Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Section 151 Officer. 

The Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Sinnott, presented the report of the Section 151 Officer which provides an update on the budget position of Shared Services following implementation of Phase 1 reviews.

Shared Services has expanded significantly to encompass a significant level of budget areas. With the Phase 2 reports recently approved there is now in excess of £7m of budgets in this area.

The contributions to each service by Council varies considerably. A number of budgets are exclusive to a particular Council and these largely fall into the Communications and Visitor Economy section where budgets for Astley Hall and Chorley events are held meaning a greater contribution required to the service.

Members thanked officers for the report.  The figures are for the full financial year to the end of March 2021.  The staffing savings are recurring, but the budgets will be adjusted within the base budget.  Further savings are anticipated following the service reviews within Customer Services and ICT. 

The figures detailing the savings made through the joint procurement of the new website technology for both Chorley and South Ribble was requested for the next meeting.

Decision (unanimously) to note the current split of budgets within Shared Services and the ongoing budget alignment work.