At work
Finance Meeting 26 Jan 2010
Cambs County Finance Planning Cabinet Meeting 26 Jan 2010
Below is what was sent to Cambridge County staff in a daily briefing:-
Challenging financial climate: proposed budget for 2010/11
Employees at Cambridge County Council will be aware that public services are facing the most challenging financial climate for decades. This is the stark backdrop to the County Council s budget for 2010-11, with the Council needing to become leaner to deal with a 20% cut in its spending power over the next five years. The Council will need to find funds to meet £48m of inflation pressures and £55m of demand pressures - as well as cope with a reduction in Government funding of £2m. To stave off the worst effects of the funding pressures and protect essential services, a 3% council tax increase for 2010/11 is proposed.
Even with the proposed increase, the council tax bill for County Council services in Cambridgeshire would still be among the lowest in the country. Along with more efficiencies, changes in the way services are delivered are proposed to:
> Create a leaner council which targets services to those who need them most
> Support communities and focus on residents priorities
> Transform services to make them more efficient
Investment Proposals include continued commitments to prioritise essential services education, social care for adults and children, and highways.
Additional investment includes a £3 million potholes and road maintenance pot, created to deal with the worst effect of the extreme winter weather this year, with the money to be spent over a three-year period. There is also £16 million to fund extra primary school places.
As the Council becomes leaner over the next five years, it is anticipated that the size of the workforce would reduce by around 300 posts by 2012/13. But with natural turnover due to retirements and people moving to other jobs, tighter recruitment controls, managed redeployment etc., the number of actual redundancies is projected to be far less than this figure. Formal consultation processes will be followed as detailed plans in relation to workforce changes are developed.
Community and Adult Services. In adults social care, services are being redesigned to focus on prevention and early intervention, which prevents older and vulnerable people needing more costly complex support. Changes in the way rehabilitation is provided to new clients are proposed. Resources have also been allocated to deal with the challenging underlying pressures in older people's services, helping meet savings targets and the shift toward prevention.
Options will be considered for transforming the way library services are delivered, including exploring a regional approach to back office services (e.g. book buying and IT), and exploring the benefits of Trust status. Some cuts and changes will be made to current services, for example, mobile library visits would be less frequent.
Children and Young People> s Services. A fundamental redesign of services, with greater emphasis on those most in need, has taken place. Key elements are a commitment to the most vulnerable children; retaining safeguarding as a priority; a reduction in back office and management costs and increased focus on services to prevent the need for social care crisis intervention.
Environment Services. There will be big savings - from making more economical use of road materials, smarter working practices and changes to working structures.
Corporate Directorates. Cutting red tape and bureaucracy is at the heart of proposals as the Council becomes leaner.
Reducing support services and overheads at the corporate centre through making better use of IT, reducing business miles, better contract management and driving down the cost of bought in goods and services.
Cllr Jill Tuck, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: " Dealing with those longer term pressures, painful though they are, is at the heart of our budget plans and is one of the most challenging tasks we have ever had to undertake. " But the net result is a budget proposal which ensures services are targeted toward the most vulnerable, is guided by residents> ' priorities, and will make the council leaner by reducing bureaucracy. "
What now?
The Cabinet meets to consider budget proposals for 2010/11 on Tuesday 26 January.
Cabinet papers can be read here & here
Full Council meets to debate and approve the budget on 16 February. Service specific briefings are being planned by Directors.
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