Budget proposals to be discussed
A plan setting out how Shropshire Council proposes to make the best use of its funds and resources up until 2017, as it redesigns everything it does, will be considered by councillors this week.
The Draft Council Business Plan and Financial Strategy for 2014/15 to 2016/17, which proposes what Shropshire Council’s budget will be spent on over the next three years, will be discussed at a meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday (19 February 2014), before going to full Council at the end of the month.
It was given the backing of scrutiny councillors last week, who were invited to challenge the plans, and the public have also shared their views on the proposals.
The plan includes savings proposals to address a funding gap of £80 million over the next three years out of the overall annual budget of almost £600 million, and plans for new schemes and projects such as the potential development of a university for Shropshire and supported living services for adults with learning disabilities.
The report to Cabinet also asks councillors to agree to accept the Government’s Council Tax Freeze Grant for 2014/15, on the basis that Shropshire Council’s element of the council tax will be frozen for 2014/15, for the fifth year running.
Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:
“In our manifesto last May we set out our commitment to fundamentally changing the way the council works. We outlined the need to think and work differently to respond to the financial challenges facing us and all public services.
“The draft business plan and financial strategy is the development of this approach to reinventing how we work across the council – to make the most of the money available, focusing on our customers.
“We have to do everything we can to minimise the impact of spending cuts, which includes supporting our communities by freezing council tax again.
“Shropshire residents deserve the best their council can give them, and we owe it to the people of Shropshire to ensure we give them a truly efficient council, that meets their needs, and offers real value for money.
“This involves looking at everything we do; for example, we are reducing bureaucracy and streamlining processes, and Shropshire is the lowest-paying councils, among unitary and county councils across England, for senior pay.
“We recognise that there is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach. In developing new ways of working ,such as the creation of our wholly-owned company ip&e, we can create benefits for our residents, including public profit which will be invested back into Shropshire, and be in a strong position to approach any future challenges.”
Councillor Barrow added that the plan had been developed following the May 2013 manifesto, and further refined after listening to views on the proposals and ideas on how services could run more efficiently.
He said:
“Cabinet received the first draft of the Business Plan and Financial Strategy in November 2013. Since that date significant work has been undertaken to improve the document, to provide more details of our plans, to reflect the latest financial position, and to refine our vision for the future.
“We have held public events to discuss the financial challenge faced by public services, and the document has been available on the council’s website for consideration and comments. Through the council’s scrutiny process and a series of Rapid Action Groups, it has also been open to robust review by all members of the council.
“Following the meeting of full Council, the document will continue to be updated and refreshed, with the input of people across Shropshire; and more specific consultation will be undertaken, as more detail is added to individual proposals and redesign work develops further.”
