Behind the scenes at Babergh

Tuesday’s Council meeting has been cancelled due to ‘lack of business’.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot going on at Babergh at present.  It’s just that nothing has been finalised sufficiently such that it can be voted on by Members.  A good deal of activity is happening behind the scenes  to press on with the integration of Babergh’s officer structure with that of Mid Suffolk.  Protocols for selection of the joint senior management team are being put in place, and the new joint HR board will be looking at the harmonisation of the two councils’ terms and conditions of employment.

At an internal briefing yesterday it was made clear to Members that, even with the savings projected from the integration plan, we will still need to find several hundred thousand pounds from somewhere to balance the budget in 2011/12.   One problem is that uncertainties abound with regard to the implications of government policy.   

For example the ‘New Homes Bonus’ , a new contribution from the centre,  is very welcome, but should we spend it all this year?  What about the announcement from Eric Pickles earlier in the week that implies that we may be able to hold onto business rates instead of handing them over to the centre?  The implications of this could mean that ideas for money raising that look like a good idea now could have a negative outcome in the future.....increased car parking charges in town centres spring immediately to mind.

What a pity that the referendum in respect to a full merger resulted in a 'no' vote.  Those councillors who campaigned against it should by now be aware that, had the extra savings involved been achieved, balancing next year’s budget would have been very much easier and hard choices largely avoided.