Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That the following be noted:

1.         The Council’s overall revenue and capital budget positions as at 28 February 2019:

·         £0.4m forecast draw down from reserves; following the successful drive to reduce costs by £106m during this financial year

·         £20.8m forecast underspend against the original 2018/19 budget; and

·         £118m forecast service capital programme outturn against £137m 2018/19 budget.

That the following be approved, in principle, subject to confirmation in the Year-End report to be presented to the Cabinet in May 2019:

2.         The carry forward of £4.1m of revenue budget into the 2019/20 financial year.

3.       All Cabinet Members had confirmed their service’s forecast for the year.

Reason for Decision:

This report is presented to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Corporate Overview Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Finance gave highlights from a report that summarised the most significant issues for the Council’s 2018/19 financial position as at 28 February 2019 for revenue and capital budgets. He explained how reducing expenditure during the year and eliminating the need to use reserves to support the budget this year had been achieved through deliberate and targeted work, as well as focused planning and monitoring by officers and cabinet members throughout the year and thanked all for their work.  However, the Council continued to face considerable pressures.

The Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning spoke of the transformation of Children’s Services and the improvements taking place as well as the pressures on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services.  She went on to explain new support processes were being put in place with partnership working and the new model is progressing in planned phases for go live later this year.

The Leader thought it encouraging the transformation plans seemed to be working.  He acknowledged that there was more work to do but the Council had delivered the budget it said it would.  He also expressed thanks to officers and members in achieving this.

RESOLVED:

That the following be noted:

1.         The Council’s overall revenue and capital budget positions as at 28 February 2019:

·         £0.4m forecast draw down from reserves; following the successful drive to reduce costs by £106m during this financial year

·         £20.8m forecast underspend against the original 2018/19 budget; and

·         £118m forecast service capital programme outturn against £137m 2018/19 budget.

That the following be approved, in principle, subject to confirmation in the Year-End report to be presented to the Cabinet in May 2019:

2.         The carry forward of £4.1m of revenue budget into the 2019/20 financial year.

3.       All Cabinet Members had confirmed their service’s forecast for the year.

Reason for Decision:

This report was presented to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.