Agenda item

The Head of Communities & Neighbourhoods to present a report to provide members with an update on the W2W’s programme for 2017/18 and seek members’ approval for the fees and charges for the service from 1 July 2017.

The Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods submitted a report to provide members with an update on the W2W’s programme for 2017/18 and seek Members’ approval for the fees and charges for the service from 1 July 2017.

 

The Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods gave an overview of the report bringing Members attention to the information they were made aware of during the 14 September 2016 meeting of this Committee and their approval of the interim charges for 2016-17 that were to be effective from 1 October 2016 until 31 March 2017.

 

The Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods brought Members attention to:

·         3.6 Noting at the end of March 2017 there were over 90 users on the W2W scheme.

·         3.7 Stating a bid to Daventry District Council has been submitted to deliver up to 30 Fleet and potentially 50 client services. Officers were still awaiting the outcome of this bid.

·         3.9 Noting the importance of focus on income collection, bad debt collection and exploring other funding schemes to continue to remain a successful, value for money, budget balanced and well used service.

·         3.12 Asking Members to advise officers on whether to introduce the charges recommended.

·         5.1 Noting the current budget projections anticipate a budget shortfall in a worst case scenario of up to £51K (if the Daventry bid is unsuccessful) ,but note that this includes a number of assumptions one of which is that the proposed fees and charges will be approved and implemented from 1st July.

·         5.2 Noting that there is currently £21k in a W2W personal account from previous years and members could approve that this is used to mitigate the projected shortfall.

 

A Brief talk through of the report recommendations was given by the Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods.

 

A discussion was had regarding what the total cost and the total shortfall of the scheme was. The Central Services Manager stating the total cost was £341k and shortfall was £51k, which had assumed all of the bids would be successful and the relative income was budgeted for.

 

It was noted that this shortfall could be helped with improving the recovery and recouping charges.

 

Members enquired as to whether this was still a viable scheme with the projected deficit, the Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods stated that although it is a complicated budget it is still viable and has potential. It was also noted that the scheme is a surplus and the reason it shows as a shortfall is due to the over estimation of funding, if this had not been done the report would be showing the scheme as viable.

 

The Strategic Director wanted to note the importance that Members remember the role the scheme has to helping individuals become financially independent and the proven benefits it has had to the community so far, their would be a big social impact if removed.

 

A Discussion was had regarding the £140 CBT charge being too much and may discourage people who could not afford this; a Member also noted that CBT charges are lower elsewhere. A Member suggested that the council use a 50% cost recovery option. The Head of Communities & Neighbourhoods advised that they would ensure that they would only look to recover actual real costs.

 

The Chair sought a proposer and seconder to move recommendation 2.1 of the report. All members were in favour.

 

The Chair sought a proposer and seconder to move recommendation 2.2, with the addition of covering CBT costs. One Councillor was not in favour, this recommendation was moved by a majority vote.

 

The Chair sough a proposer and seconder to move recommendation 2.3, with the addition of this to exclude CBT. All Members were in favour.

 

The Chair sought a proposer and seconder to move recommendation 2.4 and 2.5, all Members were in favour.

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1)Members noted the progress of the W2W scheme and endorse its future development;

 

(2)Members approved the increase in fees and charges as detailed in section 3.9 with the addition of full cost to include CBT charge and approved the charges to take effect from 1 July 2017 as attached as Appendix A;

 

(3)Members delegated to the Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods in consultation with the Head of Central Services to set the charges for additional services outlined in section 3.2 on a 50/50 cost recovery basis to exclude CBT which wold be full cost recovery.

 

(4)Members approved the recommendation to the Policy, Finance & Administration Committee to utilise the current unallocated £21k from the Wheels to Work contributions reserve to help towards offsetting the current shortfall.

 

(5)Members delegated to the Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods in consultation with the Head of Central Services to determine the best course of action to deal with any de-commissioned vehicle and equipment