Agenda and minutes

There were none.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Jackson read a statement to the Panel from a member of the public, George Bailey on the subject of the Frome/Radstock railway. A full copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

Sue Pendle – Chair of Trustees of First Steps (Bath) made a statement regarding the proposed 40% reduction contained within the Council’s budget proposal in Early Years and Children’s Centres. She asked that this proposal be reconsidered as it would affect the Council’s front line service regarding young children and their families. She asked that this service be protected and that universal service be preserved. A full copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.  

Councillors Jackson and Hardman also made statements but chose to defer their statements until item 8 ‘Council Budget 2013/14 and Medium Term Plans’ on the agenda.

To confirm the minutes of the above meeting as a correct record.

The panel is invited to comment on the draft budget report that will be submitted to Cabinet on the 13th February.

The Comments of the Panel will be communicated to the Cabinet in advance of their meeting so that they can be taken into account as the Cabinet finalises its recommendations to Council on the budget and the medium term plans.

The following annexes are attached:

1. Council Budget Report (to follow) – a copy of the draft budget report together with all associated appendices for the Cabinet meeting on the 13^th January will be sent separately as soon as it is available for publication.
2. Summary of Budget consultation responses – summary of the web responses and the budget fair responses 
3. Summary of PDS Comments on medium term plans – summary based on the minutes from each of the PDS meetings in November
4. Summary of Equalities issues arising from the Budget  - work undertaken on equalities including approach, risks and mitigations

5.  “50 Sensible ways to make savings” – analysis of the Council’s actions that relate to the ideas published by the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government – Eric Pickles 

The Chairman invited Councillor Liz Hardman to make a statement regarding ‘Children’s Centres’. Councillor Hardman referred to the proposed budgetary cuts to Early Years and Children’s Centres, she explained the work done in these centres and urged that a brake be put on these cuts. A full copy of this statement can be found on the minute book.

The Chairman invited Councillor Eleanor Jackson to make a statement. Councillor Jackson supported the points made by Councillor Hardman and explained that her residents were concerned with the proposed cuts to Children’s Centres and Early Years. She urged that universal access to these services should be maintained. A full copy of this statement can be found on the minute book.

The Chairman thanked the Councillors for their statements and explained that the Panel would debate the Early Years budget proposals first.

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

Early Years and Children’s Centres

Following a questions from Councillor Gerrish about how concrete the plans are for 2014/15, Andrew Pate – Strategic Director Resources explained that it is the job of the Council to agree a budget for 2013/14 but that there was also a three year plan to go with the budget. He explained that there is an opportunity to look in depth at certain issues and set a clear direction for following years. Councillor Bull stated that the Labour Group would be looking to do this on the issue of Early Years and Children’s Centres. Councillor Gerrish stated that he was also concerned with the proposal to target those in need and move away from universal access. He stated that there were problems with the process of targeting services in areas of deprivation as this was not always an accurate indicator of where problems are. He stated that children’s services must have universal access.

Councillor Bellotti, Cabinet Member for Community Resources addressed the points raised above. He explained that the bulk of the savings are programmed for 2015/16 and that the budget for year three is an indicative budget. He explained that the Education Department offered these savings after serious consideration of the issues. He explained that there is no proposed reduction in spending on Youth Services and that the careers funding would go to schools. He explained that the Cabinet have taken the view that where the Government have given funding elsewhere for a service, the Council will not continue to provide that service so that there is no double funding. He explained the Government view that health visitors are the first important point of contact for families and young children and that the Government are employing more health visitors. He explained that by November of this year the Cabinet will have a plan to go forward and will ask the PDS Panel to help look at the issue in detail. Councillor Bull thanked the Cabinet Member for the reassurance.

Property

Tom McBain, Divisional Director and Chief Property Officer made a presentation to the Panel following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

This will be a verbal update. There is no report attached.

This was contained within the debate on item 8 on the agenda.

This report presents the latest future workplan for the Panel.

The Panel noted the future work plan with the following additions:

·  Property Update Report

·  Staff Resources Report (Q4)

It was also noted that the meeting scheduled for 20^th May 2013 would be moved to 10^th June 2013.