Issue - meetings
2022/23 Revenue Budget Report for Culture, Communities and Business Services
Meeting: 17/01/2022 - Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs Decision Day (Item 1)
1 2022/23 Revenue Budget Report for Culture, Communities and Business Services PDF 420 KB
To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services and Director of Corporate Operations setting out proposals for the 2022/23 budget for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs services.
Additional documents:
Meeting: 17/01/2022 - Culture and Communities Select Committee (Item 25)
25 2022/23 Revenue Budget Report for Culture, Communities and Business Services PDF 9 KB
For the Select Committee to pre-scrutinise the proposed 2022/23 Revenue Budget for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs services.
Additional documents:
- Report, item 25 PDF 420 KB
- Budget Presentation, item 25 PDF 875 KB
- Updated Budget Presentation, item 25 PDF 342 KB
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report of the Directors of Culture, Communities and Business Services and Corporate Operations (Item 6 in the Minute Book), outlining the 2022/23 revenue budget for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs Services within the Culture, Communities and Business Services, prior to decision by the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs on 17 January 2022 (Item 6 in the Minute Book).
A presentation was shown to Members which highlighted key areas of the report. Members heard that savings to be achieved in order to balance the budget in 2023 had already been agreed by Council in November 2021 so these proposals did not contain any new savings proposals. A one year settlement for local government had been announced by the government in December 2021; funding in future years would be subject to changes in the formula used for allocating the funding which will be subject to the outcome of a consultation to be carried out in Spring 2022.
Officers drew attention to the 2022/23 revenue budget by service, cost type and funding source, and the importance of income generation as a key factor in the operation of these services was highlighted. The different capital schemes within the service were also explained as set out in slide 12 of the presentation. Members also heard detail around the key departmental challenges and priorities which included income generation, impact of covid, climate change, inflation and recruitment and retention. It was noted that a Task and Finish Working Group established by the Committee was currently examining income generation for services within the department.
In response to Members’ questions it was confirmed that:
· In relation to tree planting, a potential site for a tree nursery was being looked at, but establishing this would need careful consideration. A number of other initiatives were also being considered including community nurseries.
· In relation to ash dieback, trees were carefully examined to minimise felling where possible. It was noted that a report would be brought to a future Cabinet meeting around funding.
· There has been work undertaken in examining opportunities for managing Basingstoke canal, but there were issues regarding the financial cost effectiveness of these.
· Officers were working closely with the Spring Arts and Heritage centre to examine the potential of a service-level agreement to enable library services to operate from the centre.
The Chairman moved to debate, where it was heard that one member would not be voting for the budget because of the significant cuts and impact on services.
The recommendation was proposed, and a vote was held with the following outcome:
For: 10
Against: 3
RESOLVED:
That, in regard to the revenue budget for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs services, the Culture and Communities Select Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs.