Decision details

The purpose of the report is to outline proposals for further efficiency savings to be captured during the 2014/15 financial year. The Council is required to realise approximately £800,000 of savings for a balanced budget for 2015/16.

When considering the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy in October 2013, the Executive recognised an approximate £800,000 gap in the Council’s budget for 2015/16 and requested the Chief Executive Officer to prepare and bring forward a range of options to close the budget gap.

A report was presented to the Executive in March 2014, presenting proposals for £777,000 of efficiency savings. This report sets out proposals for further savings.

The 2013 Residents’ Survey included a question asking residents to list the five services, which they regarded as the most important, and a further five services that they regarded as the least important. This report has used the results of this question and presents options to realise additional savings to close the gap between the savings required and the amount that has been identified to date.

During the debate on this item, the Executive Member for Leisure and Community placed on record her thanks to the staff of the Tourist Information Centre for all their hard work and commitment.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)       to reduce the annual budget for Community Grants to £80,000 per year;

(b)       that the annual funding for the Tourist Information Centre be removed from 2015/16, delivering a saving of £36,000 per annum; and

(c)       that the Council becomes a destination partner with Tourism South East at a cost of £1,500 per annum.