Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a Report of the Chamberlain concerning the Savings Tracker for the Target Operating Model (TOM).

The Chair requested that an additional column is inserted in the table to indicate when departments are due to present their Reports to Establishment Committee (i.e. October, November (special meeting) or January 2022).

A Member sought clarification about the exact savings target for the Department of Community and Children’s Services. The Chamberlain would respond to the Member after the meeting.

Responding to a Member, the Chair agreed that the deep dive due at the October Establishment Committee meeting would be very important to ascertain where we stood in relation to the run rate for savings.

In response to a Member raising concerns about the outlook for securing permanent savings, the Chamberlain reiterated that the 12% overall savings target was a permanent reduction. The challenge across this financial year was that many departments were reliant on achieving savings through reductions in staff costs; however, given the impact of the pandemic, full implementation of the Target Operating Model had been delayed. The likely consequence of this delay is that, whilst progress was being made on the run-rate, a greater proportion of 2021/22 savings will be made up of short term, one-off cost reductions than originally anticipated; with permanent savings now likelier to be achieved in 2022/23.

Responding to a Member, the Chair agreed that, in addition to a deep dive on savings, a separate focus at the October Establishment Committee should be a stock take on the delivery and current effectiveness of the organisational design principles.

In addition, the Chair confirmed that the January meeting of the Committee would be TOM focused.

RESOLVED – that the Committee noted the Report.