Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it.  If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

75.1  Mr Cloake declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as his wife works as a social worker for the Council and he is a foster carer.

75.2  Mr Fitzjohn declared personal interests in relation to the Draft Budget item as his wife works for the Council in the IPEH Team and to the Draft Revenue Budget item (Chichester Harbour Conservancy) as substitute member of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

75.3  Dr Walsh declared personal interests in relation to the Draft Budget item as an Arun District Councillor and to the Draft Revenue Budget item as a member of the Littlehampton Harbour Board.

75.4  Mr Lea declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as a Mid Sussex District Councillor.

75.5  Mr Waight declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as a Worthing Borough Councillor.

75.6  Mr Turner declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as a Worthing Borough Councillor.

75.7  Mr Smytherman declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as a Worthing Borough Councillor.

75.8  Mr Barrett-Miles declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item as a Mid Sussex District Councillor.

75.9  Mr Hunt declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Revenue Budget item (Chichester Harbour Conservancy) as Chairman of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

75.10  Mr Montyn declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Revenue Budget item (Chichester Harbour Conservancy) as a member of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

75.11  Ms Goldsmith declared a personal interest in relation to the Draft Budget item (Capital Strategy – A29 realignment) as a member of the Local Enterprise Partnership Board.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2018 (cream paper).

76.1  Resolved – That the Minutes of the Performance and Finance Select Committee held on 22 November 2018 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

A report by the Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement setting out the Draft Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2019/20 to 2022/23, Draft Revenue Budget 2019/20, Draft Capital Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24, and Draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2019/20.

The Committee will be asked to:

1)   Endorse the draft MTFS 2019/20 to 2022/23, draft Revenue Budget 2019/20, draft Capital Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24, and draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2019/20; and

2)   Agree any comments or issues it wishes the Cabinet to take into account when it considers the reports on 29 January 2019.

77.1  The Committee received a report by the Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement (copy appended to the signed minutes). The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet, Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and Finance officers attending for the budget item.

77.2  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced the budget Introduction and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) sections of the report and highlighted key information. By next year £240m of savings will have been made since 2010; the further savings proposals in the report are difficult decisions, have been scrutinised at the relevant Select Committees, and work has been undertaken to mitigate any effect on communities. The Council will present a balanced budget for 2019/20 whilst maintaining good financial reserves which is due to the hard work of Members and Officers. The proposed 4.99% rise to rates of Council Tax has not been recommended lightly and is proposed in order to prevent further reductions in Council services; the Cabinet continue to lobby the Government for fairer funding of local authorities.

77.3  The Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement introduced the budget Introduction and MTFS sections of the report, highlighting updates to the report since it was previously scrutinised by the Committee. The budget gap stands currently at £46m and the budget has been set in the context of this funding gap.

77.4  The Committee made comments in relation to the budget Introduction and MTFS sections of the report including those that follow. It:

·                  Expressed support for future plans to bring savings proposals before Members earlier in the budget cycle to allow more dialogue, commented that notifying stakeholders earlier would be beneficial for volunteer-led organisations who may be less resilient to change, and commented that Members hope this would also enable better engagement to be undertaken with affected service users and relevant local authorities who may be impacted by any change. Members stressed the need for full impact assessments to take place, both in terms of finance and risk. The Leader commented that where services are provided in excess of the statutory obligation and are proposed to be reduced, the Cabinet Member seeks reassurance the measure is safe and legal, and a high level assessment is undertaken in order to reduce risk to the Council.

·                  Queried whether a rise in Council Tax in excess of 5% had been considered in order to raise more funding, or whether residents could instead be given the option to pay a higher rate if desired. The Leader confirmed this had not been considered, and noted that a rise above the permitted level would require a referendum to take place which would cost £0.5M to undertake. Due regard must be given to residents who are just about managing and the proposed 4.99% rise is significant; it is important for the Council to manage within our budget means. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources commented the proposed approach is prudent whilst Brexit is negotiated, and suggested the option to pay a higher rate of Council Tax could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Extract fromthe ForwardPlan dated 7 January 2019.

Anextract fromanyForwardPlan publishedbetween the date of despatchof the agenda and the date of the meetingwill be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whetheritwishes to enquireinto any of the forthcoming decisions withinits portfolio.

78.1  The Committee considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions (copy appended to the signed minutes).

78.2  The Committee made comments in relation to the Forward Plan including those that follow. It:

·        Noted a letter received by Members regarding non-statutory services for adults’ advocacy and queried whether this should be scrutinised by the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC). The Chairman of HASC noted the Committee’s request and commented that the issue will come to the HASC Business Planning Group if it is a key decision. The Senior Advisor will enquire for the Committee.

·        Commented in relation to the Award of Contract for Integrated Child Psychology Service entry in the Forward Plan that the wording could be reversed to read ‘quality’ followed by ‘economically advantageous’ in order to reflect the importance of performance standards. The Senior Advisor will convey this feedback to the report author.

78.3  Resolved – That the Forward Plan be noted.

Members to mention any items which they believe to be of relevance to the business of the Select Committee, and suitable for scrutiny, e.g. raised with them by constituents, arising from central government initiatives etc.

If any member puts forward such an item, the Committee’s role at this meeting is just to assess, briefly, whether to refer the matter to its Business Planning Group (BPG) to consider in detail.

79.1  A Member commented that the Committee may wish to scrutinise the Whole Council Design project. The Senior Advisor explained the BPG previously requested a Member Day on this project and this is to be delivered in spring 2019. Following the Member Day the Business Planning Group will consider whether the project, or specific aspects of the project, should come to Committee for scrutiny.

To confirm the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2018, (for members of the Committee only).

80.1  Resolved – That the Part II minutes of the Performance and Finance Select Committee held on 22 November 2018 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 20 March 2019 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·        Annual Capita Review

·        Total Performance Monitor as at end of December 2018

·        Quarter 3 Capital Programme Performance Monitor report

·        Business Planning Group report

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 8 March 2019.

81.1  The Committee notes its next meeting will take place on 20 March 2019, commencing at 10.30am.