Decision details

Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive providing an update on the Transformation to 2019 programme.

The report was introduced and it was highlighted that following previous resolutions of Cabinet, a number of savings targets had been removed from the programme and measures had been implemented to achieve the overall savings requirement. High confidence was reported in the deliverability of 45 percent of the programme. Ongoing work to further improve productivity, including through automation was drawn to Cabinet’s attention. Pressures in the provision of care for the elderly and in care for vulnerable children were also identified.

Cabinet welcomed the report and noted that the cumulative savings of £480 million were not the whole story as further, consequential savings and income, such as resulting from energy savings were not included. Members acknowledged that meeting the inflationary pressures in key areas of service provision as well as achieving savings had resulted in a number of difficult decisions. The income strategy, in particular of becoming a provider of services to other authorities was praised as being both a reliable source of income and in the wider public benefit.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.