Full council to debate budget proposals this week

This coming Wednesday sees the full council debate and vote on the 2013/14 budget proposals.

It’s been usual over the last seven years for Labour Councillor Geoff Lumley to submit an alternative budget, but not this year.

Lumley: “Let our election manifesto do the talking”
Cllr Lumley told OnTheWight, “Given that we have elections in May and given that the Conservatives will as ever steamroller through their own proposals with little regard to other alternatives, I have decided to let our election manifesto do the talking this year regarding what Labour offers on the Island.

“That manifesto will be out in the latter half of next month just in time for the main Council election campaign. In the meantime I will be opposing the Conservative budget proposals at Full Council as a further manifestation of the national coalition government’s failed austerity programme.”

Lumley: “I would probably be thrown out”
Cllr Lumley also remarked tongue in cheek, “Given the way I am treated by the leadership at County Hall these days, if I did put an alternative budget in I would probably be thrown out of the meeting before I could propose it.

“When all is said and done, last year I secured the support of all opposition councillors for my alternative, which is about as good as you can get on this Council. Next year I am sure a Labour alternative will be back.”

Alternative savings from Independent Group
In previous years, the Independent Group of councillors have also submitted alternative budgets

Cllr Chris Welsford, on behalf of the Independent Group of councillors told OnTheWight, “We have been working for the last few months on alternative savings, discussing with residents and stakeholders a list of priorities that we feel will better serve the Island than proposals made by the Conservative ruling group.

“In previous years we have presented our alternative budget, balanced and lawful and approved by the Section 151 Officer. Whilst working on these budget proposals we have known that there was never any prospect of this budget alternative being adopted by the Isle of Wight Council, despite their innovative and fresh approach.

“The herd mentality of the Conservative Ruling Group and their party political stance meant it was doomed from the start. In the past they have adopted some of our ideas in isolation and they have done so without regard to the underlying principles of community regeneration and a more caring approach which recognises that the Council is there to serve the community and not the other way round.”

Welsford: “Massive reinvestment in front line services”
Cllr Welsford went on to say, “The previous Independent Alternative Budget proposals have proven that individuals with a love of the Island and a commitment to residents and businesses can work collectively towards a better future.

“This year we have once again developed a full budget proposal that includes nearly £11m of savings and enables massive reinvestment in front line services and the restoration of many of the public facilities lost over the last four years, as a consequence of this Council’s over zealous deficit reduction policies. Those policies have ultimately led to our Child Protection Services being being judged inadequate across the board; our schools producing some of the worst results in the country and our tourism and economic infrastructure being neglected.

“We have witnessed other counties with similar financial problems to our own develop their services, whilst supporting their community, both young and old. Whilst we have suffered they have thrived.
With elections fast approaching we will be releasing the details of our budget proposals in April as policies that will endeavour to provide a root and branch review of all aspects of the Council’s structure, role and delivery of statutory and discretionary services, with a view to making significant investment in those areas that have been so badly neglected over the last few years.”

Agenda items to be discussed
The agenda item to be considered on Wednesday reads,

Recommends to Council that it also considers all of the above when making its decisions.
(b) Considered the overall financial and budget position facing the Council in 2013/14 and future years and agreed to recommend to Council on 27 February 2013 an overall budget and Council Tax strategy and in particular:

(i) The updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report;
(ii) The overall Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 7A to the Cabinet report;
(iii) The Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy, Borrowing Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix 7B to the Cabinet report;
(iv) Acceptance of the Council Tax Freeze Grant and consequent setting of the Isle of Wight Council element of council tax for 2013/14 at the same level as for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13;
(v) The schedule of savings set out in Appendix 6 to the Cabinet report;
(vi) The allocation of £100k from the net savings in 2012/13 as a reserve to support the implementation of the post-Ofsted Improvement Plan for Children’s Safeguarding;
(vii) Confirms that General Fund balances should not be used for any element of recurring expenditure in 2013/14 due to the future financial challenges the Council faces;
(viii) Agrees to the deletion of the post of Chief Executive with effect from 31 March 2013 and the appointment of the Strategic Director of Resources as Acting Head of Paid Service and Chief Officer with effect from 1 April 2013 until such time as new senior management arrangements are agreed for implementation through decisions made by Annual Council on 15 May 2013;
(ix) Agrees that the Head of Financial Management is appointed as Section 151 Officer for the period referred to in (viii) above, after which time it will revert to the Strategic Director of Resources;
(x) Agrees that the Deputy Director of Resources (Corporate Governance) and Monitoring Officer is appointed to act as Returning Officer for the Local Elections in May 2013 and is authorised to agree fees and charges for election staff (as recommended by the Joint Working Party of Chief Executives and District Secretaries throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight) and to fulfil the role of Electoral Registration Officer for the Isle of Wight (for the period referred to in (viii) above) and is permitted to appoint Deputies to act on all matters relating to Electoral Registration as considered appropriate.
(xi) That officer’s work up initial options for dealing with the significant budget gaps projected for 2014/15 and that these are included in a Budget Review report to Cabinet in July 2013, followed by a further report to Council in September 2013.
(c) Recommends to Council, in the event that all precepts are not notified by the time of the Council meeting on 27 February 2013 that they agree to set up a Council Tax Setting Committee with the delegated authority to consider and approve the overall budget requirement and level of Council Tax for 2013/14 being that element agreed by Council for the Isle of Wight Council for 2013/14 plus the notified police precept plus the notified Parish and Town Council precepts.
The report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources as submitted to the Cabinet on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 is attached at Paper B.