Agenda item

Further to Minute 5, Councillor David Renard, the Leader of the Council, attended the meeting to report to the Committee on  the Authority’s performance in the first half of the 2015/16 Municipal Year in progressing the Council’s priorities and targets, as outlined in his Annual presentation to the Committee at its June meeting.

Councillor Renard introduced his report, commenting on the Council’s achievements so far in 2015/16 and highlighting the challenges for the remainder of the year.

Following his presentation of the report, members were given the opportunity to put questions to the Leader of the Council. Issues raised by members included:

·        The timeframe for development of proposals based on the initial stage of the Community Governance Review and for consultation on those proposals.

·        The Wichelstowe joint venture and the income generation information included in the report.

o   The timeframe for the repayment of the debt incurred by the Council in providing the project infrastructure.

o   The timeframe for the parties’ agreement to the joint venture contractual arrangements and the scheduling of meetings of the associated Cabinet Member Advisory Group. 

·        The Council’s medium-term financial position and the statement in the report that £100m of savings had been delivered in the last five years.

o   The distinction to be made between savings on service provision cost and cuts to service provision.

·        The Council’s response to the changing fiscal landscape and the contention in the report that some functions currently delivered by the Council might be better provided by other means.

·        The level of savings that could be attributed to the Council no longer having to pay revenue subsidies, as a result of transferring service provision, and the level of private sector investment in services as a result of such transfers.

·        The Council’s annual subsidy of £450k in respect of Lydiard House and Park.

·        The student admissions and retention data for the University Technical College and measures that might be taken to promote the facility. 

·        The implications for the Council of the provision in the Government’s Autumn Statement 2015 that local authorities will have the power to increase adult social care funding through a new 2% council tax precept.

·        The process for initiating a Community Governance Review and the availability of guidance for Parish Councils on their power to conduct a referendum on any given issue.

·        Opportunities for cross-party working to deliver Vision priorities and pledges.                                                                  

·        The Swindon Museum and Art Gallery project and issues relating to the provision of a sustainable future for the Borough’s cultural and heritage treasures.

·        The dilapidated condition of a number of council-owned buildings and opportunities to avoid future maintenance costs and realise the value of such assets by encouraging community investment in the use, management and upkeep of such buildings.

·        Community engagement in the progression of Vision pledges.

·        The potential for the devolution of powers and responsibilities under the Combined Authorities proposals.

Resolved – (1) That Councillor Renard, the Leader of the Council, be thanked for his informative presentation of his half-year update report and for his full and open responses to members’ questions on the issues raised.

(2) That information requested by members during the course of the Committee’s consideration of this item be forwarded to members via the Committee Clerk (Appendix 1 refers).