Agenda item

Purpose of the Report:

For the Committee to review the Cabinet Budget Monitoring Reports to the end of December 2018 and January 2019.

Please note that the Cabinet Budget Monitoring Report to the end of January 2019 will be published in a supplementary agenda.

Witnesses:

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Finance

Kevin Kilburn, Strategic Finance Manager - Corporate

Anna D’Alessandro, Interim Director - Corporate Finance

Key points raised during the discussions:

1.     The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report and informed Members that the Council was on track to deliver a balanced budget as it was expected to achieve savings between £105m to £106m, while using only £1.3m of the Council’s reserves. £21.4M of these savings had been identified in Adult Social Care. The Cabinet Member further reported that for the first time all Cabinet Members had agreed to the projected forecast for each service.

2.     Member asked what assurances were in place to ensure the savings achieved were sustainable. Officers explained that it was the objective for all savings to be sustainable but they would continue to be monitored. Officers further stated that the main drive for the in-year savings was to not require the use of reserves in order to ensure the Council was in the best possible position for 2019/20.

3.     The Committee asked for confirmation on whether the Cabinet Member was satisfied that the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) service would be able to operate within the scale of their budget envelope. The Cabinet Member explained that the finances were currently mostly theoretical and that more information would be available within the first quarter of 2019/20. Members stated it would be helpful to be provided with a scale of possible risks when meeting the budget envelope.

4.     Officers reassured Members that the £51m savings identified through the transformation programme had been identified using a rigorous process and would continue to be monitored. Members requested that appropriate attention be put on monitoring the remaining £31m required that was yet to be identified. Follow discussion, officers further reassured Members that the savings programme of £82m in 2019/20 would be monitored and reported on.

5.     Members were concern that there may be less savings in Adult Social Care in 2019/20 due to the acceleration of savings in the current year. The Cabinet Member confirmed that he was confident there would be a continuation of savings into 2019/20. 

6.     The Committee discussed the benefits of the Budget Sub-Group conducting a ‘deep dive’ into the Children, Families & Learning Directorate’s budget. It was suggested that this could be carried out with the participation of the Children and Education Select Committee. The Cabinet Member for Finance advised that, due to ongoing transformational change, a ‘deep dive’ would be best placed after the first quarter of 2019/20 when the service was in a more secure position.

7.     The Committee agreed to conduct a ‘deep dive’ into the Waste budget with a particular focus on the delivery of the Eco-Park in the new council year

RESOLVED:

1.               The Committee to explore options for scrutiny of Children, Families & Learning Directorate’s budget with the participation of the Children & Education Select Committee in June or July 2019

2.               The Committee prepares to conduct a ‘deep dive’ into the Waste budget with a particular focus on the delivery of the Eco-Park in the new council year