The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AT”) provides Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2019-20.

It examines the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecasts the financial position at the year end. It states the Council’s current reserves and forecasts school balances for the year. 

Recommended -

That the Executive

(1)       Note the contents of Document “AT” and the actions taken to manage the issues highlighted in the report.

(2)       Approve the following capital expenditure schemes.

·         £0.25m to purchase a Trommel for the sorting of recycling at the Bowling Back Lane site. This will be funded by the savings generated through a reduction in fines received by the Council.

(Andrew Cross – 01274 436823)

Resolved -

(1)       That the contents of Document “AT” and the actions taken to manage the issues highlighted in the report be noted.

(2)       That the following capital expenditure scheme be approved.

·         £0.25m to purchase a Trommel for the sorting of recycling at the Bowling Back Lane site. This will be funded by the savings generated through a reduction in fines received by the Council.

ACTION: Director of Finance

Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee

(Andrew Cross – 01274 436823)

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AT”) provided Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2019-20.

It examined the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecast the financial position at the year end. It stated the Council’s current reserves and forecasts school balances for the year. 

Based on a projection at December 31st 2019, the Council was forecast to overspend the £359.9m net revenue budget (£1.125bn gross budget) by £0.2m.

The Leader thanked staff for getting the budget to a better position than the previous year and noted the improved financial forecasting and financial management.

The Children and Families Portfolio Holder referred to the national increase in the number of looked after children and noted that nationally there had been a 135% increase in ten years in child protection enquiries.  He added that the Local Government Association predicted a national funding gap by 2025 of £3.1bn. He urged the government to provide appropriate levels of funding.

The Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder thanked staff in managing the budget in a time of increased demand.  She noted that the Adult Social Care Green Paper was still awaited.  She stressed the need for a sustainable, long term  commitment form the Government for funding.  She thanked staff in waste management for doing an excellent job in difficult times.  She referred to investment in the purchase of a Trommel for the sorting of recycling at the Bowling Back Lane site that would lead to a clean end product.  She thanked theatre staff and was please to note a 9,000 increase in footfall at St George’s Hall which was a tribute to the staff and programming at the venue with a lot of positive comments received from the public.

The leader noted that there had been a significant transformation in Adult social Care in recent years that has resulted in improved delivery at less cost.

Resolved -

(1)       That the contents of Document “AT” and the actions taken to manage the issues highlighted in the report be noted.

(2)       That the following capital expenditure scheme be approved.

·         £0.25m to purchase a Trommel for the sorting of recycling at the Bowling Back Lane site. This will be funded by the savings generated through a reduction in fines received by the Council.

ACTION: Director of Finance

Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee