Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review report and the recommendations arising from the report

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To endorse the overall conclusions of the review

(2)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought in Democratic Services and Elections and approve the following recommendations to achieve savings of £124,803;

a.      Merge the Democratic Services and Elections teams to provide greater resilience and achieve further efficiencies

b.      Achieve the schedule of savings set out in Annex 1

(3)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought in Corporate Strategy, Performance and Partnerships and approve the following recommendations to achieve savings of £68,270;

a.      Delete the post of performance officer and restructure the team to accommodate the loss of this post, reallocating roles and responsibilities to reflect revised local priorities and changes in the national performance regime

b.      Reduce the budget for research and consultation, focusing the remaining resources on high priority areas and supporting in house consultation

c.      Change the operating arrangements for performance management software to scale back its costs and provide better value for money

(4)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought in Treasury Management and approve the following recommendations to achieve minimum savings of £30,000;

a.      Review the Council’s declining investment funds and allocate over two funds, rather than three.

b.   Ensure that this allocation is in place by 31 March 2011.

Approved

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review Corporate and Democratic Core report and the recommendations arising from the report.

Resolved

(1)               That the overall conclusions of the review be endorsed.

(2)               That it be agreed improvements in value for money be sought in Democratic Services and Elections and approve the following recommendations to achieve savings of £124,803;

a.      Merge the Democratic Services and Elections teams to provide greater resilience and achieve further efficiencies

b.      Achieve the schedule of savings (annex 9 to the minutes as set out in the minute book)

(3)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought in Corporate Strategy, Performance and Partnerships and approve the following recommendations to achieve savings of £68,270;

a.      Delete the post of Performance Officer and restructure the team to accommodate the loss of this post, reallocating roles and responsibilities to reflect revised local priorities and changes in the national performance regime

b.      Reduce the budget for research and consultation, focusing the remaining resources on high priority areas and supporting in house consultation

c.      Change the operating arrangements for performance management software to scale back its costs and provide better value for money

(4)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought in Treasury Management and approve the following recommendations to achieve minimum savings of £30,000;

a.      Review the Council’s declining investment funds and allocate over two funds, rather than three.

b.   Ensure that this allocation is in place by 31 March 2011.

Reasons

This review forms part of the Value for Money programme of reviews for 2010/11, which aims to cover all services within the council and improve the value of services offered to residents of Cherwell, and contributes to meeting the Council Promise of securing £800,000 of new savings by 1 April 2011.

Options

The report contains options for achieving efficiency and value for money.