Agenda item

Note: A revised report and appendix was published prior to the meeting in the Supplementary Agenda:

(a)  That the plans being developed for the recovery and renewal of Slough Borough Council as set out in Appendix 1 be noted.

(b)  That the timelines set out in this report to achieve the ambitious timescales set out in the Council’s recovery and renewal plan be noted.

(c)  That the current plans for the Council’s recovery and renewal plan be referred to full Council on 23^rd September 2021. 

The Leader of the Council and the Section 151 Officer introduced a report that set out the current plans for the Council’s recovery and renewal towards a position of financial sustainability following the issuing of the s114 notice on 2^nd July 2021.

The Cabinet considered the revised version of the report and appendix issued by the Executive Board on 20^th September, as published in the Supplementary Agenda, which superseded the version of the report in the original agenda pack.  The Recovery and Renewal Plan would be referred to Council on 23^rd September 2021.

The report explained the approach that would be taken to address the severe financial challenges the Council faced.  The current figures indicated a current balance deficit in excess of £200m during the period 2016/17 to 2026/27 if action was not taken.  The plan recognised that in order to focus resources on the most vulnerable residents and corporate priorities, fundamental change would be needed which would redefine the role of the Council.  A new 5 year plan would be produced for approval by Council in May 2022.  The approach would include service reviews, ensure statutory services were being delivered in the most cost effective way, reducing staffing levels, selling the majority of accumulated assets and reducing the size of the capital programme.  High level service reviews across the Council would be carried out by Lead Members and Directors by 31 October 2021 to be followed by detailed work on radical service reviews by May 2022.  It was proposed that a ‘zero based budgeting’ approach be taken from 2023/24.

The Leader summarised the intensive work that had been taking place over the summer with Lead Members & Directors making good progress in closing the budget gaps for 2021/22 and 2022/23 and supporting the work to strengthen financial processes and governance.  The Cabinet welcomed the clarity and focus that the revised Recovery and Renewal Plan provided and reiterated its commitment to implement the plan and take the decisions necessary to address the financial challenges.  The plan provided a much clearer sense of direction and ambition for the Council.

Lead Members highlighted the importance of engaging residents and partners in the process over the coming months and highlighted the opportunities to reassess corporate priorities and ‘reimagine’ service provision.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton commented on various aspects of the plan and asked a number of questions which the Section 151 Officer and Leader responded to.  These included clarification on the value of the Council’s assets and proportion that would need to be disposed of.  It was noted that a report on this issue would be considered later on the agenda but it was confirmed that that the Council had assets currently valued at £1.2bn and that assets were revalued on a rolling basis.  Assurance was provided the processes were in place to achieve Best Value in the disposal of assets.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Cabinet agreed to recommend the Recovery and Renewal Plan to full Council on 23^rd September 2021.

Resolved –  That the revised report and appendix as published prior to the meeting in the Supplementary Agenda be considered and:

(a)  That the plans being developed for the recovery and renewal of Slough Borough Council as set out in Appendix 1 be noted.

(b)  That the timelines set out in this report to achieve the ambitious timescales set out in the Council’s recovery and renewal plan be noted.

(c)  That the current plans for the Council’s recovery and renewal plan be referred to full Council on 23^rd September 2021.