Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding the Transformation to 2019 programme. This report went to Cabinet on 16 April 2018.

The Select Committee received a report from the Chief Executive providing an update on the Transformation to 2019 Programme across the County Council (see Item 6 in the Minute Book). It was noted that the report had been to Cabinet earlier that week and the recommendations agreed.

Members heard that at full Council in February it had been agreed to remove the savings proposals affecting universal services provided by the Economy Transport & Environment Department. These savings would be met by alternative proposals and increased funding from Council tax. It was reported that of the overall Transformation to 2019 savings, 45% were either secured or there was high confidence in achieving those savings. Some of the remaining areas of savings would be challenging to deliver and may need more time to be achieved. Consultation would be undertaken regarding specific service proposals.

Enabling projects were making good progress, including deploying mobile devices to staff to enable increased contact time with service users, and use of robotic process automation to release staff time from repetitive administrative tasks.

Members asked questions for further detail. Members queried progress regarding lobbying for powers to levy a small charge for access to Household Waste Recycling Centres. It was reported that conversations were ongoing. Regarding alternative funding streams in Waste, Members discussed the ability to derive income from resale of items that could be re-used. It was noted that a profit sharing scheme was in place for this.

Members discussed the opportunity for the County Council to provide back office functions to district councils. It was reported that conversations were ongoing on various fronts, however different districts were in varying positions, and there would need to be sufficient economies of scale to make the proposition viable.

RESOLVED:

That the Policy and Resources Select Committee notes the key points of the Transformation to 2019: Report No.3.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding the Transformation to 2019 programme.

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.