Transformation and the Financial Challenge facing the Public Sector Paul Little

1. Transformation and the Financial Challenge facing the Public Sector Paul Little

2. Transformation and Public Finance • Broad Financial Context • Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s approach to Transformation • Priorities – Community engagement past and future • How could we best work together?

3. Broad Financial Context • Babergh and Mid Suffolk - £11m to find in the next 4 years • Suffolk County Council - £156m to find in the next 4 years • Suffolk Constabulary – Plans already in place to reduce spending by £17.7m by 2015 and further reduction of £4.7m to be made by 2016/17

4. A Challenge for us all We need to work together, to: • Meet the financial challenges we all face • Keep serving our communities well • Keep our communities involved • Focus what we do

5. Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s approach Community Engagement, shaping priorities: • Officers paired with DC Members • Variety of Community Engagement work and events during Summer 2012 • Development of Corporate objectives for both Districts, shaped by this engagement

6. Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s approach Transformation Enquiry Groups: • Focused on Priorities shaped by Community Engagement Six Groups Focused on: • Promoting Economic Growth • Enhancing The Environment • Increasing the supply, mix and economic impact of Housing • Supporting and Facilitating Healthy, Safe and Active Communities • Transforming Public Access • Transforming Corporate Organisation and Resources

7. Progress so far • A commitment to sustainable growth – more jobs and homes • Support communities to become more self sufficient plus focus on most vulnerable • Short term changes to how we use resources e.g. CSD re-integration • Longer term – started to identify how we re-align ourselves to achieve what the TEGs expect

8. Housing TEG : Outputs • Increase the total number of homes within the two districts with emphasis on needs of older and younger people, size, quality, design, sustainability and affordability • Increase the level of economic activity through a house building programme, which will contribute towards growth in business rates income

9. Housing TEG : Outputs • Use our own resources/assets and influence to get what is seen to be the right sort of increase in supply of houses across the two districts • Social housing tenants to be supported through the welfare reform changes in order to ensure that they have housing that they can afford. This work will seek to mitigate the impact of welfare reform changes on tenants and the councils’ rental income streams

10. Economy TEG : Outputs • Increase new homes -This will aim to achieve a significant uplift in the delivery levels of available housing within the two districts • An increase in business growth and associated Business Rate income.By knowing our businesses we aim to be a problem solver, a facilitator for growth

11. Economy TEG : Outputs • An increase in the skills needed by local business within the local workforce. By knowing the businesses in the area and the schools (schools audits) we aim to bring these two elements together • A change in our political and professional culture which commits to being ‘open for business’ and pro-growth. Helping our staff and Members understand the economic impacts of our decisions will improve our cultural commitment to growth

12. The Environment TEG : Their Outputs • Ensure that Planning Policies support the Councils’ vision and Corporate Priorities and balance growth of the local economy with protection of the environment • Diversify approaches to land management, grounds maintenance, public toilets and other assets – more responsibility and ownership to communities

13. The Environment TEG : Their Outputs • Exploit opportunities to reduce carbon footprint of districts and generate income through renewable energy schemes, such as the installation of PVs on Council housing stock & corporate buildings • Reduce waste and increase recycling by developing a publicity campaign in partnership with Suffolk County Council and other Waste Management Authorities

14. The Communities and HWB TEG : Outputs • Determine new approach to building community capacity and self reliance, identify gaps and map to need • Use grants and assets with communities, and develop community hubs to achieve corporate outcomes • Support communities taking part in activity to promote health and fitness

15. The Communities and HWB TEG : Outputs • Establish councils’ commitments to health promotion work; exploit potential for joint working to reduce cost and remove duplication of work • Target councils’ role in night-time economy, develop options for reducing costs

16. Short Term Actions • Integrated in-house finance service system by 1 April 2014 • Shared ICT service with SCC by June 2014 • In-house HR transactional service by 1 April 2014 • In-house customer services function by 1 June 2014 • Fully evaluated options for the future use of our accommodation assets – especially the main HQ buildings • A new approach to financial planning

17. The TEGs : Summary of their Outputs • A commitment to sustainable growth – more jobs and homes • Support communities to become more self sufficient plus focus on most vulnerable • Short term changes to how we use resources e.g. CSD re-integration • Longer term – started to identify how we re-align ourselves to achieve what the TEGs expect

18. Working with Parishes and Town Councils • Towns and Parishes are closest to our communities and have a vital role to play • Communities are telling us that they want more joined up work between County, Districts, Towns and Parishes • Joint work makes us more effective, more efficient and able to deliver more for our communities • We all have to accept the realities of shrinking resources

19. Working with Parishes and Town Councils Comments and Questions