A copy of the presentation will be provided prior to the meeting.

The Committee received and noted a report that introduces the budget monitoring report for Quarter 1. It included details about General Fund revenue, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and progress made against savings targets. It also included capital approval requests to adopt new schemes into the Council’s approved capital programme and to change existing capital schemes. The main points of the discussion may be summarised as follows:

The Committee:

·         Noted that the Council is now at a more difficult time to manage the budget with the General Fund projecting a forecast overspends of £8.2m after the application of reserves and corporate contingency;

·         Noted that the Councils Directorates are therefore developing recovery plans to reduce this overspend and therefore reduce the requirement on General Fund reserves funding;

·         Noted that it is important that issues are addressed to remain within the approved budget provision or where they cannot be contained by individual service management action, alternative proposals are developed and solutions proposed which address the financial impact;

·         Noted that with regard to addressing the current budgetary issues and deliver improved services managers need to be held much more to account than before especially against raising demand through extra pressures so need to be robust in saying that the savings have got be made;

·         Indicated that it wanted to receive regular updates on progress e.g. having regular oversight on those slippages in savings;

·         Felt that all budget holders need to take responsibility for their budgets need to be more robust in delivering (i) savings; and (ii) recovery plans;

·         With regards to the Council’s capital programme noted that there is a clear plan of action to deliver these programmes;

·         Was advised that with regards to the use of any surplus income from parking enforcement activity. The aim was to promote increased parking compliancy throughout the Borough although there is nothing wrong with making a surplus long as the authority does not rely on it;

·         Wished to receive a report/presentation on how the Council can use any surplus income from parking enforcement activity; and

·         Wanted to see more on what is being done in terms of management of the budget and a fuller narrative on the items in such reports.

As a result of discussions on the report the Committee RESOLVED that it wanted to:

·         Receive a presentation on how the Council can use surplus income from parking enforcement activity; and

·         See more on what is being done in terms of management of the budget with a fuller narrative on the items in such reports.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the Council’s projected outturn position against General Fund, Dedicated Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account budgets agreed for 2019-20, based on information as at the end of June as detailed in the Appendices to the report.

2.    To adopt the listed pipeline schemes as set out in Appendix 6 to the report into the Council’s approved capital programme.

3.    To agree that approval to proceed to award contracts for works and services be delegated to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Corporate Director, Governance, subject to tenders being within the capital estimate amount and scheme PIDs being approved at Capital Strategy Board.

4.    To note and approve the capital exception and change note summary in Appendix 6 to the report.

5.    To note that there are no equalities implications directly resulting from this report, as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (N. MURTON)

(Head of Strategic and Corporate Finance (A. Bannin)

During discussion of this item the Mayor formally moved under Procedure Rule 12(m) that the meeting be extended for a period of up to half an hour as allowed for under Rule 9.1 to ensure all remaining business could be completed.

Councillor Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector introduced the report. She highlighted concerns over the forecast overspends set out in the quarter one report and stated that directorates were developing plans to tackle any underlying issues identified. She also noted that there was a forecast underspend on capital projects.

The Mayor highlighted the national crisis in funding which was causing many of these issues and how achieving savings proposals was becoming more challenging. Nevertheless it was important that Lead Members work with directorates to ensure the Council could meet its budget targets. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the Council’s projected outturn position against General Fund, Dedicated Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account budgets agreed for 2019-20, based on information as at the end of June as detailed in the Appendices to the report.

2.    To adopt the listed pipeline schemes as set out in Appendix 6 to the report into the Council’s approved capital programme.

3.    To agree that approval to proceed to award contracts for works and services be delegated to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Corporate Director, Governance, subject to tenders being within the capital estimate amount and scheme PIDs being approved at Capital Strategy Board.

4.    To note and approve the capital exception and change note summary in Appendix 6 to the report.

5.    To note that there are no equalities implications directly resulting from this report, as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.