Cornwall Council budget proposals

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Cornwall Council budget proposals
Alex Folkes
Alex FolkesCabinet Member for Finance and
Resources
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The big picture
Last year we explained how the Council needed to
deliver savings of 196m for the period to
2018/19. This reflected both cost pressures and
reductions in funding.
Since that time we have received further
Government funding announcements and identified
savings, which we are actively working to
deliver, totalling around 40m. However further
savings are required.
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Expenditure and income 2014/15
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Funding gap 2015/16 2018/19

The estimated profile of future savings is
68m
31m
31m
26m
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
To make the situation even more difficult, much
of these savings have to be made up front -
meaning that at least 68m has to be found in the
first year (2015/16).
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What we have done already
Campaign to secure local decision making on the
use of the next round of EU funding
Improving the transport network by securing
funding to upgrade the A30 and undertake works on
the A38
Retained our AA credit rating meaning access to
lowest borrowing rates and preferred partner
status for a range of projects
New agreement with staff along with a
restructuring of senior management has led to
significant savings
Making a successful case to Government for
investment in our rail network (upgraded sleeper
service, improved traincare depot and modernised
signalling)
Government agreement for a Public Service
Obligation funding our air link with London
Cut the cost of consultancy and agency staff by
59
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Budget proposals - internal costs
Informing our budget proposals, Cabinet members
have sought to protect frontline services through
improved efficiencies and effectiveness of the
Councils own workings and processes

• Pay
• Premises
• Procurement

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Budget proposals - new ways of working
Informing our budget proposals, Cabinet members
have sought to protect frontline services through
alternative delivery models
Being more efficient
Income generation
Co-operation and partnerships
Delivering services throughprivate organisations
Town and Parish Councils
Voluntary sector commissioning
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Budget proposals
Front line reductions52m (33)
This has provided for the vast majority of our
current budget proposals
Income / commercialisation27m (18)
Unfortunately frontline services will be affected
- but we have sought to protect those services
that we consider most important.
To be identified13m (8)
Corporate savings and other efficiencies64m
(41)
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Protected areas
Using information gathered during the
consultations last year and the views of all
members, we identified a set of priorities. These
highlighted the areas which were considered to be
the most important to protect.     Howe
ver as a consequence other frontline services
will have to bear the burden of this policy.
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Council tax

• Council tax was raised for the first time in four
  years in April 2014
• Our current budget proposals included a 1.97
  increase per annum across each of the four years
• Based upon a Band D Property a 1.97 Council Tax
  increase in 2015/16 would result in a 48p per
  week increase
• Current Government policy means that an increase
  of 2 or greater would have to be subject to a
  public referendum
• A 6 increase would raise 9.063m extra in
  2015/16
• The Council has a scheme to support those who can
  not afford to pay their Council Tax
• Do you support our proposals for a further 1.97
  increase?
• Should we explore putting up Council Tax by more
  than 2?

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Over to you
www.cornwall.gov.uk/cornwallbudget
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Feedback from all the budget engagement events,
together with recommendations from the Councils
Portfolio Advisory Committees, will be considered
as part of the Cabinets deliberations on the
final budget proposals. If you would like a copy
of the budget engagement summary please make sure
your email address is on our sign in sheet
www.cornwall.gov.uk/cornwallbudget
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Thank you for joining us If you have a comment or
suggestion that you would like to let us know
after today, you can email us onhaveyoursay_at_corn
wall.gov.uk or you can complete the online
comment form on our website www.cornwall.gov.uk
www.cornwall.gov.uk/cornwallbudget