The Financial Stability Programme (FSP) had been established to set out how the Council might achieve savings and income targets of up to £2.2 million in its Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and achieve the financial stability set out in the Corporate Plan. 

In June 2021 the Council had also agreed a Protecting Discretionary Services Strategy (PDSS) that set out the approach of transferring community assets to other organisations in order to support the delivery of discretionary services.  As the PDSS shared many of the common goals of the FSP it was proposed that the FSP and the PDSS be combined into a single project to be managed alongside the other Corporate projects and report to the existing Corporate Programme Board (CPB) meetings. As a result, the CPB would be expanded and would consist of the following Members:

Ø    Cllr Prochak - portfolio holder for Environment and Place

Ø    Cllr Dixon - portfolio holder for Finance, Performance Management, Procurement and Social Value Policy

Ø    Cllr Oliver - portfolio holder for Strategy and Transformation

Ø    Cllr Bayliss portfolio holder for – Economic Development and Regeneration

Since the last progress report, officers and Members had identified several proposals for action that would generate the highest level of saving to the Council, such as the supply and maintenance of public conveniences (approximate full operational cost £500k per annum); the operation of subsidised / free car parks (approximate full operational cost £91k per annum) and grounds maintenance (approximate full operational cost £880k per annum).  It was noted that the operational costs included support administration costs and were not therefore a reflection of potential savings.  The options being considered for these proposals were identified in the report as follows:

Public Conveniences, to either/or:

i.          Devolve to town and parish councils, including further options to refurbish by RDC before devolving;

ii.         Devolve to town and parish councils providing town and parish councils with funding to refurbish maybe through CIL funds;

iii.         Retain, refurbish and introduce charges;

iv.        If the parish or town council and the community agree that the facility is not required, then redevelop or demolish.

Car Parks, to either/or:

i.          Devolve to town and parish councils, or other suitable groups;

ii.         Retain and investigate introducing charging in sites that are currently free to use;

iii.         Re-purpose if the facility is not needed by the community.

Grounds Maintenance, to either/or:

i.          agree a programme of devolvement with Bexhill, Battle and Rye Town Councils;

ii.         continue with a service contract managed by RDC, but with a minimum specification at lowest cost

Preliminary discussions had already taken place with Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council regarding the options and further consultation would take place with all Town and Parish Councils affected by these proposals.  A project plan was currently being developed setting out the key milestones in terms of decision-making to align with the budget setting process.

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Recruitment to the Income Generation Manager post originally envisaged to progress the FSP work stream had been unsuccessful and, in light of the recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98