Tuesday, April 11, 2006
County Councillor’s annual report Bucks County Council 2005-6
In the new Council elected in May 2005 I have the role of shadow portfolio holder for resources. This covers Finance, Risk Management, Property, Human Resources, Communications and Information Technology.
These have been some of the main concerns of the Council as a whole this year
Budget setting and ‘medium term plan’
With limiting council tax increase to 4.9% and changes in government grant calculation, the shortfall between income and expenditure was a gap of £15M. The Council met this in the main by saving,s and reducing growth to meet increases in service demand. This year schools received their budgets directly from government, not the LEA.
As opposition we use the information at our disposal to challenge the assumptions behind the decisions. Although the Leader in his speech told Council that adjustments had been made to the budget to take in to account the results of the consultation in the Bucks Times, the figures presented to vote on, both before and after the consultation, were identical.
Local Area Agreement
An agreement was signed in March between County and District Councils, the Primary Care Trusts, Fire service , and Thames Valley Police, called ‘Promoting Prosperity, Tackling Inequalities.’ If the targets are achieved it will gain £11M additional funding for Bucks. I signed it in my role as Chair of the Vale of Aylesbury PCT.
Consultations
Two major consultations have been undertaken this financial year, on the Waste Strategy and the Local Transport Plan.
Every Child Matters
Bucks County Council has been re-organising to meet the requirements of the Government and the Childrens' White Paper and has made progress as far as to set up a shadow Children's Trust to deliver services jointly with it's statutory partners.
Four Stars
BCC can’t rest on its’ laurels. Hot on the heels of four stars received at the end of 2005, BCC is now preparing for a further assessment this year plus a Joint Area Review of Children’s services.
Customer Contact Centre
In February the Customer Contact Centre, opened, where anyone can call on any subject from 8am to 6.30 pm. Highways on Call is soon to become part of it.
Community leaders Fund
This financial year the fund at my disposal for Ivinghoe Division has supported
Cheddington Scouts refurbishment of the Scout Hut £250
Dagnall over 60s £250
Slapton Village newsletter £500
Ford End Watermill £170
Pitstone and Ivinghoe Youth Hostel £500
Cheddington School PTA £500
Cheddington Village hall £330
These have been some of the main concerns of the Council as a whole this year
Budget setting and ‘medium term plan’
With limiting council tax increase to 4.9% and changes in government grant calculation, the shortfall between income and expenditure was a gap of £15M. The Council met this in the main by saving,s and reducing growth to meet increases in service demand. This year schools received their budgets directly from government, not the LEA.
As opposition we use the information at our disposal to challenge the assumptions behind the decisions. Although the Leader in his speech told Council that adjustments had been made to the budget to take in to account the results of the consultation in the Bucks Times, the figures presented to vote on, both before and after the consultation, were identical.
Local Area Agreement
An agreement was signed in March between County and District Councils, the Primary Care Trusts, Fire service , and Thames Valley Police, called ‘Promoting Prosperity, Tackling Inequalities.’ If the targets are achieved it will gain £11M additional funding for Bucks. I signed it in my role as Chair of the Vale of Aylesbury PCT.
Consultations
Two major consultations have been undertaken this financial year, on the Waste Strategy and the Local Transport Plan.
Every Child Matters
Bucks County Council has been re-organising to meet the requirements of the Government and the Childrens' White Paper and has made progress as far as to set up a shadow Children's Trust to deliver services jointly with it's statutory partners.
Four Stars
BCC can’t rest on its’ laurels. Hot on the heels of four stars received at the end of 2005, BCC is now preparing for a further assessment this year plus a Joint Area Review of Children’s services.
Customer Contact Centre
In February the Customer Contact Centre, opened, where anyone can call on any subject from 8am to 6.30 pm. Highways on Call is soon to become part of it.
Community leaders Fund
This financial year the fund at my disposal for Ivinghoe Division has supported
Cheddington Scouts refurbishment of the Scout Hut £250
Dagnall over 60s £250
Slapton Village newsletter £500
Ford End Watermill £170
Pitstone and Ivinghoe Youth Hostel £500
Cheddington School PTA £500
Cheddington Village hall £330
# posted by Avril Davies @ 9:12 PM 
