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Decision Maker: Civic Affairs
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To consider the process for scrutiny of the Council's budget
The Committee received a report from Head of Corporate Strategy
regarding the process for scrutiny of the council's budget.
Councillor O’Connell proposed an amendment to option A:
i.
That
the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and the Executive meet on 11
February 2019.
ii.
That
budget amendments to be considered at S&R Scrutiny Committee are submitted
by 1 February.
iii.
Budget
amendments consequential to Executive amendments made at the Executive meeting
are submitted to Council at least 4 days before the meeting.
With the permission of the Chair, Councillor Bick spoke to the
amendment:
iv.
Explained
that the amendment would afford opposition groups a similar timeframe to
produce budget amendments as under the current process.
v.
The
Liberal Democrat Group preferred option B to option A. Option A saved time
pressure on officers and ruling group members, at the expense of opposition
members.
vi.
Expressed
concern about the reduction in opportunity for scrutiny of the BSR set out in
the timeline in the Officer’s report.
vii.
Asked
that the amount of time available to amend the budget be reviewed.
Consideration of budget amendments could not start until the BSR was published.
a.
Opposition
Councillors had 4 weeks to consider amendments under the current 2018/19
arrangements.
b.
Option
A would give less than 3 weeks for budget amendments. This was a significant
change.
viii.
Asked
Civic Affairs to consider the amendment, which would move the proposed
Executive and Strategy & Resources Committee dates, plus amendment
submission dates.
The Committee was advised by the Chief Executive that the amendment was
workable, in terms of timings, from an officer perspective.
Councillor Robertson stated that the proposal looked reasonable and
could see why it would be reasonable to give opposition members adequate time
to produce budget amendments.
Councillor O’Connell sought clarification how revised submission dates
would be affected by Part 4C Budget and
Policy Framework Procedure Rules amendments set out on p130 of the
Officer’s report. The Democratic Services Manager stated that the re-wording of
Part 4C to accommodate the tabled amendment would be circulated to the
Committee prior to it being published for Council’s approval on 18 October.
The Committee unanimously
supported the amendment.
Unanimously resolved to recommend to
Council the changes to the Council’s budget and policy framework procedure
(part 4c) and Council Procedure Rules appendix 2 budget recommendations and amendments
(part 4a) as set out in Appendix A of the Officer’s report and as amended
below:
i.
That the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
and the Executive meet on 11 February 2019.
ii.
That budget amendments to be considered at S&R Scrutiny
Committee are submitted by 1 February.
iii.
Budget amendments consequential to Executive
amendments made at the Executive meeting are submitted to Council at least 4
days before the meeting.
Report author: Andrew Limb
Publication date: 06/11/2018
Date of decision: 10/10/2018
Decided at meeting: 10/10/2018 - Civic Affairs
Accompanying Documents: