Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a Report of the Chamberlain concerning the Chamberlain’s Departmental Budget Estimate.

The Chairman, noting that an element of confusion had emerged in recent weeks concerning the approval of budget envelopes, stressed that, whilst Service Committees should be informed of the size of their budget envelope, they were not there to approve (or reject) that envelope; their role was to prioritise and work within their envelope; this point needed to be emphasised in future years to avoid any further misunderstanding. However, on the whole, the Chairman welcomed the constructive and realistic approach that many Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Sub-Committees had taken during this budget round; he hoped that this attitude would endure in upcoming years as we continued to face up to the financial impact wrought by the pandemic.

In response to a query, the Chamberlain informed Members that the department’s salary costs were subject to the further implementation of the Target Operating Model, and a more accurate picture would emerge as the TOM matured later in 2021.

In response to a separate query, the Chamberlain assured Members that he was confident that the IT Division would continue to deliver to a high standard despite the cuts to its budget in 2021/22. He added that he was very proud of how the Team had stepped up during the pandemic. The Chairman responded that the investment made in recent years in IT had served us extremely well as we have faced the challenge of the pandemic.  

In addition, the Chairman noted the changes and potential changes prompted by the TOM and Lisvane would present a useful opportunity to take stock in terms of Member/Committee governance and reporting lines on IT; we were not at that point yet, but it would be something to examine later in 2021.

RESOLVED – that the Committee approved the following:

i) review and approve the Chamberlain’s Departmental proposed revenue budget for 2021/22 as set out in table 1 in the Report;

ii) review and approve the full operational budget (£62.676m) of the committee as set out in Appendix 1.

iii) note the approved capital and supplementary revenue projects budgets for 2021/22 (appendix 6);

iv) authorise the Chamberlain to revise these budgets to allow for any further implications arising from Corporate Projects, other reviews and changes to the Cyclical Works Programme;

v) agree that minor amendments for 2020/21 and 2021/22 budgets arising during budget setting be delegated to the Chamberlain.