget Steering Group takes more responsibility • “Star Chamber“ clearing house for difficult decisions that lay ahead • Emphasised that Council can by local decision (to a limited extent)change its resource base associated with Council Tax, the chances of changing the national grant allocation is remote in the extreme
National Context – Why Austerity Needed National Debt at the end of 2012 = £1,390,000,000,000
Local Context – Impact of Austerity on Poole55% Cumulative annual reduction in core Government funding since 2010
Local Context – Impact of Austerity on Poole - Savings made by the Council since 2010/11
Local Context – Where the money goesMajority of resources spent on minority residents (vulnerable Adults & Children)
Next Steps • Continue Cross Party Budget Steering Group (Star Chamber) through January/February and beyond with particular emphasis on developing plans for 2015 onwards.. • Relentless pursuit of Value For Money (VFM) • Even greater levels of efficiency & productivity • Bring forward detailed proposals on financial and non financial implications of a number of options that the Cross Party Budget Steering Group requested be further explored. • Prioritised support towards economic growth and job creation Aim remains to improve quality of life whilst protecting the most vulnerable
Questions…? Elaine Atkinson e-mail: elaine.atkinson@poole.gov.uk