Agenda item

To receive the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Strategic Director for Corporate Resources presented the report making the following points:

a)     the report was written in December 2025 before the settlement had been announced but a Briefing had been held the previous week therefore the position was slightly different to set that out in the report;

b)     for context the MTFP in February 2025 required a saving of £3.5m due to the business rate reset and change to the funding formula;

c)     in setting a proposed budget, assumptions were set out in the report and there was nothing different in services to the public just spending less or generating an income which wasn’t recognised in the budget which was comfortable from an officer position;

d)     Parks income showed additional £10,000. This was already being generated but not reflected in budget;

e)     the key message was that there was a balanced budget across the life of the Plan. There were pressures in the budget but the it remained balanced;

f)       based on known information there would be no requirement to find additional savings in the next financial year;

g)     a three-year settlement had been received and the third year provided funding for the whole of the county to be shared across whatever authorities were in place; and

h)     the Budget consultation had taken place, the raw data had been received and the team were analysing this in order to attach to the budget papers. There had been 58 responses to the consultation.

The Chair gave some context about the Parks and Green Spaces Team which she had visited along with other councillors and asked if it was possible to divert funds to this team.

The Strategic Director for Corporate Resources responded to Members’ questions in the following terms:

a)     the budget would be proposed and other individuals or groups could put forward an alternative budget or recommendations from this committee could be made to the Executive which would meet on 3 February;

b)     the Communities team were in discussion with Citizens Advice Exeter with regards to their needs for the next year;

c)     advised that with regard to a climate adaptation and resilience plan it was not known what this would cost but the committee could ask the Executive to consider what the impact of introducing this would be;

d)     officers now had a system to separate the property and community elements of assets. The community element would be led by the Communities Team and more defined process was now in place in terms of what a community would need to demonstrate and consider, and the property side would ben managed by the Commercial Assets Team. A community asset transfer would not always be required. There could be a small lease or a peppercorn rent agreed; and

e)     the Extended Responsibility Grant was used to fund the waste and recycling services as that was the expectation of DEFRA who managed the process.

The Chair set out the 4 recommendations of areas which could potentially be supported should funds be available:

1.             A peppercorn rent continues for Citizens Advice Exeter

2.             More resource is directed to the Parks and Green Spaces Team

3.             The Climate Action Plan is strengthened by adding an Adaptation and Resilience plan

4.             Support is strengthened for community asset transfer.

During discussion some Members’ felt that they would like to see the residents survey results before making recommendations.

The Strategic Director for Corporate Resources clarified the timing of budget scrutiny stating that at a June meeting officers could set the budget scene and the committee could look at the budget in light of the residents survey results, in November scrutiny could look at potential areas to make recommendations to the Executive and in February the budget, as set, could be scrutinised.

The Chair proposed, seconded by Councillor Payne, the recommendations set out above, which following a vote was CARRIED.

Recommended to the Executive Committee that:

1.             A peppercorn rent continues for Citizens Advice Exeter

2.             More resource is directed to the Parks and Green Spaces Team

3.             The Climate Action Plan is strengthened by adding an adaptation and resilience plan

4.             Support is strengthened for community asset transfer.