Decision details

Considertion was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Services, as contained on pages 381 to 386 of the Book of Reports, which presented savings and efficiency options for approval prior to the 2025/26 budget setting.

A Motion to move the recommendations at paragraph 2 of the report, were moved and seconded.

An Amendment, circulated prior to the meeting, was moved and seconded.:

A vote was taken, the Amendment was LOST.

A vote was taken on the Motion, which at the request of a Member, was recorded as follows:

FOR:            Councillors Abbott, Aldridge, Anderson, Burnside, Coughlan, Cummins, Devine, Dowling, Fennell, Fillis, Finch, Fowler, Gagen, N Hennessy, P Hennessy, Lawton, Molloy, Nixon, Owen, Parlour, Patel, Pryce-Roberts and West (TWENTY THREE)

AGAINST:     Councillors Bailey, Blundell, Eccles, de Freitas, Furey, Gordon, Hesketh, Hogan, Howard, Ingman, Juckes, Lloyd, Marshall, Mee, Owens, Pope, Rigby, Webster, D Westley, Mrs Westley, Whittington and Witter (TWENTY TWO)

ABSTENTIONS: (NONE)

The Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

A.     That the current MTFS position be noted.

B.     That the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources be given delegated authority to take all necessary steps to implement the savings identified in:

Appendix A:

(i)        Reduce agency staff usage in Planning

(ii)       Review of Skelmersdale Town Centre Management Cost Budgets

(iii)     Amend HROD salary budget to reflect establishment

(iv)     Adjust DFG admin fee income budget to reflect the size of the grant

(v)       Remove water coolers

(vi)     Disestablish vacant 0.2fte post in Creditors

(vii)    Reduce Creditors overtime budget

(viii)  Reduce Customer Services overtime & agency budgets

(ix)     Reduce benefits team overtime budget

(x)       Reduce council tax and NNDR team overtime budget

 Table 1:

(i)    Terminate Public Realm agreement

(ii)   Review of HROD team 

(iii) Review of Communications & Engagement                      

(iv) Review of Legal & Democratic Services

C.     That the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources be given delegated authority to take all necessary steps (including the procurement of external support) to identify projected savings and efficiency proposals detailed in Section 4 and table 2 of the report set out below, following which a further report be brought back to full Council for determination:

Table 2:

(i)        Increase pest control charges

(ii)       Increase bulky waste collection charges

(iii)     Review of Public Toilets Management

(iv)     Review of the Ranger Service

(v)       Review of car parking

(vi)     Review of Leisure Services

(vii)    Community Safety Review

(viii)  Review of Building Control

(ix)     Removal of Mayoral civic duties