The Director of Law, Governance and Strategy has submitted a report outlining the Scope and Terms of Reference for the Budget Review Group, established by the Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 10 June 2025.

The Scrutiny Committee are recommended to:

1.     Approve the Scope for the 2026-27 Budget Review Group

2.     Approve the Terms of Reference for the Budget Review Group

3.     Delegate authority to the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, in consultation with the Scrutiny Chair and Budget Review Group Chair, to amend the scope as needed.

The Scrutiny Committee resolved to:

1. Approve the Scope for the 2026-27 Budget Review Group
2. Approve the Terms of Reference for the Budget Review Group
3. Delegate authority to the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, in consultation with the Scrutiny Chair and Budget Review Group Chair, to amend the scope as needed.

The Director of Law, Governance and Strategy has submitted a report outlining the Scope and Terms of Reference for the Budget Review Group, established by the Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 10 June 2025.

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor explained that every year the Council is required by legislation to follow a statutory process to set the budget, for which scrutiny is a critical component. The Budget Review Group will fulfil the scrutiny function, and the report outlines the scope of this alongside the group’s terms of reference. The Committee understood that the group will meet 5 times between December 2025 and January 2026 to thematically consider the budget of each directorate and the Council’s financial assets. The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor outlined the proposed areas for discussion, as noted in the report, and clarified that the group’s recommendations would be submitted to the main Committee for approval before being passed to Cabinet and full Council.

The Chair invited any questions or comments from the Committee.

The Chair, in relation to the scope of the Budget Review Group, noted reference to maximising savings from AI and the use of digital technology in the report. It was asked whether the report could be amended to explicitly state that the group will consider savings and costs to ensure that anything the Council chooses to do when incorporating AI will be cost bearing, as well as cost saving. The Chair noted that this would appreciate the experimental nature of this technology.

The Chair proposed the minor amendment; Councillor Latif seconded. The Committee unanimously voted in favour.

Councillor Miles emphasised the issue of the Council’s Environmental Health receiving decreasing budget, despites increasing pressures and recognising the Council’s statutory responsibilities. It was proposed that this be highlighted as a specific focus area during the budget review. The Chair suggested this be inserted into the scope.

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor confirmed that both amendments could be made to the scope of the Budget Review Group.

Councillor Ottino raised concern that Councillor Miles’ suggestion exceeded the intended broad nature of the scope outlined in the report, to which the Chair noted that the additions could provide some specific remit alongside the broad scope.

Councillor Miles and Councillor Ottino discussed the requirement to mention statutory responsibilities within the scope. The Chair suggested that the scope be amended to include consideration of the impact of discretionary spend on statutory responsibilities, for which environmental health would be an example.

Councillor Miles proposed the amendment; Councillor Ottino seconded. The Committee unanimously voted in favour.

The Committee resolved to:

1. Approve the Scope for the 2026-27 Budget Review Group as amended.

The Chair proposed, and Councillor Mundy seconded this. The Committee unanimously voted in favour.

2. Approve the Terms of Reference for the Budget Review Group

The Chair proposed, and Councillor Miles seconded this. The Committee unanimously voted in favour.

3. Delegate authority to the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, in consultation with the Scrutiny Chair and Budget Review Group Chair, to amend the scope as needed.

The Chair proposed, and Councillor Rowley seconded this. The Committee unanimously voted in favour.