Agenda item

Joint Report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces.

Members were updated on the latest approved revenue budget for 2014/15 and were asked for approval of a provisional revenue budget for 2015/16, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee. The budgets were prepared within the resources allocated to the Director.

Overall the provisional Original budget for 2015/16 totalled £1.897M, which was an increase of £79,000 when compared with the latest approved budget for 2014/15.

In response to a query regarding the on-street parking reserve Members noted that with many new schemes came the ability to apply for funding to cover establishment costs, formerly for five, now twenty years. As there were a number of these schemes open at any one time, funded from different sources, Officers apply to the Chamberlain in arrears for establishment costs expended during the year. The sum applied for varies slightly from year to year as older schemes drop off and new ones are taken on board. It was not possible to show a projected figure for future years as this funding does not appear as expected income in my local risk budget, but was instead adjusted by the Chamberlain at outturn.

Resolved:

·       Members reviewed the provisional 2015/16 revenue budget to ensure that it reflected the Committee’s objectives and, approved the budget for submission to the Finance Committee;

·       Members approved the draft Capital Budget;

·       Members authorised the Chamberlain, in consultation with the Director of Open Spaces, to revise the budgets allowing for any further implications that would arise from Corporate Projects, departmental reorganisations and other reviews, and changes to the Additional Works Programme. Members agreed that works over £50,000 would need to be considered by the Committee;

·       Members agreed that if specific service based review proposals included with this budget report are rejected by the Committee, or other Committees request that further proposals are pursued, that the substitution of other suitable proposals for a corresponding amount will be delegated to the Town Clerk in discussion with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the relevant Committee. If the substituted saving is not considered to be straight forward in nature, then the Town Clerk shall also consult the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee prior to approval of alternative proposal(s)