Agenda item

D Skinner, Assistant Director - Finance & Resources (DS) introduced the report drawing attention the significant matters.

Councillor Tindall noted the increase in costs to effect the upgrade of Council operated parking pay and display machines to accommodate the new £1 Coin. Councillor Douris sought assurance that there would be a transition period, when the machines will accept both coins. B Hosier, GM - Commissioning, Procurement and Compliance agreed to look into the matter and let the councillor have details on how the transition will be carried out.

On another matter, Councillor Tindall then asked what initiatives were tried in the Cemeteries Service that had been found to be unsuccessful. DS advised that DBC had invested in some new style memorial items that had turned out not to be taken up at the present time. He advised that DBC would either sell them to others who may be able to dispose of them or to hold on to them ourselves until demand arises. Councillor Douris pointed out that there were two items relating to the Cemeteries Service in this report and questioned if asked if there had been a lack of care in the spending at the cemeteries. DS responded that it was not a lack of care but an attempt at ‘spend to save’ did not succeed as expected.

Councillor Silwal asked about the overspend at the Forum and was informed that it involved Herts County Council expenses. The cost was to fit out the library and the HCC share of the cost has since been received.

The matter of changes in the planning regime and recruitment was then raised by Councillor Tindall who asked if the vacant posts would cause DBC problems.

DS responded that this lack of recruitment is a national issue and DBC are responding by further training staff and inviting new trainees.

Councillor Tindall felt one approach would be to enter into partnerships with neighbouring authorities to share resources and staff. DS agreed that this is one of a number of options being considered by officers.

Councillor Douris then moved to the deficit of income on works referred to on Page 15 of the agenda and asked if officers had underestimate the costs. DS responded that the matter is being examined and addressed and we may have overestimated income. A new member of staff dealing with this issue has been in place for six months, so has not had the opportunity to make an impact yet, but it is expected they will do so in time.

A short discussion then took place on the implications of a reduced contribution on pensions and the reasons for it being no longer required.

The meeting moved on to waste issues, beginning with the surplus on recycling credit for waste services and the percentage increase on co-mingled waste last year. DS agreed to investigate the matter and try to identify the differential between authorities.

The committee noted the  additional cost to refuse collection of new ‘hard to access properties’ and welcomed the attempts to identify where they are and the  work underway to register them and existing ones in the costs of the service.

Action:

B Hosier to send a note to the committee on the implementation of converting pay and display parking meters to the new £1 coin

Outcome: The report was noted.