Issue - items at meetings - Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2015/16 Month 9

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

That the Committee:

1)     Note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £0.941m. This consists of £0.452m on council controlled budgets and £0.489m 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 £0.874m.

3)     Note the forecast for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £0.108m.

4)     Note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme

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

125.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director for Finance & Resources in relation to Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2015/16 Month 9. The TBM report was a key component of the Council’s overall performance monitoring and control framework; the report set out the projected forecast risk at Month 9 on the Council’s revenue and capital budget for the financial year 2015/16.

125.2    In response to Councillor Sykes it was explained that the improved position in relation to the council tax outturn for 2015/16 related to lower than forecast Council Tax Reduction (CTR) discounts; lower student exemptions awards; higher than forecast property numbers, band increases and reduction in bad debt provision – this had been reflected in the January 2016 Council Tax Base report. The reduction in the number of CTR claimants would be factored into the calculation for next year.

125.3    In response to Councillor G. Theobald it was explained that there was still one building to be vacated before demolition of the Circus Street site could take place prior to the commencement of the redevelopment.

125.4    Councillor A. Norman highlighted the considerable amount of time that needed to be taken on each ‘deprivation of liberty case’, and the very significant effect this had on the authority’s duty of care for adults.

125.5    In response to Councillor Wealls the Executive Director for Children’s Services explained that a decision had been made to not proceed to with the contractor to assist in the recruitment of in-house fosters carers through to the second phase of the project. In relation to pressure on the fund, it was agreed that the details of this would be circulated to the Committee after the meeting.

125.6    Councillor Bewick highlighted the Children’s Services capital budget in relation to Portslade Aldridge Community Academy; he noted that the project had been agreed by the previous administration with no capital overspend provision.

125.7    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote:

125.8    RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1)     Note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £0.941m. This consists of £0.452m on council controlled budgets and £0.489m 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 £0.874m.

3)     Note the forecast for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £0.108m.

4)     Note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme

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