The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will receive for approval the Budget and Corporate Plan scrutiny report prior to its consideration by Cabinet on 8 February, 2011.

The Chair and Lead Officer presented for consideration the draft report arising from scrutiny of the Budget and Corporate Plan 2011.  Members were advised that positive feedback had been received, both from the Executive and senior management, in regard to the professionalism with which the process had been undertaken and the high degree of challenge which had been demonstrated. 

Discussion then turned to the report content and recommendations.  Whilst the majority of the Board were happy with the report, the Labour Councillors on the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board were concerned that some of the budget proposals did not fully support the areas of ‘raising aspiration’ and ‘reducing inequalities’ within the Corporate Plan.  They considered that some of the delivery plans in the budget had the potential to disadvantage both families and vulnerable people in Plymouth.  They believed that amendments to two of the recommendations, together with the inclusion of an additional recommendation, would enhance the scrutiny report and, if adopted, may help to alleviate many of the areas of disadvantage within this budget.  Councillor Wildy therefore proposed the following amendment with regard to recommendations to the Corporate Management Team –

The proposal, having been seconded by Councillor McDonald, was put to the vote and declared lost.  At Councillor Wildy’s request the vote was recorded as follows -

For:              Councillors McDonald and Wildy

Against:       Councillors Ball, Browne, James, Nicholson, Ricketts and Thompson

At the suggestion of the Board, a few minor amendments were then made to the main body of the report as follows –

Agreed the Budget and Corporate Plan Scrutiny Report 2011.

(Councillor Stevens was absent for the vote on the proposed amendment).

Members will scrutinise the Corporate Plan, Budget and associated documentation over the two day session.

Members of the Board undertook two days of comprehensive and detailed scrutiny of the Budget and Corporate Plan, hearing from Cabinet Members and senior officers with respect to  –

·               an overview of the City and Council vision

·               the new City priorities

·               revenue and capital spending plans to deliver those priorities whilst still achieving the required savings

·               key partnerships

The full report and recommendations relating to the Board’s scrutiny of the Budget and Corporate Plan for 2011/12 are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

The Chair and Board extended a further vote of thanks to all those who had contributed to the scrutiny process, Cabinet Members, officers and partners.

Agreed that the report and recommendations appended to these minutes be approved and forward to Cabinet for consideration.

(Councillors McDonald, Thompson, Stevens and Browne declared personal interests in respect of the above item).