PAPER C

CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE – 8 JULY 2004

BUDGET PROCESS 2005/06

HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

REASON FOR CONSIDERATION

To consider how the Select Committees and the Co-ordinating Committee can become engaged in the budget process for 2005/06.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE

To make recommendations on how all Select Committee members can have input into the budget process.

To adopt a consistent approach on how more effective recommendations can be made by the Executive by Select Committees as part of the budget process for 2005/06.

BACKGROUND

South East Employers have now completed and published their independent assessment of the Council’s Select Committees. The results of their findings have been extremely encouraging and the Co-ordinating Committee has been instrumental in driving through many procedural changes that have resulted in making the scrutiny function more effective.

The recommendations from South East Employers also included the need to improve interworking between the Executive and the Select Committees. To implement these recommendations new procedures listing all Select Committee recommendations will be reported at the Executive on a quarterly basis and this demonstration of interworking can only lead to greater engagement, transparency and improved corporate governance within the Council.

One remaining area for further engagement between the Executive and Select Committees is through greater active participation in the budget strategy, particularly at an early stage. Following the Co-ordinating Committee’s workshop/development day on 13 May, which the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive Officer attended, I have now received a formal request from the Chief Executive Officer requesting that Select Committees, through the Co-ordinating Committee, take an active part in the budget process for 2005/06. The Chief Financial Officer will advise members that a saving of £3 million is required to produce a tax increase of 5%. Whilst the Executive are working through a range of options about how this figure might be met, it would be most useful to have the views of the Co-ordinating Committee regarding the role of Select Committees in helping to identify how this target could be achieved.

Agreement of the Committee to participate in the budget process would demonstrate a joined-up, responsive and effective Executive/Select Committee model of corporate governance.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

None.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

Whilst the system being introduced is designed to be presented and debated in public at the Executive and at the Co-ordinating Committee, it is essentially an internal management tool and external consultation has not been undertaken.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial or crime and disorder implications attributed to this report.

APPENDICES ATTACHED

None.

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

South East Employers – Select Committee Key Areas for Development Training and summary of Key Recommendations and Areas for Improvement.

Contact Point : Alistair R Drain, Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support F 01983 82(3801) email address: [email protected]

ALISTAIR R DRAIN

Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support