A.52/18
Members considered a report that presented the
Committee with the draft Budget Book for 2019/20.
In discussion, reference was made to:-
(a)
the proposal to ‘note’ the
report. Some Members expressed their
dislike at reports being presented for just noting purposes and an
alternative motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED whereby the contents of the draft Budget Book for
2019/20 should be ‘supported’;
(b)
the presentation of the Budget Book. Whilst acknowledging that the current format of
the Budget Book had been produced in consultation with Members, the
Committee felt that it would be appropriate for it to be reviewed
again by the new Council following the upcoming local
elections. To support this view,
officers reminded the Committee that the Chief Executive had been
tasked with reviewing the Council’s senior management
structure and this would inevitably have an impact on the Budget
Book. However, this was also likely to
make direct Budget comparisons with previous financial years
difficult;
(c)
an additional Member Briefing. In response to some specific detailed questions
relating to the Budget Book and the Budget of West Devon Borough
Council, it was PROPOSED and SECONDED that an additional all Member Briefing be convened
to take place at 2.00pm on Thursday, 28 March 2019 to:
1.
enable Members the opportunity for a detailed
analysis of the Draft Budget Book for 2019/20; and
2.
provide Members with an overview of the West Devon
Borough Council Budget position.
When put to the vote, this additional proposal was declared
CARRIED and, in advance of this session, the
Committee also requested that all Members be sent copies
of:
-
the draft 2019 Budget Book;
-
the West Devon Borough Council Budget Book for the
2018/19 and 2019/20 Financial Years; and
-
a copy of the published report and appendix
entitled: ‘Commercial Investment Property – Update and
Monitoring Report’, that was due to be considered at the West
Devon Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, 26 March 2019;
(d)
Case Management. In
light of some confusion still existing amongst the membership over
the Case Management function, the Committee welcomed the fact that
this would be addressed as part of the Member Induction Programme
in May 2019.
It was
then:
RESOLVED
1.
That the contents of the draft Budget Book for
2019/20 be supported; and
2.
That an additional all Member Briefing be convened
to take place at 2.00pm on Thursday, 28 March 2019 to:
a.
enable Members the opportunity for a detailed
analysis of the Draft Budget Book for 2019/20; and
b.
provide Members with an overview of the West Devon
Borough Council Budget position.