Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive that provided an update on the progress made at the end of March 2014 on the delivery of the 2013/14 to 2016/17 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP3) and provides a summary over the past three years of the MTFP savings made (for copy see file of minutes).

The Head of Policy and Communications reported that the MTFP4 had been agreed by Council and the overall savings target for the period from 2011/12 to 2016/17 was now estimated at around £224m.

Delivery of the MTFP programme continues to be very challenging, however the council has been able to continue to meet the savings targets set so far and the target for 2013/14 has now been fully delivered with a total of £20.87m being saved during that period. £113m of savings have now been made since April 2011 which equates to just over 50% of the savings target we estimate will be required by the end of 2017.

Councillor R Bell referred to the 2016/17 targets and asked if there was anything that could be done to ease the pressure on the council. The Head of Policy and Communications responded that there may be changes after the forthcoming general election but they would not be in a position plan anything until then so the austerity programme would continue.

Reverend Phipps commented that the council would not be able to make the same reductions in 2015/16 that had been made previously. The Chairman added that there would be further public consultations and even more difficult decisions would have to be made.

Councillor R Todd requested further information on where the cuts had been made and which services had been most affected. The Head of Policy and Communications would produce a summary to be included in a future report.

Councillor J Lethbridge expressed his concern that the Council could not continue to make cuts without performance been affected and services being reduced.

Councillor R Bell highlighted that redeployment figures were very positive. The Chairman agreed that redeployment had been managed effectively, he added that the Council’s assertive approach had been recognised by being shortlisted for a major industry award.

Councillor B Graham referred to the Equality Impact Assessment of changes to leisure centres and informed the Board that the new multi-sensory facilities at Spennymoor would be officially opened on the 25 June 2014. She suggested that a site visit be arranged through Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny for members to view the new state-of-the-art facility.

Resolved:

That the content of the report and the progress being made in delivering the MTFP be noted.