Finance, Procurement & IT Cabinet Member – Minutes – 2 May 2012

31 (30)  Virements 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 – The Director of Finance submitted a report seeking approval for changes to the revenue and capital budgets for 2011/2012 and 2012/13.

On 23 February 2011 Council approved the revenue and capital budgets for the 2011/2012 financial year and on 21 February 2012 Council approved the revenue and capital budgets for the 2012/2013 financial year.  The report gave details of virements approved by the Director of Finance under delegated powers and those that required Cabinet Member approval.

Resolved – (a) That the virements at paragraph 3.1.1 and 3.2.1 of the report, approved by the Director of Finance under delegated powers be noted, and (b) that the permanent virements outlined in paragraph 3.2.2 of the report be approved.

32 (31)  Consultant Usage  – Quarter 4 2011/2012 – The Director of Finance submitted a report to advise on the consultancy usage for the fourth quarter of 2011/2012, to highlight the consultancy usage to support major projects within North Lincolnshire and to advise on the overall effectiveness.

Cabinet had introduced a new protocol for the use of consultants as part of a package of cost management measures. The protocol required services to report their use of consultants on a quarterly basis for 2011/2012. 

The Director of Finance confirmed that following extensive consultation with all services, the report set out a summary of consultancy usage for quarter four 2011/2012, details of which were presented in Appendix A to the report.

Resolved – That the findings set out in the report for quarter 4 2011/2012 be noted.

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 33 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

33 (32)  LOCAL TAXATION AND BENEFITS – SHARED SERVICES WITH NORTH-EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL – The Director of Finance submitted a report to advise on the progress of the shared service project with North- East Lincolnshire for the delivery of Local Taxation and Benefits service, and to seek approval for the implementation of phase 2 of the restructure.

The shared service between North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) and North-East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) for Local Taxation and Benefits services was approved by the cabinet member on 7 November 2011. This included the business case which states: the drivers for the project, the strategic fit between the two authorities, options appraisal, the associated costs and the anticipated benefits of delivering the project.

The implementation of the shared services was in three phases. Phase 1 was the management structure which was approved by the cabinet member on 7 February 2012. Phase 2 was the implementation of a team that would undertake duties that were common across both councils, such as IT controls and reconciliations.

Resolved – That approval be given to implement phase 2 of the structure for the new shared service arrangement at the grades detailed within the report.