10 SAVINGS OVERVIEW : PROGRESS REPORT ON REALISING SAVING SCHEMES PDF 356 KB
Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Ioan Thomas
Additional documents:
Decision:
¾ To accept the information in the
report and to note the progress towards realising the savings schemes for 2020/21,
2019/20 and previous years.
¾
To
approve the alternative plans outlined in Section 6 and Appendix 5 to replace
the historic schemes that cannot be delivered.
¾
It
was noted that the impact of Covid-19 has contributed to a slippage in the
savings programme, as the Council has given the utmost priority to safeguarding
the health and lives of the people of Gwynedd in response to the crisis, which
means that it was not possible to continue with the performance challenging and
savings arrangements during the crisis period.
¾
To
support the intention of the Chief Executive and Head of Finance Department to
meet with each Cabinet Member and their Head of Department, to discuss how it
will be possible to resume the procedure of delivering the proposed savings, so
that the Council can proceed with a proportion of the savings programme,
despite the crisis.
Minutes:
The report was presented by Cllr. Ioan Thomas
DECISION
·
The information in the report was accepted and the progress towards
realising the savings schemes for 2020/21, 2019/20 and previous years was
noted.
·
The alternative plans outlined in Section 6 and Appendix 5 to replace
the historic schemes that could not be delivered were approved.
·
It was noted that the impact of Covid-19 had contributed to a slippage
in the savings programme, as the Council had given the utmost priority to
safeguarding the health and lives of the people of Gwynedd in response to the
crisis, which meant that it was not possible to continue with the performance
challenging and savings arrangements during the crisis period.
·
The intention of the Chief Executive and Head of Finance Department to
meet with each Cabinet Member and their Heads of Department to discuss how it
would be possible to re-grasp the procedure of delivering the proposed savings,
so that the Council was able to proceed with a proportion of the savings
programme, despite the crisis, was supported.
DISCUSSION
The
report, which summarised the situation with the Council's savings was submitted.
It was stated that since 2015/16, the Council had approved £36m of savings. It
was noted this year that departments had focused on responding to the crisis
and the impact of Covid-19 had contributed to the slippage in the savings
programme. In addition, it was noted
that priority had been given to safeguarding the health and lives of the people
of Gwynedd that meant that it was not possible to continue with the performance
challenging and savings arrangements over this period.
It
was stated that realising savings was getting difficult, with further
indications of difficulties to realise savings in certain fields. Attention was
drawn to appendix 1, indicating that 98% of further savings in 2015/16 to
2018/19 had been achieved. The schemes
with the highest risk were highlighted, including 'End to End' by the Children
and Supporting Families Department.
It
was noted that 76% of savings in 2019/20 had by now been achieved and the main
delivery risks on schemes within the Adults Department, Environment together
with the Children's Department. Looking at this year, it was stated that 16%
had already been realised, and 34% were on track to be realised on time by the
end of the financial year. It was emphasised that some schemes by the Highways
and Municipal Department and the Housing and Property Department acknowledged
that it was not possible for some schemes to be realised and alternative
schemes are proposed.
It
was stated that realising over £30m of savings since April 2015 had been
challenging. It was added that the department had already anticipated a problem
with achieving savings, a corporate provision was provided for the purpose in
the 2020/21 budget, to mitigate the situation. It was stated that there was now
a need to re-grasp the procedure of delivering savings, despite the crisis.
Observations
arising from the discussion
¾ It was expressed that it was not a shock ... view the full minutes text for item 10
Awdur: Ffion Madog Evans