5
There was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the revenue estimates for the Joint Committee for the financial year 2018/19.
The report intimated that the financial outlook in the medium term was characterised by uncertainty and at this point, the level of pay award and the level of requisition income, both major areas of financial risk for the Joint Committee were unknown.
The requisition income available to the Park Authority had reduced in recent years, acknowledging the financial pressures that councils had been facing and also an increasingly commercial approach to the operations of the park. The Treasurer had proposed a further 9.5% reduction from the 2017/18 requisition level to each partner council in advance of the formal requisition being agreed by the Joint Committee. This proposal was noted as being acceptable by Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Councils, however North Ayrshire Council had intimated a £60,000 (59%) reduction in their requisition.
It was noted that a reduction in requisition on this scale called into question the financial sustainability of the Park Authority in its current form and the report proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager be instructed to seek additional in-year savings in order to continue to manage in-year expenditure within the resources available; that the Interim Regional Park Manager develop a report for consideration by the Joint Committee as soon as possible but not later than September 2018 and that this report outline options and recommendations with regards the future operation and governance of the Park Authority recognising the reduced level of requisition income available.
The budget had been constructed on the basis of assumptions detailed in the report. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the requisitions for constituent authorities and Appendix 2 to the report detailed the revenue estimates 2018/19 for the Joint Committee.
Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Donald L Reid, moved that the report be not approved and that the Treasurer submit a report to the next meeting of the Joint Committee reflecting the pro-rata share of constituent authorities.
Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Steel, moved as an amendment that the requisitions for constituent authorities, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and the 201819 revenue estimates, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved; that it be noted that any decision on requisitions would be subject to ratification by constituent authorities and that the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Joint Committee on the implications for park services should any constituent authority agree any alteration to the level of requisition recommended by the Joint Committee; that the Interim Regional Park Manager develop options to address the unallocated savings outlined in the report; and that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to the Joint Committee no later than September 2018 outlining options and recommendations for the future governance and operation of the Park and the Joint Committee which recognised the financial constraints outlined in this report.
The Head of Finance, Renfrewshire Council, recommended that the Joint Committee approve the revenue estimates 2018/19 prior to constituent authority budget meetings which were being held in February/March 2018.
Following further discussion and in terms of Standing Order 20, Councillors Brooks and Donald L Reid, being the mover and seconder of the motion, then withdrew their motion.
DECIDED:
(a) That the requisitions for constituent authorities, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and the 201819 revenue estimates, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved;
(b)That it be noted that any decision on requisitions would be subject to ratification by constituent authorities and that the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Joint Committee on the implications for park services should any constituent authority agree any alteration to the level of requisition recommended by the Joint Committee;
(c) That the Interim Regional Park Manager develop options to address the unallocated savings outlined in the report; and
(d) That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to the Joint Committee no later than September 2018 outlining options and recommendations for the future governance and operation of the Park and the Joint Committee which recognised the financial constraints outlined in this report.