The panel to review the recommendations from budget scrutiny.

The panel noted the recommendations from Budget Scrutiny, in particular recommendation 25.

Agreed that an action plan addressing the revised approach to health inequalities across the city is brought to the Caring Scrutiny panel within six months by the incoming Director of Public Health.

Councillor James (Chair of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board) has been invited to attend Cabinet to present the recommendations in the scrutiny report on Delivering the Co-operative Vision within a three year sustainable balanced budget.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit a report on the recommendations which came from this review.   

Councillor James (Chair of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board) attended the meeting and presented the recommendations in the scrutiny report, Budget Scrutiny 2014 -15, following the scrutiny of the delivery of the co-operative vision within a three year sustainable balanced budget.  In particular he highlighted areas of concern by the Board which formed the basis of the recommendations in the report. He also thanked Cabinet Members for their presentations and responses to the challenge from the Board during the scrutiny sessions, which were held over three days.      

Giles Perritt (Head of Policy, Performance and Partnerships) also attended the meeting for this item.

Councillor Evans (Council Leader) proposed the response to the recommendations as detailed in the report of Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) and thanked Councillor James for his chairmanship of the Board meetings and the conduct of the scrutiny sessions.  

With regard to comments in relation to transformation, he indicated that assurances could not be given at this stage on precise costs and benefits but that the alternative of cutting front line services was not acceptable to the current administration. If councillors were unwilling to support the transformation programme at the City Council meeting on 24 February 2014, he would want to see alternative proposals presented for a three year balanced budget.  

Councillor James responded that scrutiny were willing to support Cabinet and wanted to support the transformation programme however it was the role of the Board to monitor the delivery of the work programme.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed -