Part 1 –
Further Savings
To submit
the report of the (Acting) Head of Regulatory Department (attached).
Part 2 –
Further Savings – Pest Control
To submit
the report of the Senior Corporate Property Manager (attached).
Minutes:
Members
of the Communities Scrutiny Committee were welcomed to the meeting to
joint-scrutinise this item with members of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.
(A) Part 1 - Further Savings
Submitted – the report of the Acting Head of Regulatory
Department asking the scrutiny committee to scrutinise the savings plans
referred by the Cabinet for further work by the scrutinisers, namely two plans
relating to reducing the Public Protection budgets and a plan relating to
reducing the budget for advertising planning applications.
The Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was
invited to say a few words before the Acting Head of Regulatory Department
outlined the content of the report.
The members were given the opportunity to question the
Cabinet Member and officers and submit observations. During the discussion:-
·
Support was expressed to
supporting the Council's staff and empowering them.
·
Disappointment was
expressed in terms of looking at the savings from the perspective of the people
of Gwynedd rather than from the Council's perspective.
·
It was noted that
collaboration could possibly be easier from now on.
·
The members noted a risk in
relation to charging fees as details did not currently exist.
·
It was noted that it had
been beneficial to scrutinise the report jointly between both committees.
The Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was
invited to summarise before the Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee
closed the discussion.
RESOLVED
(a) To accept the information in the report, including what had been
achieved regarding the savings to date.
(b) To recommend to the Cabinet that the Department proceeds to meet a
saving of £278,440 by implementing an alternative scheme that will focus on
raising income, changing structure and reducing the risks that prevent approved
savings from being realised.
(c) That the department reports to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on
the progress of all savings and cuts along with robust figures to commit to
them in terms of the alternative scheme in 9 months' time.
(B) Part 2 - Further Savings
- Pest Control
Submitted - the report of the Senior Corporate
Property Manager updating members on possible options for the provision of the Pest
Control and Dog Warden Service in the future and asking them to scrutinise the
options proposed to close the current financial deficit.
The Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was
invited to say a few words before the Senior Corporate Property Manager
outlined the content of the report.
The members were given the opportunity to question the
Cabinet Member and officers and submit observations. During the discussion:-
·
Support was expressed to
the alternative way of delivering the savings / cuts and for the innovation
shown.
·
The development to run the
service as a self-sufficient business was welcomed.
·
Emphasis was placed on the
need for the marketing work to be done as soon as possible to increase the
service's level of use (particularly in Arfon).
·
The risk of increasing the
cost excessively (risk that people would take their business elsewhere) was
noted; however, a level of 10% below the market was welcomed.
·
It was also emphasised that
the service's reputation needed to be maintained, and continue to ensure that
the service was swift and effective.
·
The guarantee of having a
same-day service for vulnerable clients, e.g. homes for the elderly, was
welcomed.
·
The risk posed by the
abolishment of the service was noted - as a lot of the work was internal, it
could lead to private companies charging very high prices, and in turn, this
would write off any savings.
·
The fact that the same
price would be charged to clients across the county was welcomed.
·
The need to ensure a swift
payment method for the service, and the development of that method, was
noted.
·
It was noted that there
were often negative messages in the press and that this presented an
opportunity to take pride in meeting the savings that have to be realised in a
much more innovative way.
The Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was
invited to summarise before the Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee
closed the discussion.
RESOLVED
(a) To recommend to the Cabinet
that it realises the steps suggested in part 3 and 4 of the report with the aim
of realising an increase in income of approximately £40,000 per annum, rather
than abolish the Pest Control Service in its entirety.
(b) To ask the service to report
back to the Communities Scrutiny Committee within a year.
Supporting documents: