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 September as detailed in the Appendices to the report.

2.    To note and approve the three capital change notes, total of £8.962m to be added into the Council’s capital programme, as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report.

3.    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)

Councillor Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector introduced the latest capital and budget monitoring report. She highlighted the challenge in meeting the required savings levels with overspends predicted in a number of high pressure services such as children’s social care and transport services. These pressures were being seen by many authorities but would nevertheless need to be managed.

The Mayor confirmed that there were serious challenges for the Council. He welcomed scrutiny’s involvement in monitoring the Council’s performance. Finally, he noted that the Council awaited any spending announcements by the new government following the upcoming general election.

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 September as detailed in the Appendices to the report.

2.    To note and approve the three capital change notes, total of £8.962m to be added into the Council’s capital programme, as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report.

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

The Committee will receive a presentation that will provide details regarding the General Fund revenue, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and progress made against savings targets.  This will allow the Committee to monitor the Council's finances to ensure these align with Council priorities and provide residents with value for money.

Committee received and noted a presentation from Councillor Candida Ronald (Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector) and Kevin Bartle (Interim Divisional Director of Finance, Procurement and Audit) on Quarterly Budget Monitoring. The main points of the discussions on the report may be summarised as follows:

The Committee

·         Agreed that there is a need to be more robust monitoring process;

·         Noted that budgetary pressures had been identified and that plans are in place to address them;

·         Noted that the Council’s Internal Audit is undertaking a review of the process;

·         Confirmed its view that savings must be both robust and feasible if they are to be delivered;

·         Expressed the view that consideration could be given to introducing a “bottom-up” budget process with individual directorates assigning total budgets to each service area.  Which would boost accuracy and accountability as this process would involve all the individuals in each department; and

·         Agreed that all the individuals in each department need to examine (i) how budgets can best serve each service area; and (ii) how to adjust budgets.