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Group discussion toolkit

Group discussion toolkit. The Financial Challenge. The council needs to save another £128 million over the next five years. This is in addition to the £177 million of savings already delivered since the Government’s programme of austerity started 4 years ago.

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Group discussion toolkit

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  1. Group discussion toolkit

  2. The Financial Challenge • The council needs to save another £128 million over the next five years. • This is in addition to the £177 million of savings already delivered since the Government’s programme of austerity started 4 years ago. • As the Government continues with the austerity policy, the estimated funding reduction to the Council will be around £83m over the next five years. • Together with the ever increasing demographic pressures and additional new responsibilities this creates unsustainable pressure on the provision of public services in the county.

  3. Red line services Despite this financial challenge the council is committed to: • Investing £12 million in Children’s Services to drive improvements and safeguard vulnerable children. • Keeping the county's libraries and country parks open because of how critical they are in helping us in our new Wellbeing programme of work. • No reduction in our programme to mend roads and invest in infrastructure.

  4. Discussion questions The council would like your feedback on three key elements of the council’s Draft Budget and Council Plan proposals: Increasing council tax by 1.99% Redline services – services we are committed to keeping open/investing in Increasing our partnership working and shared services

  5. Increasing council tax by 1.99% • The council is proposing to increase council tax by 1.99% for 2014-15. • Even with this increase Northamptonshire County Council would still remain the lowest taxing county council in the country. • For an average council tax payer (band d) this would mean an increase of £20.46 next year – an extra 39p a week. • As a group please rank the following options in order of preference: • Freeze council tax • Increase by 1.99% • Increase by more than 2%

  6. Redline services The council is committed to: • Investing £12 million in Children’s Services to drive improvements and safeguard vulnerable children. • Keeping the county's libraries and country parks open because of how critical they are in helping us in our new Wellbeing programme of work. • No reduction in our programme to mend roads and invest in infrastructure. • Do you agree or disagree? • Are there other services you would prefer to see in this list?

  7. Increasing our partnership working and shared services • The council is proposing to form more partnerships across a variety of sectors to: • Deliver the best possible value for money • Gain the latest thinking and technology to deliver services • In principle do you agree or disagree with the council: • Sharing front-line services (such as Customer Services, Fire Services, Social Care Services, Trading Standards, Waste collection and disposal) with partner organisations? • Developing an integrated care model with NHS? • Developing strategic alliances with private sector organisations (such as British Gas, Schneider Electrics and BT)? This would mean working together to help achieve both partners' goals and not outsourcing services. • Sharing management teams with partner organisations?

  8. Discussion questions • You may also want to discuss any other areas of the Draft Budget or Council Plan that may affect/interest your group. • Information on all of the council’s proposals are available on the following website: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/draftbudget • Please tell us: • Which proposal/s you wish to comment on • What impact this may have • What we could do to mitigate against this impact

  9. How will my feedback be used? Feedback will be used to inform the council’s decision making: • Decision-makers will receive a weekly report telling them what people are saying • Feedback will be used to inform EQIAs (Equality impact assessments) • The final budget report will include an appendix of consultation findings

  10. When will the final decision be made? • The Draft Budget 2013-14 and Council Plan will be decided on the 20thFebruary by a meeting of Full Council. • Members of the public can attend full council and speak on any item. • You will receive feedback when the final decision is made. • Further consultation will then take place as the plans are implemented: • Specific proposals for service changes will be the subject of separate detailed consultations as the proposals are developed and refined.

  11. Other ways to have your say • Complete the online survey www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/draftbudget • Email consult@northamptonshire.gov.uk • Tweet @ mycountycouncil • Post on our mycountycouncil facebook page • Write to: Draft Budget and Council Plan Consultation, Northamptonshire County Council, County Hall, Northampton, NN1 1DN • Sign or submit a petition • Speak at a Budget Scrutiny meeting

  12. Thank you Please send your discussion feedback to : Email: consult@northamptonshire.gov.uk Write to: Draft Budget and Council Plan Consultation Northamptonshire County Council County Hall Northampton NN1 1DN The consultation closes on the 4th February

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