Hi All,
It is nearing the end of the first week of Karen’s holiday; oh the thought of being able to go away outside of school holidays. Though seriously, I hope she is having a well-earned rest. After this week having had a small step into her shoes I suspect she needs it.
This week has been full on, as I am sure it has for you. On Tuesday there was the Scrutiny Committee meeting, where members look over the reports and recommendations that Cabinet will be deciding in a couple of weeks. The reports ranged from amending a constitutional procedure to how we buy our gas and electric, to how we will adapt to climate change, to funding for improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure. Work from all over the Council coming together to help service our residents and businesses.
Working on the budget and the annual plan, as well as further work with members on the Council’s new Strategy, also continued this week. Officers attended an evening meeting with Cabinet on Wednesday and then had a full day with them on Friday. Karen mentioned these in her last blog.
Talking of budgets you may have noticed a report originally published by the Guardian newspaper, but then reposted on social media channels, about debt levels at councils. You may have clocked it because along with several other councils Mole Valley is mentioned, coming in number 12 on their ‘top 20’. It is the sort of thing that makes me sit up and take notice. However, when looking at this more closely, and with Claire our Section 151 Officer’s help, it brings home why a single number often doesn’t paint a true picture.
The Council purchased property in 2017 and 2018. The cost of borrowing the money to buy those properties is covered by the income those properties generate. The left-over money is used to deliver services. So, really, the fact that the Council has those debts isn’t really a problem. Councillor Kendrick, who is the Member that looks after finance, said to the press ““MVDC has been working on its long-term plan for maintaining its good financial position for several years due to ongoing reductions and uncertainty in funding, not because of any negative impact from its borrowing. In fact, its asset investments provide part of the income used to maintain services.” In fact, when you look at the report in more detail you find that they didn’t include several of the Council’s income stream in their calculation. Never rely on one statistic.
If ever you read or hear something about our Council that causes you concern, or like this makes you sit up and think ‘what’s going on ?’, please don’t worry in silence. Karen, myself and my SLT colleagues are around to help.