Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a Report of the Chamberlain concerning budget estimates and the high-level summary Business Plan.

The Chamberlain opened the discussion by remarking that officers had responded to a Member request to present details of the revenue budget alongside the high-level departmental business plans. For the first time, this Report brought both these aspects together. The Chairman welcomed the Report but asked that, after taking into account any one-off factors, next year’s iteration includes more narrative about the underlying changes in the budget. The Deputy Chairman also encouraged officers to incorporate more narrative on the capital requirements.

A Member highlighted some of the feedback from the staff survey, namely, the 27% of respondents who believe that the Corporation handled change well, and the 24% of respondents who believe that the staff survey responses will be taken seriously. The Chamberlain responded that, whilst there was room for improvement, the context should be kept in mind; as thoughts turned to the Fundamental Review, morale, across the organisation had been dented.  It was anticipated that with the FR process maturing alongside an increase to internal communications, morale and confidence across the workforce would improve. The Chamberlain asked Members to hold fire for now and review the feedback after the next survey in 2021.

In response to a Member asking about the rate of depreciation of the Old Bailey complex, the Chamberlain responded that this was directly due to the increased amount (£884,000) of net expenditure being allocated for repairs and maintenance.      

A Member asked whether, given the Corporation’s continued commitment to driving efficiencies, BHE should also be subject to efficiency targets. The Chairman responded that Members and officers should tread carefully given the charitable aims of BHE. There was scope, however, to look at whether efficiencies could be found in the CGU as part of the BHE Strategic Review, due to conclude in summer 2020.

The Chamberlain added that he was confident that the material one-offs will not recur to the same extent in FY 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That the Committee approved the following:

i) review and approve the Finance Committee operational services proposed revenue budget for 2020/21 of £70.270m as set out in table 1;

ii) note the approved capital and supplementary revenue projects budgets for 2020/21 (appendix 6);

iii) 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;

iv) agree that minor amendments for 2019/20 and 2020/21 budgets arising during budget setting be delegated to the Chamberlain;

v) note the factors taken into consideration in compiling the Chamberlain's Department’s Business Plan, including efficiency measures; and

vi) approve, subject to the incorporation of any changes sought by this Committee, the final high-level summary Business Plan of the Chamberlain’s Department for 2020/21 detailed in appendix 7.