9 SAVINGS OVERVIEW - PROGRESS REPORT ON REALISING SAVINGS SCHEMES PDF 142 KB
Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Ioan Thomas
Additional documents:
Decision:
The information in the report was
accepted, noting the progress towards realising the savings schemes for
2021/22, 2020/21 and previous years.
It was agreed to carry out reviews
on the unrealised savings schemes together with next year's schemes to ensure
that they are achievable or whether we need to look for alternative schemes.
It was noted that the impact of
Covid-19 had contributed to a slippage in the savings programme, as the Council
had prioritised protecting the health and lives of the people of Gwynedd in
which meant that the Council had been unable to continue with the performance
challenging and savings arrangements over the crisis period.
Minutes:
The report was presented by Cllr Ioan Thomas.
RESOLVED
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.
It was agreed to carry out reviews on
the unrealised savings schemes together with next year's
schemes to ensure that they are
achievable or whether we need to look for
alternative schemes.
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 had meant that it was not possible to continue with the performance challenging and savings arrangements
during the crisis period.
DISCUSSION
The report, which summarised
the situation with the Council's savings was submitted. It was explained that since 2015/16 £35m in savings had been approved to be realised between 2015/16 - 2021/22.
It was noted that by
now over £32.7 million had been realised, this was 94% of the required sum over
the period.
It was stated that in
January this year the savings schemes were reviewed
to assess which historic schemes were now unachievable,
and an amended
programme of savings was
drawn up for 2021/22 after steps were
taken to write off, for slippage
and the re-profiling of the
savings schemes.
It was explained that departments had focused on responding to the Covid crisis since
April 2020, and the impact had contributed to the slippage in the savings programme. It was stated that from the 2021/22 savings schemes, 42% had already been realised
and 22% were now on track
to deliver on time by the end of the financial year.
It was emphasised that it was inevitable that realising savings to the value of £32.7m since April 2015 had been challenging. It was stated that there
had been a delay with some of the savings schemes to the value of £1m, however, they were proceeding
but there was a need to discuss risks to deliver schemes to the value of
£0.9m.
Observations arising from the discussion:
¾
It was stated that Covid
had affected the Highways and Municipal Department and work was being
undertaken to look at future schemes. It was added that the department was continuing to pay for close
circuit equipment but there would
be savings once the cost
had been paid. In addition, it was explained that an external
study was being undertaken with the closure of the Cilgwyn Recycling Centre and
there were many possible plans
for the site.
¾ The need
was noted to carry out reviews on
the unrealised savings schemes together with next year's
schemes to ensure that they are
achievable or whether we need to look for
alternative schemes.
Awdur: Ffion Madog Evans