Published on:
16
August 2012
A draft Corporate Plan, which sets out the Council's vision and priorities for the next five years, has been adopted at today's Council meeting.
The plan, called 'Taking Clackmannanshire Forward', will be circulated to partners and other stakeholders over the next few weeks in a consultation process. Feedback and the final document will be presented to the October Council meeting.
The overall vision contained within the plan is:
Council Leader Gary Womersley said: "This plan clearly sets out this Council's priorities for the years ahead. Having a clear direction and strong focus for Council services is particularly important in a financial climate such as present. We need to make sure that we target resources in the most effective way possible and our communities are a vital component in this regard.
"This Council has already been responsible for funding many projects that our communities have been asking for and I very much want this dynamic of working partnership to continue."
The consultation will seek views of local communities, partners, and other interested parties.
At the same meeting Councillors were given an update on the budget strategy, as services across the Council prepare for the setting of the Council's budget for 2013/14.
When the Council approved the 2012/13 budget earlier this year, a funding gap of £13.3 million was predicted for the years to 2014/15. The forecasting of this funding gap is regularly reviewed taking the changing economic outlook into account with issues such welfare reform and reducing rates of inflation being taken into account. The revised indicative funding gap is £12.511million over the 2 years to 2014/15.
Councillor Womersley added: "This Council has a robust approach to financial planning. The budget strategy now involves a year-round approach to the identification, development, monitoring and implementation of proposals to reduce the Council's expenditure and/or increase income."
Accountants and service managers took part in a challenge process in May which has resulted in a long leet of proposals. These proposals are being considered by elected members and Trades Unions and in September business cases will be drawn up and consultation will start on the areas which have been identified as worth further consideration.
Councillor Womersley added: "With a likely shortfall in funding, it is important that effective measures are put in place to bring that gap in a sustainable way. Much has been delivered so far, but it is clear that further significant savings are required for the future. We have a process for reducing expenditure, with a year-round approach and constant cycle of budget reviews, which is bringing all elected members closer to the process and early discussion of proposals."
The budget strategy update report also set out how effective budget monitoring arrangements will operate in the new committee system, with the three new service committees receiving a budget monitoring report at each meeting and committee convenors receiving regular budget monitoring updates.