Issue - items at meetings - Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2015/16 Month 7

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy attached).

1)    Note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £1.653m. This consists of £1.111m on council controlled budgets and £0.542m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

2)    Note the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.512m.

3)    Note the forecast for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £0.035m.

4)    Note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme.

5)    Approve the capital programme variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and new capital schemes in Appendix 4.

80.1       Before the Committee considered the item thanks were extended by Members to the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources as 5 December was her last day with the organisation.

80.2       The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director in relation to Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2015/16 Month 5. The Targeted Budget Monitoring (TBM) report was a key component of the Council’s overall performance monitoring and control framework. The report set out the projected forecast risk as at Month 7 (October) on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2015/16.

80.3       Councillor Sykes commented that the report was good news for the Council’s budget position, but it was clear there was still some risk. He expressed concern that some of the measures were not sustainable in the long term, such as holding positions vacant and delaying maintenance works to buildings.            In response to questions from Councillor Sykes the Executive Director for Adult’s Services explained that the Resource Allocation Budget was set up to work out indicative budget options as budgets and options changed to become more personalised – where someone had an indicative budget and the need could not be met it was necessary to ensure there was budget to do this.

80.4       In response to concerns expressed by Councillor Wealls the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources explained that one off-decisions had been taken to help bring the budget position back into line this financial year and there was a crucial need to understand demand for future years.

80.5       Councillor Hamilton explained that it remained the position of the administration to keep the financial controls in place to ensure the budget came back into line by the end of the financial year.

80.6       The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote:

80.7       RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1)     Note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £1.653m. This consists of £1.111m on council controlled budgets and £0.542m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

2)     Note the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.512m.

3)     Note the forecast for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £0.035m.

4)     Note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme.

5)     Approve the capital programme variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and new capital schemes in Appendix 4.