Agenda item

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. 

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 to anyone that the adults' department had not achieved savings this year. It was stated that the signs of cuts over ten years could now be clearly seen.

¾  It was noted that alternative schemes were to be seen to savings of the Highways and Municipal Department, but the department was assessing the way forward.  It was stated that the saving was one thing; however, the sum would be different. 

¾  It was stated that it was difficult to believe that cuts were being made in the middle of a pandemic. The importance of protecting services and the public was stated. It was stressed, with the second wave on the way that this would not be the end of the savings and it was asked when this would stop. 

¾  It was highlighted that the past six months had shown the importance of having Council staff stepping in to fill the gaps and it was necessary to stabilise the situation further, not to make more savings.