Agenda item - Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2018/19: Month 9

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

129.1      RESOLVED:

(1)       That the forecast risk position for the General Fund which indicates a budget pressure of £0.381m as at month 9 be noted. (This includes an overspend of £1.100m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services);

(2)       That, based on downward forecast trends since month 4, the position to be assumed for the purposes of setting the 2019/20 General Fund revenue budget is break-even, indicating a further predicted improvement of £0.381m by year end be noted;

(3)       That the 2018/19 one-off financial risk safety net of £1.500m can therefore be released and will be available in full to support the 2019/20 General Fund revenue budget be noted;

(4)       That the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is currently an underspend of £0.900m be noted;

(5)       That the forecast position for the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an underspend of £0.865m be noted;

(6)       That the forecast outturn position on the capital programme and approve the variations and slippage in Appendix 6 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 7 to the report be noted; and

(7)       That the advice regarding the council’s ability to accept payments in Euros as set out in Section 6 of the report be noted.

129.1      The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Finance & Resources, which set an indication of forecast risks as at Month 9 of the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2018/19.

129.2      Councillor Sykes asked how the Adult Social Care spend was being monitored, what were the Housing Services and Temporary Accommodation spends and what was being done about the overspend relating to Cityclean.

129.3      He was informed that Adult Social Care had received less funding from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Public Health. The budget is complex with work streams are being set up to help to save money. It was noted that CCG budget setting is often completed way into the new financial year and this had a knock-on effect on Adult Social Care budgets as predictions may not meet delivery.

129.4      Temporary accommodation has not seen a huge increase and the Flexible Homes grant is therefore being reserved for Social Services and will have an increased focus on needs and wants. To that end more data is being collated to better allocate resources.

129.5      Cityclean are currently recruiting a dedicated commercial waste team to cover ongoing and new issues. This will supply more information to assist with reducing overspends.

129.6      Councillor Peltzer Dunn commented that the amended ‘Bubble’ chart looked healthier and thanked the officers.

129.7      Councillor Yates thanked officers for the work involved with the report.

129.8      The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendations to the vote.

129.9      RESOLVED:

(1)       That the forecast risk position for the General Fund which indicates a budget pressure of £0.381m as at month 9 be noted. (This includes an overspend of £1.100m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services);

(2)       That, based on downward forecast trends since month 4, the position to be assumed for the purposes of setting the 2019/20 General Fund revenue budget is break-even, indicating a further predicted improvement of £0.381m by year end be noted;

(3)       That the 2018/19 one-off financial risk safety net of £1.500m can therefore be released and will be available in full to support the 2019/20 General Fund revenue budget be noted;

(4)       That the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is currently an underspend of £0.900m be noted;

(5)       That the forecast position for the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an underspend of £0.865m be noted;

(6)       That the forecast outturn position on the capital programme and approve the variations and slippage in Appendix 6 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 7 to the report be noted; and

(7)       That the advice regarding the council’s ability to accept payments in Euros as set out in Section 6 of the report be noted.