Decision details

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Mace)

The Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval for revised arrangements for Star Chamber and individual Cabinet members in bringing forward both service improvement proposals and service efficiency/savings options to meet the targets included in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Corporate Plan.

The report set out proposals for reviewing priorities; value for money, efficiencies and savings, service improvements, revenue and capital growth, the format of Star Chamber, outstanding Star Chamber issues and a three year Efficiency and Improvement Plan.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1:- is to approve the proposals as set out in the report

Option 2:-  is to approve the proposals either in part, or as amended at the meeting

Option 3:- is to retain the present system and make no amendments to existing processes

Option 1 is the preferred officer option. It offers an improved process for assisting Cabinet in bringing forward its budget and policy framework proposals and would satisfy the recommendations from the recent CPA inspection judgement.

It was moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Kerr:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Members then voted as follows:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)               That the revised arrangements for Star Chamber, and individual Cabinet members, in bringing forward both service improvement proposals and service efficiency/savings options to meet the targets included in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Corporate Plan, be approved

(2)               That the amended Terms of Reference for Star Chamber as proposed in Appendix A be approved

(3)               That the revised timetable for Star Chamber as set out in Appendix B be approved

(4)               That the outstanding items from last year’s Star Chamber as set out in Appendix C be reviewed and those retained be progressed as proposed within the report.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Finance and Performance)

Head of Financial Services

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision to approve the proposals in the report offers an improved process for assisting Cabinet in bringing forward its budget and policy framework proposals and satisfies the recommendations from the recent CPA inspection judgement.