Issue - meetings

Colleen Warren, Financial Services Manager:

a.    presented members with the process for scrutiny of the proposed budget and Council Tax for the 2023/24 financial year and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023-2028

b.    highlighted that it was proposed that the following governance arrangements should be in place for the Group;

·         The group would be made up of 9 non-Executive Members with a 6:2:1 proportionality share.

·         The Group would be a sub-group of the Performance Scrutiny Committee, although Members did not have to be Members of this Committee.

·         The Chair of the group would be the Chair of the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

·         The Group would be the main mechanism by which the Executive would formally consult scrutiny on the consideration of their budget proposals.

·         The meetings would be held in public and would be administered by Democratic Services.

·         Specific Portfolio Holders and Directors (or Assistant Directors) would be invited to attend the meetings of the group or be requested to provide written responses if so required.

·         Advice would be provided to the Group members by officers from the Council’s Financial Services Team.

·         The Chair of the Group shall be required to provide a report to the next full Performance Scrutiny Committee summarising the Groups findings and making recommendations to the Executive.

Members were asked to respond to Democratic Services to confirm member’s attendance for this group.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The objectives and governance arrangements of the Budget Review Group for 2023/24 as set out in paragraphs 3.3 – 3.4 be noted.

2.    The timetable for the Group as set out in paragraph 3.6 be noted.

3.    Nominations for membership of the Group from leaders of the respective political groups be notified to Democratic Services.