Issue - meetings

Councillor Mark Elliott, Cabinet Member for Resources introduced the item.

Panel members raised the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Hounsell asked about staffing pressures across waste, fleet, legal and project delivery and asked what this meant. The Cabinet Member explained that this meant the use of temporary staff where recruitment has been difficult.

Councillor David asked about nature of the £1m disputed invoices with the ICB. The Cabinet Member explained that it is not definite that they will all be written off. He explained that the invoices were raised via joint work with other Councils on packages of care. Not all invoices have been paid, and the balance is now in dispute with the ICB. He added that there are now more robust systems in place.

Councillor Blackburn asked what is meant by increased income from network and traffic management. The Cabinet Member stated that he would come back with the detail on this.

Councillor Blackburn asked about the regeneration shortfall and an update on Bath South Quays. The Cabinet Member stated that Councillor Roper could provide detail as the portfolio holder.

Councillor Blackburn asked for clarification on the significant drift from the £4.5m savings planned regarding the ‘Being Our Best’ Programme. The Officer (151) stated that he could provide a full reconciliation. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that the savings were lower than expected; that process prioritised fair job evaluation over savings and that 60% of the workforce received a pay rise.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and officers